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What is Comprehensive Sex Education?

Giselle Levin, PsyD

June 15, 2024

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Question

What is comprehensive sex education?

Answer

Comprehensive sex education (CSE) extends beyond merely discussing pregnancy and disease risks to include a broader focus on love, relationships based on mutual respect, and viewing sex positively. It combats stigma by addressing sensitive topics such as menstruation, disabilities, HIV, contraceptive options, unsafe abortion, and female genital mutilation. CSE emphasizes the individual's choice to have or not have sex, providing the necessary information for safe sex practices and contraceptive options, including dual protection methods like condoms and the use of PrEP and PeP for HIV prevention.

 

This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the webinar, Talking to Kids About Sex: Trauma-Informed, Inclusive, and Ethical Sex Education for Youth, presented by Giselle Levin, PsyD

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giselle levin

Giselle Levin, PsyD

Giselle Levin, PsyD (they/she/he) is a licensed psychologist in the state of California specializing in transgender healthcare and sex therapy. Giselle completed their doctorate at Pace University in New York, NY and trained as a postdoctoral resident in LGBT mental health at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. They currently work as a gender specialist at University of California San Francisco –Child and Adolescent Gender Center. Giselle is also in private practice, where they specialize in working with trans/queer, non-monogamous, and kinky clients. Giselle is a member of UCSF’s Mind the Gap consortium of gender-affirming providers for youth and is in the process of completing their AASECT sex therapy and WPATH transgender healthcare certifications.

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Talking to Kids About Sex: Trauma-Informed, Inclusive, and Ethical Sex Education for Youth
Presented by Giselle Levin, PsyD
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Course: #1652Level: Intermediate2 Hours
  'The instructor's teaching style and organization were conducive to learning'   Read Reviews
View CE/CEU Offered
This intermediate course provides therapists with foundational knowledge and skills for opening up conversations about sex with children and adolescents. The course outlines sexual development in children and adolescents, discusses fundamentals of effective sex education with youth, and describes methods for ensuring that sex education is both trauma-informed and LGBT-inclusive. Ethical considerations and guidelines for clinical practice are discussed.
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  'presenter well prepared, excellent delivery'   Read Reviews
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This course provides mental health providers with guidelines and ethical considerations for confidently addressing sexual health assessments and counseling patients on safe sexual practices. It covers the 7 P's of sexual health assessment, cultural competency for diverse populations, and practical strategies for promoting sexual health practices and managing sexually transmitted infections.
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With increased anti-trans legislation directed toward transgender and gender-diverse youth, it is especially imperative that mental health providers support this vulnerable population. This course describes current research on transgender and gender-diverse youth and describes WPATH standards for gender-affirming care of youth. The course provides clinical guidelines with an emphasis on helping transgender and gender-diverse youth manage stressors associated with the current political climate. Last, the course investigates ethical considerations when working with trans and gender-diverse youth.
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Adapting Evidence-Based Practices for Transgender Patients: Current Literature, Ethical Considerations, and Future Directions
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Conducting Gender-Affirming Hormone Evaluations for Adults Using the Informed Consent Model
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Gender-affirming care including hormones and surgery are evidence-based treatments that reduce gender dysphoria in transgender and gender non-conforming people, but many face barriers accessing this care. Clinicians need training on appropriately diagnosing gender dysphoria, assessing readiness for hormones per WPATH guidelines, and managing comorbid psychiatric conditions. This course provides comprehensive information and practice guidelines for providing gender-affirming hormone therapy to transgender adults.
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