Course Overview

This childhood sexual behaviors continuing education training equips clinicians with developmentally informed frameworks for distinguishing healthy from concerning sexual behaviors in children and adolescents.

Participants will examine:

• Normative sexual development from childhood through adolescence
• Historical construction of “childhood innocence”
• Multicultural considerations in assessment
• Family systems and sexual socialization
• Cultural, racial, and religious influences
• Ethical intervention strategies
• Clinical decision-making regarding mandated reporting and referral

This course supports therapists in confidently assessing, conceptualizing, and addressing childhood sexual behaviors while empowering families through informed psychoeducation.

CLASS DESCRIPTION

This presentation focuses on the sexual development of children and adolescents and seeks to educate participants on healthy versus unhealthy sexual expression during childhood and adolescence. As mental health providers who work with children and adolescents, we must understand the nuanced development of sexual behaviors from birth to adulthood. Participants will discuss appropriate ways to address these concerns as well as how to empower the families they serve.

Multicultural and historical considerations will also be presented with an emphasis on how clinicians can support their clients of color. Participants will delve into the history of White Supremacy, Religion, the creation of the concept of “childhood innocence” as well as ways in which Capitalism commodifies and exploits childhood sexuality.

CLASS OBJECTIVES:

Participants will be able to

• Summarize the history and development of the construct of childhood innocence
  

• Apply multicultural considerations to sexual behaviors in children of color.

• Compare healthy versus unhealthy sexual behaviors among children & adolescents.]

• Articulate the significance of ‘family sexuality’ as it relates to childhood sexual behaviors

• Implement appropriate and therapeutically sound interventions to address both healthy and unhealthy sexual behaviors.

As mental health providers who work with children and adolescents it is imperative that we understand the nuanced development of sexual behaviors from birth to adulthood. This presentation seeks to educate therapists on healthy versus unhealthy sexual behaviors in children through exploration of the history of the concept of “childhood innocence” as well as considering the impacts of family influence, cultural influence, and multicultural considerations for children. Therapists will discuss appropriate ways to address these concerns as well as how to empower the families they serve.