2026 NEFESH Summer Online Conference
July 14-15, 2026 · Online Event
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You Don't Have to Be a Sex Therapist: Essential Skills for Addressing Couples' Sexual Concerns in Clinical Practice (Recorded)

Previously Recorded
Rivka Sidorsky, LCSW-C, CST,C-PST
$59.99 USD Cost For Member: $39.99

Sexual concerns are among the most common issues clients experience, yet many never seek the help of a certified sex therapist. Instead, they bring these concerns to their individual or couples therapist. Whether the issue involves low sexual desire, performance anxiety, arousal or orgasm difficulties, desire discrepancies, painful sex, or sexual frustration within a relationship, clinicians are often expected to respond with confidence and competence.

This practical workshop is designed specifically for therapists who are not sex therapists but want to feel more comfortable addressing sexual concerns in everyday clinical practice. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of sexual anatomy and physiology, common sexual difficulties, and evidence-informed sex therapy principles. The course provides practical assessment and intervention strategies that can be immediately integrated into individual and couples therapy, helping clinicians know when they can effectively intervene themselves and when referral to a specialist is appropriate.

 
 

About the Presenter

Rivka is an IAPST Certified Psychosexual Therapist, an IAPST Certified Psychosexual Supervisor, an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist Supervisor, a licensed clinical social worker, a Social Work Board Certified Supervisor, a Faculty Lecturer, a published author, a Harvard University research fellowship recipient, and an experienced lecturer. She is the owner and director of a group psychotherapy practice in Silver Spring, Maryland. She was personally mentored and was trained in sexual dysfunction and sex therapy from internationally renowned Dr. Laura Berman, Oprah’s relationship and sex expert, at the Berman Center in Chicago. In addition to her private practice, Rivka is an invited guest to train doctors, nurses, faculty, fellow therapists, and students at The University of Maryland. She is a Faculty Lecturer at The Integrative Sex Therapy Institute on topics which include female sexual dysfunction, sexual pain, vaginismus, sexual aversion, couples sexual issues, and performing sex therapy with diverse religions and cultures. She lives in Silver Spring with her husband and their five children.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Identify main process of human sexual response from physiological, relational, and psychological perspectives
  2. Describe the major areas of sexual difficulties in male and female sexual dysfunction per DSM diagnoses of sexual dysfunctions.
  3. Describe and utilize the techniques and therapeutic strategies to help clients with a wide variety of sexual concerns.
  4. Identify when a referral is needed for certified sex therapist, gynecologist, or other medical providers.

Agenda:

Agenda:

30 minutes: Male sexual response and female sexual response cycle, DSM Diagnostic criteria for sexual dysfunctions

1 hour: Introduction to Assessment of sexual dysfunctions and conducting sexual history, what contributors affect sexual functioning. Assessment Case study

1 hour: Introduction to Treatment of sexual dysfunctions and treatment interventions and therapeutic strategies for couples with desire, pain, performance, and orgasm difficulties

30 minutes: 3 Case studies

This workshop offers 3 Continuing Education Credits
This webinar is recorded and will not grant live credits.

This presentation is open to:
  • Social Workers
  • Professional Counselors
  • Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
  • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: intermediate
Level of Clinician: intermediate
  • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
  • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
  • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
  • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
  • This program meets the requirements for the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists. These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification. AASECT Core Knowledge Areas: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, P. May be used for Sex Therapy Area ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4.
  • CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
    CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0122.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0275.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0774.
Refund Policy:
Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
*exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.