Implications of safe sex in marginalized older adults; how to engage in sex mental health dialogues with your clients
Preferred Delivery
Virtual
Length of Presentation
50 minutes
Start Date
7-10-2022 2:00 PM
End Date
7-10-2022 2:50 PM
Document Type
Presentation
Abstract
From an anecdotal account, mental health counselors see more couples struggling with how to connect in an empty home, and sex is the last topic of discussion. As men and women transition into "empty nesters," there seems to be an assumption that the sexual activity will also engage in a time of restoration and revitalizing of a couple's intimacy. Older adults receiving mental health couple's counseling are rare; older adults in marginalized populations are even more uncommon. Seasoned counselors may not have current training on sexual topics that have traditionally been considered taboo. The younger counselor in training may have the sexual vocabulary but lack the basic therapeutic engagement skills. This session will review the implications and establish guidelines for improving older adults' sexual and mental health.
Description
Description
This session will be helpful for Counselor Educators, students, counselors in training, supervisors of counselor educator programs, nurses, or providers of mental health and wellness services for older adults.
Learning Objectives:
1. Identify healthy sexual boundaries: common myths
2. Identify diverse sexual expressions: common provider bias
3. Identify sexual and cultural competence: ethical standards
4. Identify heteronormative sexual standards that intersect with mental health, culture, spirituality, and educational practices. a. Attendees can distinguish between myths and truths surrounding sexual activities in older adults.
Outcomes:
a. Attendees can openly identify their own bias regarding various sexual encounters stigmatized by the general population.
b. Attendees can implement culturally competent language and knowledge with older adults seeking sexually satisfying relationships.
c. Attendees will have a better understanding of the implications that heteronormative sexual standards intersect with mental health, culture, spirituality, and educational practices.
d. Attendees will have a better understanding of the implications that heteronormative sexual standards intersect with mental health, culture, spirituality, and educational practices.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Implications of safe sex in marginalized older adults; how to engage in sex mental health dialogues with your clients
From an anecdotal account, mental health counselors see more couples struggling with how to connect in an empty home, and sex is the last topic of discussion. As men and women transition into "empty nesters," there seems to be an assumption that the sexual activity will also engage in a time of restoration and revitalizing of a couple's intimacy. Older adults receiving mental health couple's counseling are rare; older adults in marginalized populations are even more uncommon. Seasoned counselors may not have current training on sexual topics that have traditionally been considered taboo. The younger counselor in training may have the sexual vocabulary but lack the basic therapeutic engagement skills. This session will review the implications and establish guidelines for improving older adults' sexual and mental health.
Speaker Information
Susie Marquez is an LPC, LPC-S in Midland, Texas. She has been in practice for 20 years and has been an LPC-Supervisor for 12 years. Her clinical mental health counselor experience has varied from working in an acute inpatient psychiatric hospital, private practice, and faith-based counseling center director to her current position as the Assistant Clerkship Director for the Psychiatry Department at the Texas Tech School of Medicine. She provides community education on topics ranging from obsessive-compulsive behaviors to support groups such as the Hope House Cancer Center. She is also a doctoral student in Counselor Education at Texas Tech University. Her research interests are mental health implications for underserved populations, eating disorders in LatinX females, and domestic violence indicators in spiritual communities.