Human Sexuality Across the Lifespan

Course overview

The research on human sexuality provides clinicians with applicable knowledge of how relationships are structured during adulthood, the effect of this on sexuality, and the spectrum of relationship practices clinicians may encounter in the clinical relationship. Clinicians have their own histories of sexual development, identities, contact, beliefs, interest, and experiences and as such should think about the ways in which their ideas may influence interactions with patients across the spectrum of sexual development. Clinicians should take time to interrogate their biases, cultural contexts, and areas of inexperience when addressing human sexuality across the age spectrum. Commonly used vocabulary referencing experiences of early, middle, and late adulthood sexuality and relationships are presented, and effective therapeutic interventions are discussed.