Asexual Affirmative Therapy

Presented by Melissa Dellens, MA, LMFT, TRM-1

Recorded Webinar

2 CEs

Course Description

Approximately 1.7% adults in sexually-expansive communities identify as asexual. Allonormativity is the assumption that everyone experiences sexual desire, attraction, and romantic bonding. Allonormativity can increase minority stress in the asexual/aromantic (Ace) community, and can impact a therapist’s diagnosis and treatment of asexual clients. This course will offer a basic introduction to the Ace community and culture, along with common minority stressors Ace-identified clients face in and out of psychotherapy treatment. Participants will leave with new insights in applying affirmative therapy principles and interventions to work with asexual clients.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Identify three common minority stressors created by allonormative assumptions.
Develop an affirming approach to working with asexual clients.
Provide appropriate asexual community referrals to asexual clients.

About the Presenter

Melissa Dellens, MA, LMFT (she/they) works with teens and young adults with intersectional identities with Out Couch Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, and is the Chief Operations Officer with the Affirmative Couch. They offer their understanding of collective trauma, community stressors, and political advocacy through publications and education. Melissa earned their Master of Arts in Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles with an emphasis in Applied Community Psychology. They have completed the one year Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Certificate at the Los Angeles Institute and Society for Psychoanalytic Studies (LAISPS) and Level 1 of the Trauma Resiliency Model. Melissa is an affiliate member ofLAISPS, and is active in the institute’s Diversity Affairs Committee.

$39 for licensed clinicians

Buy Now

$35 for licensed in non-profit organization (Use coupon code at checkout: AceNP)

$29 for pre-licensed (Use Coupon Code at checkout: AcePL)

This course is included in the annual and lifetime memberships.

Annual Membership

Lifetime Membership

Testimonials from the Live Presentation:

Loved it, thank you so much for offering this. I'm ace & was so affirmed to see this training existed. I love that information was pulled both from academic sources AND from the World Wide Web, where so many conversations are happening.

This was great. Vignette throughout was very helpful. This will help me talk more effectively with ace patients.

The course was extremely helpful in helping me understand the depth of diversity and intersectionality in the ace communities.

I learned terminology I was not familiar with as well as how shame and compulsory practices impact the ace (and other overlapping) communities.

The instructor was very knowledgeable and presented well.

Overall, a huge thank you!!!!!

I learned a lot and it facilitated deeper thinking.

Additional Information

Instruction Level

This course is meant for an intermediate audience, with limited familiarity with working with asexual clients.

Who should Attend

Psychologists, counselors, and marriage and family therapists and social workers.

Format

This course will be available as a recorded homestudy approximately two weeks after the event.

Completion Requirements

Home Study

You will need to take the post-test with at least a 75% score in order to receive your certificate for a home study course.

Financial Support

The Affirmative Couch pays course presenters for their teaching. There is no other financial support for this course.

Conflict of Interest

There is no reported conflict of interest or outside commercial support for this course.

Contact Information

For any inquiries related to subject matter, problem resolution, corrections, grievances, or anything else, please contact us.

Accommodations

The Affirmative Couch will work to accommodate reasonable accommodations requests. Requests can be emailed with “accommodation request” in the subject line. Requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Continuing Education Approvals

APA Approved The Affirmative Couch, LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Affirmative Couch, LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.