SSTAR's 50th Annual Meeting - Sexuality, Trauma, and Healing

Workshop Title: Developmental Trauma and Sexual Problems: Existential Approaches to the Assessment and Treatment of Men’s Sexual Difficulties

This workshop will focus on the role of early trauma in the triggering of male sexual dysfunction and problems. A theoretical construction and clinical application will be proffered that suggests that much of male sexual dysfunction is a message from the protective unconscious, transmitted via the penis, that signals the man that there is some relational danger/existential threat in being fully engaged in this partnership. Such signaling is the result of a triggering of early psychological trauma and the protective unconscious attempting to shield the man from being re-traumatized. This conceptualization challenges the enduring, but untested, belief that much of male sexual dysfunction has its etiology in the concept of “performance anxiety.” Case examples will be emphasized to illustrate the importance and the clinical usefulness of this alternative paradigm for improving patient care and outcome. Specific issues to be addressed include erectile difficulties, orgasm difficulties, and hypersexuality.

(On your own)

Workshop Title: Awakening the Body: Integrating Somatic Awareness into Sex Therapy

Join Amanda Adili, LCSW-R, SEP, KAP, for 'Awakening the Body: Integrating Somatic Awareness into Sex Therapy' a workshop designed for therapists, clinicians, and healthcare professionals interested in the integration of body-mind-being centered approaches for sexual trauma therapy. This workshop will delve into the foundations and applications of somatic therapies, with a particular focus on their roles in increasing bodily awareness and addressing sexual trauma.
Participants will gain an understanding of how trauma is stored in the body, learn strategies to help identify when a client may present with a “trauma response” somatically, learn how the physiology responds to safety and threat, and help clients access their somatic experience thereby increasing capacity for pleasure and intimacy. The workshop will include a mix of theoretical exposition and practical experiential learning, such as experiential somatic techniques and participatory group and dyadic exercises that emphasize nervous system awareness and regulation with mindfulness, movement, sensation, imagery and breathwork.
Designed for both seasoned practitioners and those new to somatic methods, this workshop will equip attendees with fresh insights and practical tools to enhance their practice. Participants will learn strategies to foster deeper healing in clients with trauma, increase sensory awareness and pleasure, change the relationship to the body after sexual trauma, support daily self-regulation to build emotional and physical resilience, and establish healthy boundaries.

Welcome reception and 50th Anniversary celebration.

Film Screening: Learning To Be Naked - Healing Through Burlesque
Movie screening to start at 7:30pm
Followed by Q&A with Director Susan Wolf

On Thursday evening, April 24 SSTAR attendees will have the opportunity to screen the film, Learning To Be Naked - Healing Through Burlesque, winner of BEST DOCUMENTARY at the LA Femme International Film Festival and winner of BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY at the California Women’s Film Festival.

Learning to be Naked reveals the healing, transformative power of burlesque. It’s hard to imagine a more vulnerable experience than getting naked on stage–and for some it is precisely this experience that profoundly changes their lives.

Following the film, its producer, Susan Wolf, will be available for a virtual Q&A session moderated by Carolin Klein, PhD.

Film screening registration details are coming soon.

Speakers:
1. Morag Yule, SSTAR President
2. Uzma Rehman, Conference Scientific Chair
3. Thomas Wood, Local Host

Talk title: Sexual Violence and Wellbeing in the Context of War
Presenter: Ateret Gewirtz-Meydan, PhD

Overview:
This talk explores the profound impact of the 2023 war in Israel on individuals’ sexual lives, intimacy, and relational wellbeing. It examines the multifaceted ways in which war reshapes personal and collective experiences of sexuality, with a focus on the sexual violence perpetrated during the October 7 attacks and in captivity. The widespread dissemination of graphic reports, videos, and testimonies regarding these events introduced unique challenges, influencing not only psychological resilience but also sexual and relational dynamics.
Key Topics:
• The impact of war on sexual intimacy, sexual wellbeing, and relational wellbeing.
• The weaponization of sexual violence during wartime.
• The intersection of sexual violence and sexual, relational and psychological wellbeing during wartime.
• Gendered responses to trauma and the implications for recovery.
Objectives:
Participants will gain insights into the psychological, sexual, and relational consequences of wartime sexual violence, understand the interplay between trauma and sexual wellbeing, and explore pathways to resilience and recovery in affected populations.
Format:
The talk will include a presentation of research findings, survivor narratives, and media analysis, followed by an exploration of practical implications for mental health and support systems. The session is intended for mental health professionals, sex therapists, couple therapists, researchers, social workers, and healthcare providers.

Trigger Warning:
This talk will address sensitive topics, including sexual violence, trauma, and their impacts on wellbeing. Participants are advised to engage with the content at their own pace and seek support if needed.

Options: Participate in somatic exercises or relax on your own

Transforming Trauma: Insights into Sexuality and Healing

Student Lunch and Learn available.

Non-students - Lunch on your own

Different Conceptualizations of Trauma
Moderator: Sophie Bergeron, PhD
Speakers:
o Karen Caffee, PhD
o Thomas Murray, PhD

In this invited debate, the two speakers will present different ideas on how to conceptualize the term “trauma” focusing specifically on the advantages and disadvantages of a narrow versus broad definition of the term. They will present two different definitions of trauma that vary in scope of the types of experiences that fall under the umbrella of trauma and present research evidence, clinical observations, and theoretical grounding of their different perspectives.

