Sexual Health Provider Action Brief

Course overview

Course Description: This brief provides guidance for supporting clients as they take achievable steps toward improving sexual health. It provides practical examples of how to raise awareness, activate self-management, and promote new behavior based on risk level and personal strengths. Topics of discussion include why it is important to talk to clients about sexuality; why behavioral health populations are at greater risk for sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancies, and sexual violence; and how to talk to clients about sexual health. The 5 As model of asking, assessing, advising, assisting, and arranging is presented as a practical structure for addressing sexual health issues. Strategies and examples are provided for setting up an action plan to help the client develop safer behaviors. This course is based upon material published in a Provider Action Brief from the SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions and is available as an open access article. This course on supporting clients in making healthy sexual choices is designed for social workers, professional counselors, psychologists, nurses, and substance abuse counselors, who do clinical work. This course is appropriate for beginning, intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop their understanding of supporting client sexual health. The course material includes strategies for discussing safer sex habits. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require clinical continuing education courses for license renewal. Author: Morris, Chad (University of Colorado) for SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding supporting clients in sexual health. Specifically, a professional will: •Describe why it is important to talk to behavioral health populations about sexuality and sexual health •Identify how to start a conversation with a client about sexual health •Recognize the 5 As Model for addressing sexual wellness issues Citation: Morris, Chad. Supporting Clients in Sexual Health. A Provider Action Brief from the SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions. Visit us online for a full year of unlimited online CEUs.