Skip to main content
Not Found
Video Stream

CC21 Panel 01 - Working with Sexuality In An Online World - Stan Tatkin, PsyD; Martha Kauppi, LMFT; Shawn Giammattei, PhD

Credit Available - See Credits tab below.

Average Rating:
Not yet rated
Topic Areas:
Couples Therapy |  LGBTQ |  Sex and Sexuality |  Topical Panels |  Gender
Categories:
Couples Conference |  Couples Conference 2021 |  Online Continuing Education |  Pioneers in Couples and Family Therapy
Faculty:
Stan Tatkin, PsyD, MFT |  Martha Kauppi, MS MFT |  Shawn Giammattei, PhD
Course Levels:
Master Degree or Higher in Health-Related Field
Duration:
1 Hour 01 Minutes
Format:
Audio and Video
Original Program Date:
Jun 05, 2021
License:
Never Expires.
View Demo Save for Later  Add to Cart »

Tags: Online CE Couples Therapy LGBTQ Sex and Sexuality Multi-Level Communication Observation Tailoring Utilization Gender Diversity Affirmative Therapy Intersectionality Relationship Dynamics Trauma-Informed Therapy

Description

Description:

Working online has led some therapists to feel more cautious about working with sexual issues. The panelists will describe their unique approaches and concomitant pitfalls. Benefits and liabilities will be addressed.

Educational Objectives:

  1. Describe three ways to initiate discussions about sexuality when working online.
  2. List three issues on this topic of concern to LGBTQ.
  3. Describe unique exercises and homework used.

*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*

Outline:

Stan Tatkin's Approach to Telehealth and Sexuality

  • Tatkin describes his couples therapy setup: props, staging intimacy scenes.

  • Emphasizes importance of tech setup—camera, lighting, internet—for telehealth.

  • Uses cross-questioning and “going down the middle” to explore intimacy and satisfaction.

  • Demonstrates the “bedroom scene” exercise: slow, detailed questions to uncover attachment and communication issues.

Martha Kauppi's Perspective on Online Sex Therapy

  • Stresses the need to discuss sex/intimacy even via telehealth, especially post-COVID.

  • Highlights privacy challenges for LGBTQ and marginalized clients.

  • Encourages creative solutions for privacy (e.g., earbuds) and adaptable therapy formats.

  • Emphasizes flexibility and safety as key components.

Sean Giammattei's Insights on LGBTQ Couples

  • Works with LGBTQ couples, especially those with trans partners.

  • Notes privacy and safety challenges—clients may use cars or other private spaces.

  • Emphasizes embodiment and touch issues in trans relationships.

  • Addresses impact of COVID on queer community support.

  • Advocates tackling internalized transphobia and promoting trust and communication.

Undeserving Feelings and Communication

  • Panel addresses how to help clients who feel undeserving of love.

  • Tatkin: Explore early trauma, dysphoria, and performance pressure in intimacy.

  • Kauppi: Focus on consent, safety, and space for honest expression.

  • Giammattei: Use curiosity, playfulness (e.g., cards, exercises) to shift beliefs.

  • All stress the power of presence and open communication.

Working with Reluctant Partners

  • Strategies for when one partner resists therapy.

  • Tatkin & Giammattei: Find the partner’s emotional pain and build alliance.

  • Kauppi: Create a safe, empowering environment to express needs.

  • Patience, empathy, and persistence are essential.

Resources and Therapeutic Exercises

  • Kauppi recommends her book on polyamory, with therapist/client worksheets.

  • Tatkin & Giammattei suggest “lover’s pose,” sensate touch, consent-focused tools.

  • Panel agrees: creativity and playfulness enhance therapeutic connection.

Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

  • Key themes: communication, creativity, safety, presence.

  • Importance of addressing difficult topics with empathy and support.

Credits

A.P.A.

1 credits available.

The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc. is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc. maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

 

THE MILTON H. ERICKSON FOUNDATION Policy on Disclosure

The Milton H. Erickson Foundation is proud of the conferences and other
educational opportunities it sponsors, taking care that the conduct of
these activities conforms to the standards and principles of behavioral
and medical sciences, thus ensuring balance, independence, objectivity
and scientific rigor in all individually sponsored or jointly sponsored educational
activities.

All faculty members participating in a sponsored activity, and those who
review and therefore are in control of content, are requested to disclose
any relevant financial relationship prior to the CME activity, including but
not limited to specific commercial interests, financial remuneration received
by faculty member or spouse, and what role or activity was performed
for this remuneration. If a conflict of interest exists as a result of
a financial relationship it will be resolved prior to the activity. A faculty
member will not be allowed to present if the conflict is not or cannot be
resolved.​

Faculty

Stan Tatkin, PsyD, MFT's Profile

Stan Tatkin, PsyD, MFT Related Seminars and Products

Stan Tatkin, PsyD, MFT, is a clinician, researcher, teacher, and developer of A Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT®). He has a clinical practice in Calabasas, CA, where he has specialized for the last 15 years in working with couples and individuals who wish to be in relationships. He and his wife, Tracey Boldemann-Tatkin, developed the PACT Institute for the purpose of training other psychotherapists to use this method in their clinical practice.

Martha Kauppi, MS MFT's Profile

Martha Kauppi, MS MFT Related Seminars and Products

Martha Kauppi believes that relationships (with yourself, your family, your partner, your culture, your community) form the context for life and provide some of the richest material for both joy and struggle. Improving any of our relationships improves every aspect of life. She is skilled in relationship, family, and couple counselor, and love working with people who are addressing family relationship challenges, improving couple communication, or exploring improved intimate connection.

Shawn Giammattei, PhD's Profile

Shawn Giammattei, PhD Related Seminars and Products

Shawn V. Giammattei, PhD is a clinical psychologist licensed in the state of California and the founder of the newly developed Gender Health Training Institute. He has a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology and has 19 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families around a wide variety of issues. He specializes in working with LGBTQ couples and families with a particular focus on the specific issues that arise for transgender/gender expansive (TGE) couples and TGE youth and their families.

 

Dr. Giammattei is certified by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health as a gender specialist and is on faculty for their Global Education Initiative. He is an affiliated researcher, adjunct professor, and recent past Coordinator of Training for the Rockway Institute: A national center for LGBT psychology research, education, and public policy, at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University. He co-created the Rockway Certificate in LGBT Human Services, which includes the first semester long graduate course in transgender mental health and currently teaches graduate level courses in LGBT psychology, transgender mental health, and couples & family therapy. He is a research consultant to Kaiser Permanente, Northern California and Emory University regarding their NIH and PCORI funded studies looking at health outcomes of transgender patients. He is also past president and current council member of the Association of Family Therapists of Northern California; past vice-president and board member of the American Family Therapy Academy; and a member of Mind the Gap, an organization affiliated with the University of California, Beniof, Child and Adolescent Gender Clinic focused on the needs of transgender youth and their families.

Reviews

Back to Top