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Body, Pleasure, and Response: The Anatomy of Sex

Tuesday, August 18th, 2026   12:00 PM EDT -3:00 PM EDT
Dr. Kris Christiansen
$59.99 USD

This lecture explores the science of human sexual anatomy, arousal, and pleasure for graduate sex therapy students. It begins with embryological development, showing how all genitalia start from the same shared tissue in early fetal life — meaning male and female anatomy is built from the same blueprint, with structures like the penis and clitoris being counterparts that share the same nerve supply, blood flow, and erectile tissue.  The lecture then compares adult male and female sexual anatomy, highlighting how much the bodies have in common alongside key differences shaped by hormones during development. Next, the physiology of sexual response is covered, contrasting the classic linear model (excitement → plateau → orgasm → resolution) with the circular model that better captures how desire often works in real life — especially the role of emotional connection and context.  Finally, the lecture turns to the brain and orgasm: brain imaging studies show that orgasm lights up reward and pleasure centers throughout the brain and triggers the release of natural "feel-good" chemicals, while the balance of brain chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin helps explain why medications, health conditions, and emotional states can all affect sexual function. 

About the Presenter

Dr. Kris Christiansen is a board-certified family physician who specializes in sexual medicine. She attended medical school and completed her residency in family medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School. After practicing full-spectrum family medicine for 10 years, she was drawn to the field of sexual medicine and pursued additional training to provide the care for her patients that is so difficult to find. She is passionate about working with individuals and couples and restoring an important part of their lives. 
Dr. Christiansen practices at two different sexual medicine clinics in St. Louis Park and St. Paul, MN. In her practice, she works with both men and women. She has presented at several local, state, and national medical conferences on a variety of medical topics related to sexual problems.  She is involved with the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health and serves on the board, committees, has collaborated with other experts to publish journal articles, and edits informational articles for the society’s patient-facing website. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and exploring the outdoors.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Identify & describe core sexual anatomy, including variations, functions, and their relevance to arousal, pleasure, and reproduction.
  2. Apply anatomical knowledge to clinical contexts by analyzing case studies of psychosexual difficulties and practicing inclusive client education strategies.
  3. Evaluate the impact of cultural, social, and historical factors on body literacy and develop approaches to reduce shame and promote comfort discussing anatomy.

Agenda:

Body, Pleasure, and Response: The Anatomy of Sex — Lecture Agenda

Total Time: 3 Hours (180 minutes)
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Part 1: Where It All Begins (40 minutes)
12:00–12:10 — Welcome Introductions
- Overview of learning objectives and agenda
12:10–12:25 — Embryological Development
12:25–12:40 — Guided Discussion #1
- Case example
- Group discussion: Why does understanding shared anatomy matter for sex therapy?
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Part 2: Adult Sexual Anatomy — Alike and Different (40 minutes)
12:40–1:10 — Comparative Anatomy of Male and Female Bodies
- Nerve supply: the pudendal nerve and its branches
- Erectile tissue in both sexes — what clients (and clinicians) often don't know
- Common anatomical misconceptions that show up in therapy
1:10–1:20 — Guided Discussion #2
- Case example
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BREAK (10 minutes) — 1:20–1:30
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Part 3: How Bodies Respond — The Physiology of Arousal (45 minutes)
1:30–1:55 — Models of Sexual Response
- Masters Johnson's linear model
- Basson's circular model
- When each model is clinically useful — and when it falls short
- Physiology of arousal: vasocongestion, lubrication, erection, and the shared nitric oxide pathway
1:55–2:15 — Guided Discussion #3
- Case example
- Small group exercise

Part 4: The Brain, Orgasm, and Pleasure (45 minutes)
2:15–2:40 — Neuroscience of Sexual Pleasure

2:40–2:50 — Guided Discussion #4
- Case example
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Part 5: Wrap-Up and Integration (5 minutes)
2:50–3:00 — Key Takeaways Closing
- Questions /final reflections

This workshop offers 3 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits

This presentation is open to:
  • Social Workers
  • Professional Counselors
  • Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
  • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: intermediate
Level of Clinician: intermediate
  • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
  • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
  • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
  • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
  • NEFESH International is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0046
  • NEFESH International is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Mental Health Counselor #MHC-0082
  • The School of Sex Therapy is an approved continued education provider for the International Association of Psychosexual Therapists. The School of Sex Therapy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0122.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0275.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0774.
Refund Policy:
Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
*exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.