Substance Abuse and Sexuality(4 CE Hours)Presenter:Richard Siegel, Ph.D. (5/19)

Description:

This workshop presents both developmental and consequential sexuality issues associated with substance abuse and chemical dependency, many of which have been historically neglected both in treatment and recovery.  Beginning with a “timeline” of the development of chemical dependency, sexuality issues are identified in early drug use, addiction, detox, rehab and treatment, early recovery, and long-term recovery.  An overview of the effects of each of the major categories of “drugs of abuse” and a discussion of sexual identity follows, identifying important considerations for recovery.  Finally, strategies for relapse prevention are discussed, particularly around those sexuality issues that have typically not been considered in treatment planning and 12-Step recovery programs.

The session is presented as a lecture, illustrated throughout with rich case histories from the presenter’s more than 30 years experience as a psychotherapist, sexologist and addictions professional, as well as findings from the presenter’s own dissertation research on the topic.  The session will also present useful advice for practitioners to better incorporate sexuality and sexual health into treatment plans for their chemically dependent and recovering patients.

Learning Objectives:

• List 2 sexuality issues typically seen in all phases of chemical dependency
• Name 2 sexual effects of each of the major categories of “drugs of abuse
• Discuss how sexual identity issues can impact on chemical dependency,particularly in communities of color and with sexual minorities
• Explain how to incorporate strategies for more effective recovery and relapse prevention in chemical dependency by better addressing sexuality and sexual health issues

Speaker Bio:

RICHARD M. SIEGEL, Ph.D., LMHC, CST, is the Director of Modern Sex Therapy Institutes, a postgraduate continuing education institute training sex therapists and sexual medicine specialists at multiple sites throughout the country. Dr. Siegel is a Florida-licensed mental health counselor and Board-certified sex therapist, and is certified by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) as a sex therapist and supervisor. He has a rich experiential background, including over 20 years working in sexuality education and addiction treatment, teaching on college campuses, and maintaining a private sex therapy practice. He enjoys a reputation as a seasoned and in-demand workshop and conference presenter, in addition to his work in training and supervising sex therapists.

Dr. Siegel has served AASECT as conference co-chair for three consecutive years, followed by two elected terms as Board Secretary, and has been appointed as the chair of the Supervisor Certification Committee. He is also a Clinical Member of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR), and served on the Executive Committee of that organization as its Membership Officer from 2015-2017.

He completed his Doctoral dissertation at the American Academy of Clinical Sexologists in Orlando, FL, with a research focus on the integration of healthy sexuality and addiction treatment. He has worked enthusiastically to integrate traditional sex therapy into the emergent specialty of sexual medicine, as well as the addiction treatment field.