Working With Trans And Non Binary Survivors Of Sexual Assault (4 CE Hours)

Course Description:

Transgender and nonbinary individuals experience disproportionately higher rates of sexual assault victimization and psychological distress, including PTSD, compared to their cisgender counterparts. Nonbinary individuals, in particular, face significant challenges such as elevated rates of victimization and post-assault distress, alongside unique barriers to receiving competent and specific care.

This course addresses the critical need for culturally competent care tailored to the experiences of nonbinary and transgender individuals, especially those who have survived sexual assault. Building upon established best practices for working with cisgender survivors, and incorporating recent research findings on nonbinary experiences, this course aims to equip practitioners with the knowledge and skills to meet the distinct needs and challenges faced by trans and nonbinary survivors.

Participants will engage with holistic sex therapy protocols that address emotional, psychological, and relational aspects of healing and analyze numerous case studies to learn how to support clients in their journey toward reclaiming vitality, freedom, healthy relationships, and fulfilling sexual experiences. The course will provide a comprehensive understanding of how to adapt and innovate therapeutic practices to help clients navigate their path to healing and rediscovery of desire, both individually and within intimate relationships.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the unique psychological and emotional challenges faced by transgender and nonbinary individuals, especially in the context of sexual assault victimization and post-assault distress.
• Evaluate the barriers to receiving competent care experienced by nonbinary and transgender survivors of sexual assault and develop strategies to overcome these barriers.
• Explain what is meant by binary-normativity and perspective erasure through a lens of gender-minority stress theory.
• Provide three clinical examples of ways to help transgender and nonbinary sexual assault survivors reclaim pleasure and desire
• Analyze case studies to develop practical skills in supporting transgender and nonbinary clients on their journey toward reclaiming fulfilling sexual experiences.

Speaker Bio:

Emma J. Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and Certified Transgender Care Therapist. With a unique combination of credentials, she specializes in addressing the cognitive and mind-body health of her clients. Emma is the CEO of Soliloquie LLC, a distinguished private practice in Nashville, TN, that provides discrete individual and couples therapy. She serves a diverse clientele, including cisgender and gender-diverse individuals and couples, focusing on relationship and sexuality issues.

Emma offers integrative sex therapy, and couples therapy to clients in TX, VA, DC, MD, and TN, as well as transition-related intimacy and relationship coaching on a national and international scale. Her treatment specialties encompass sexual dysfunction, desire discrepancies in couples, recovery from sexual assault and abuse, and fostering healthy sexuality during gender transition.

Recognized for her expertise, Emma has been quoted in publications and media outlets such as Mashable, Queerty, Self, Giddy, and Women AdvaNCe. As a sought-after community educator, she delivers insightful presentations on sexual trauma and victim advocacy for gender and sexual minority survivors of sexual abuse. She is a multi-year presenter at the Every Victim, Every Time (EVET) conference in Texas, has lobbied in Congress for open transgender military service, and provided training to first responders and critical incident teams across multiple states. Emma’s contributions to the field underscore her commitment to advancing the understanding and treatment of sexual trauma and supporting gender and sexually diverse clients.