Attachment, Sex, and Ethics (2 CE Hours)
$80.00
Presented by: Kimberly Castelo, PhD, LMFT-S, CST-S
2 CE Hours
Distance Learning – Recorded workshop available via video on demand
AASECT Category: Human Sexuality, Section A and Sex Therapy, Section F.
Description
Working with sexual themes and attachment dynamics in therapy can bring profound growth for clients—but it also introduces heightened vulnerability and ethical complexity for clinicians. This 2-hour course is designed to equip mental health professionals with the knowledge, self-awareness, and practical tools necessary to navigate transference, countertransference, and boundary challenges in sex therapy. Participants will explore the ways clients’ attachment wounds can amplify emotional intensity, the ethical risks inherent in sexual material, and the subtle signs that may signal boundary drift.
Through case studies drawn from Department of Health sexual misconduct reports, clinicians will examine real-world examples of boundary violations, dual relationships, and professional missteps, analyzing the contributing factors and preventive strategies. Emphasis will be placed on identifying personal red flags, developing safety plans, and using supervision as a protective and reflective tool.
By the end of the course, attendees will leave with a personalized clinical plan for maintaining professional integrity, ensuring client safety, and mitigating ethical risk. While this training is not legal advice, it provides a structured framework for ethical self-awareness and accountability in clinical practice, empowering therapists to hold firm boundaries while fostering effective, secure, and ethically grounded therapeutic relationships.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Define transference and countertransference in the context of sex therapy and attachment.
- Identify ethical risks when working with attachment wounds and sexual material.
- Analyze sexual misconduct case studies for key takeaways.
- Develop a personal and professional safety plan for maintaining ethical clinical boundaries.
Activity Schedule
0:00–0:15: Introduction & Purpose; framing ethical awareness in sex therapy
0:15–0:50: Attachment and sex therapy implications for ethical concerns
0:50 – 1:00: Transference and countertransference: definitions, examples, and implications
1:00-1:30: Core ethical principles & clinician red flags
1:30–1:40: Controversial scenarios & applied discussion
1:40–1:55: Safety planning: strategies for maintaining boundaries and supervision practices
1:55–2:00: Review and closing
Speaker Bio
Dr. Kimberly Castelo specializes in sex and attachment. Dr. Castelo is certified and is a supervisor in all the EFT modalities and as a Sex Therapist. She brings a wealth of experience, practical interventions and invaluable information about the power of attachment in sex therapy. Over the years she has heard sex therapists say – “I love attachment, but I am not sure how it fits into sex therapy” OR “I love attachment work, but not sure how to bring up sex!” Attachment theory joined with sex therapy can foster the secondary change we are hoping occurs with our clients regardless of their presenting concern! Kimberly will help you learn and thrive as you become a Certified Sex Attachment Therapist (CAST). Let’s begin to learn to hear the heart (attachment longing) of our clients.
Class originally recorded: 10/30/2025
Social workers completing this course receive 4 ethics continuing education credits.
MSTI is an approved CE organizational provider for IBOSP, AASECT, and ASWB. Modern Sex Therapy Institutes is part of the Advanced Mental Health Training Institute. The Advanced Mental Health Training Institute has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No.6901. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Advanced Mental Health Training Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
MSTI is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for Psychologists. The Modern Sex Therapy Institutes maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Modern Sex Therapy Institutes (MSTI), provider #1787, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: [1/7/22-1/7/26].
Attendees must attend the entire course and complete a course evaluation to be eligible for CE credit
For Live Courses: To obtain CE credits, attendees must attend the entire course and complete an evaluation to receive credit.
For asynchronous/recorded courses, Attendees must pass the multiple choice posttest with a minimum score of 80% in 3 attempts to be eligible for CE credit.
Certificates of completion can be downloaded immediately upon course completion.