Just Relax: Psychosocial Awareness and Trauma Informed Care in Pelvic Medicine and Physical Therapy (5 CE Hours)

Classic biopsychosocial treatment paradigms attribute the physical aspects of patient care to health care professionals such as MDs and physical therapists, and the psychosocial and relational aspects to mental health professionals. However, medical professionals are likely to encounter anxious and triggered reactions in their clinics, particularly in the treatment of women with sexual pain disorders. This ? hour course will provide doctors, nurses and pelvic health physical therapists with information and tools to provide psychologically informed and trauma sensitive care.

Learning Objectives:

This 5 hour course will prepare pelvic floor physical therapists treating women with sexual pain disorders

Discuss the effects of various types of trauma, including sexual trauma
Describe best clinical practice for patients with a history of trauma.
Explain how to inquire about and respond appropriately to disclosures of sexual abuse
Discuss psychological factors that require therapy and learn to refer appropriately to mental health providers
Explain how to identify and respond to dissociation or flashbacks in their clinics
Describe a mindfulness based treatment protocol to address anxiety and aversion in women with sexual pain disorders
Speaker Bio: Association for Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) , as well as the Israeli Society for Sex Therapy (ISST). She is also an AASECT certified sex therapy supervisor. She cohosts the Intimate Judaism podcast and is co-author of the book “I am For My Beloved: A Guide to Enhanced Intimacy for Married Couples.” and co-edited the Springer textbook entitled “The Overactive Pelvic Floor.” She has authored over 40 journal articles and several book chapters on sexual pain disorders, sexual health, and sexuality and Judaism and is an associate editor of the Sexual Medicine Reviews. Talli earned a Masters in Clinical Sociology and Counseling and a certificate in Mental Health Studies from the University of North Texas in Neve Yerushalayim. She holds a bachelors degree in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University and before training in psychotherapy, treated patients as a physical therapist for 25 years.