Talk title: Cultural Betrayal, Sexual Abuse, & Black Women: Promoting Change in Gynecological Healthcare through Institutional Courage & Dreamstorming
Presenter: Jennifer M. Gómez, PhD

In this plenary address, Dr. Gómez will center U.S. Black women as relates to their lifetime histories of sexual abuse. First, she will provide a basic primer on structural racism (Neblett, 2022) and intersectional oppression (e.g., interlocking racism and sexism; Collins, 2017) that impact Black women. She then will detail her research with cultural betrayal trauma theory (CBTT; e.g., Gómez, 2023), which she created as a Black feminist scientific framework for examining the unique cultural betrayal harm of within-group violence in marginalized communities, including specifically Black male perpetrated sexual abuse against Black women. According to CBTT, (intra)cultural trust, such as solidarity in the Black community, is a protective factor against racism and intersectional oppression. As a violation of (intra)cultural trust, within-group violence is a cultural betrayal trauma. Research has shown that cultural betrayal trauma is associated with mental health outcomes, such as dissociation, and cultural outcomes, such as internalized prejudice (Giroux et al., 2023). Given the role of institutions in both harm and healing, Dr. Gómez will shift to focusing on institutional change. From her book, The Cultural Betrayal of Black Women & Girls: A Black Feminist Approach to Healing from Sexual Abuse, she will share an excerpt of a U.S. White woman doctor’s sexual violence and negligence during a gynecological visit against Nikiya (pseudonym), a Black women patient and survivor of cultural betrayal trauma. Within this example, she will identify the institutional betrayals (Smith & Freyd, 2014), institutional courage (Freyd & Smidt, 2019) steps to remedy the harm (Gómez, 2023), and dreamstorming (Gómez, 2023) of a world in which all doctor’s visits could be culturally competent and trauma-informed. She will conclude this section with implications for clinicians working with clients who have similar experiences of racism, intersectional oppression, cultural betrayal trauma, and sexual violence as Nikiya, both within and outside of gynecological healthcare. Finally, Dr. Gómez will close by discussing the necessity of hope amidst belonging to institutions and societies that remain violent and unequal.

Options: Participate in somatic exercises or relax on your own

Treatment Innovations for Comorbid Sexual Problems and Trauma

SSTAR continues its tradition of offering an offsite social gathering after the meeting on Friday evening, April 25. Registration details are coming soon.

Talk title: Introduction to Kink
Presenter: Midori

Kink and BDSM are often misunderstood and stigmatized—not only by society but also by health and mental health professionals. Despite the prevalence of BDSM-related fantasies, with up to 70% of individuals reporting such desires and 20% engaging in them, these topics are rarely addressed in clinical training or education. This workshop is designed to help clinicians better understand what BDSM is, why people engage in it, and how to support clients in fostering healthy relationships with their desires.
Participants will explore how individuals use kink to navigate sexuality, connection, and even healing. The session emphasizes reframing language to destigmatize these practices and provides practical tools clinicians can use to communicate effectively with clients about their experiences. We will also address strategies for fostering healthy, agentic consent, empowering clients to engage in fulfilling and mutualistic relationships.
Through an intersectional lens, we will discuss the additional stigma faced by individuals from marginalized communities and offer strategies to create more inclusive, nonjudgmental therapeutic spaces. Interactive elements, including real-world examples and role-playing exercises, will equip attendees with actionable insights. By normalizing kink and BDSM as valid expressions of sexuality, this workshop empowers clinicians to enhance client care and support sexual wellness with confidence and compassion.

Talk title: Trauma and Beyond: Integrating Medical Perspectives in Treating Sexual Dysfunction
Presenter: Rose Hartzell-Cushanick, PhD

Options: Participate in somatic exercises or relax on your own

Presenters:
o Elizabeth Grill, PsyD
o Natalie Rosen, PhD
o Leiszle Rae Lapping-Carr, PhD

Case Presentation Title: Saving My Life or Saving My Sex Life
Presenter: Anne Katz, PhD, RN

This clinical case presentation will describe the challenges in treatment decision making when a gay man was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The recommended treatments included radiation with the addition of 2 years testosterone blockers. In his view, the treatment would ruin his active sex life with his husband and opportunities for play with others. The treatment team (surgeon, radiation oncologist) were highly persuasive and he agreed to the recommended treatment, with significant concerns about what he saw as a 'Sophie’s choice’ between life-saving treatment and sexual quality of life.
This presentation will be of particular interest for clinicians who see male cancer survivors in the aftermath of treatment that has negatively impacted their sexual function and the consequences for their primary relationship.

Focus on the Intersection Between Diversity and Trauma

Participate in somatic exercises or relax on your own

Closing Remarks and Passing the Torch to Marie-Pier Vaillancourt-Morel

Health and Resilience in Kink-Involved Communities: Confronting Stigma and Addressing Disparities
Presenters:
o Richard A. Sprott, PhD
o Anna Randall, LCSW