An Existential Understanding of Male Sexuality and Men’s Problematic Sexual Behaviors

This webinar presentation and interview will focus on the existential lives of men and how much of men’s concerns can be understood through the functioning of the penis. Additionally, the abusive and problematic sexual behavior of some men will be examined through an existential psychotherapy lens with clinical strategies for treatment the ultimate goal. The webinar will begin with a brief overview of existential psychotherapy and the evolution of couples and sex therapies and explore how sexual dysfunction can result from trauma.

Sexual Wellbeing: Why It Matters for Individuals Who Cause Harm

Promoting consensual sexual relationships can be a challenge, particularly in the context of working with clients who have a history of problem sexual behaviors. Bringing discussions of healthy sexuality and positive, non-coercive, and pleasurable sexual expression to our clients necessitates candor and a comprehensive sexuality education approach. Using a public health model which incorporates sexual health, sexual pleasure, sexual wellbeing, and sexual justice (Mitchell et al., 2021) and the Circles of Sexuality model (Dailey, 1981), we can offer our clients an opportunity to develop the tools they need for consensual sexual and intimate relationships. This session will

What We Know and What We Need to Know About Incels

ncels (involuntarily celibate men) have been the source of considerable media attention due to a small number of high-profile attacks. Despite the first taking place in 2014, it is only recently that researchers have become interested in this group. Much of this scholarly work has involved analyses of incel forums with little attention paid to incels themselves. Dr. Brandon Sparks is one of the few researchers who has studied incels at an individual level. During this webinar conversation, he will describe who incels are and provide background information about the incel subculture and its impact on society

What We Need To Know About Sexual Fantasies and Sexual Offending

Sexual wishes, interests, and fantasies are different in important ways. For example, men’s fantasies are often more closely tied to their wishes than women. Research suggests that the diversity of fantasies, more than their content, contributes to a healthy sex life. Interestingly, men who have sexually abused others often have a narrower range of fantasies, but these fantasies are not always different from men who are not known to have abused.

Psychotherapy and Sexuality – Where Do Addiction, Pornography, and Moral Incongruity Begin and End? A Conversation with David Ley

Everyone has their opinions, and this can be especially true when it comes to controversial topics such as pornography and addiction. Moving beyond our moral beliefs to what research shows can be challenging, particularly when the science in these areas is imperfect. As is often the case, scientific inquiry can often produce surprising results that challenge us to re-think our practice.

Manhood, Masculinity, and Treatment for Sexual Offending

In treatment geared towards men who have committed sexual offenses, we often talk about cognitive distortions and how they led to their crimes. However, it may be helpful to consider whether their “distorted” thinking is not an aberration, but rather an integral part of how manhood and masculinity are defined in our societies. We will explore the implicit and explicit instructions men receive from birth, how the ideals set forth are attainable by only a few, and how the rest of us manage this “failure.” We will discuss the impact of masculinity in treatment, how we can work to redefine it for better mental health, and how we can prevent further sexual abuse along the way.