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Contraception & STIs: What Every Sex Therapist Should Know

Tuesday, August 25th, 2026   12:00 PM EDT -3:00 PM EDT
Dr. Kris Christiansen
$59.99 USD

Sex therapists routinely encounter clients navigating decisions about contraception, safer sex practices, and sexual health concerns—yet formal training in these areas is often limited. This three-hour presentation equips graduate sex therapy students with a practical, clinician-informed understanding of modern contraceptive methods, sexually transmitted infections, and the ways these topics intersect with the psychological and relational dimensions of sexual health. From hormonal and long-acting reversible contraceptives to barrier methods and emerging prevention strategies like PrEP, participants will gain the foundational medical literacy needed to support informed client conversations and recognize when referral to a medical provider is warranted. Beyond the clinical basics, this course explores how contraception and STI concerns shape sexual desire, pleasure, body image, relationship dynamics, and communication between partners—including the impact of contraceptive side effects on sexual function, the emotional consequences of STI diagnosis and disclosure, stigma reduction, and culturally sensitive approaches to discussing sexual health across diverse populations. Participants will leave with a framework for integrating medical knowledge into sex therapy practice, bridging the gap between the exam room and the therapy room.

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. Help participants identify how shame, fear, and stigma influence client disclosure and decision making in sexual health conversations, and apply therapeutic approaches that support openness and emotional safety
  2. Strengthen clinicians’ understanding of common STIs, essential diagnostic and treatment points, and emerging prevention options such as PrEP, and integrate this knowledge into client discussions in a clinically appropriate way.
  3. Enhance participants’ ability to explain contraceptive options, including long-acting, short-acting, and barrier methods, while incorporating key considerations related to adolescence, STI risk, and conditions such as hyperandrogenism/PCOS.
  4. Support clinicians in applying ethical principles and case-based reasoning to real-world scenarios involving STIs, contraception, and sexual health decisions, promoting informed and compassionate client care.

Agenda:

12:00–12:15 | Welcome Introductions

  • Instructor introduction and course overview

  • Icebreaker: Participants share one question they've received from a client about contraception or STIs that they felt unprepared to answer

  • Review of learning objectives

12:15–12:55 | Contraception: What You Need to Know (Objective 1)

  • Overview of contraceptive categories: hormonal (pills, patch, ring, injection), long-acting reversible contraceptives (IUDs, implant), barrier methods (condoms, diaphragm), permanent methods, and fertility awareness-based methods

  • Effectiveness rates: perfect use vs. typical use

  • Emergency contraception: options and access

  • Sexual side effects of hormonal contraception:

    • Potential negative effects: decreased libido, reduced arousal and lubrication, diminished clitoral sensitivity, dyspareunia, mood changes (depression, anxiety), and elevated sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) reducing free testosterone

    • Potential positive effects: reduced menstrual pain and bleeding, decreased fear of unintended pregnancy (which can enhance desire and spontaneity), improvement in acne and hirsutism supporting body image and sexual confidence, and stabilization of mood-related cycle fluctuations

  • Guided Discussion: What assumptions or gaps in knowledge do you notice among your clients regarding contraception? How might misinformation affect sexual decision-making in relationships?

12:55–1:25 | STIs: What You Need to Know (Objective 1)

  • Overview of common STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, HPV, HIV, and hepatitis B

  • Transmission, symptoms, screening recommendations, and treatment basics

  • Prevention strategies: condoms, dental dams, vaccination (HPV, hepatitis B), and PrEP/PEP for HIV

  • Brief Activity – Myth or Fact: Instructor presents common STI misconceptions; participants respond and discuss as a group

1:25–1:35 | Break

1:35–2:10 | The Intersection of Sexual Health and Sex Therapy (Objective 2)

  • How hormonal contraceptives can affect desire, arousal, lubrication, and mood

  • The sexual and relational impact of condom negotiation and barrier method use

  • Emotional and psychological consequences of STI diagnosis: shame, anxiety, grief, and identity

  • STI disclosure in relationships: timing, communication, and partner dynamics

  • Guided Discussion: How do you currently address contraceptive side effects or STI-related distress in session? What feels comfortable, and where do you feel you need more tools?

2:10–2:45 | Integrating Sexual Health Into Practice (Objective 3)

  • Building comfort with sexual health conversations: language, normalizing, and destigmatizing

  • Culturally sensitive approaches across diverse populations (LGBTQ+ clients, adolescents, clients with disabilities, religious or cultural considerations)

  • Knowing your scope: when and how to refer to medical providers

  • Role-Play Activity: In pairs, participants practice a brief therapeutic exchange in which a client raises a contraception or STI concern. One partner plays the therapist, the other the client. Debrief as a group focusing on what language felt effective and where participants felt uncertain.

2:45–3:00 | Wrap-Up Q

  • Key takeaways and summary of learning objectives

  • Resource list: recommended references, patient-facing handouts, and referral pathways

  • Open Q and 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: introductory
Level of Clinician: beginner
  • 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.