T/ R. - 4 PM - 5:40 PM - DDH 104 K
BETH MENEES RIENZI, Ph.D. 664-2367/ T 1-3 PM & R 6-8 PM (DDH D 116 and/or 119)
Psychology 540 is a graduate level course (not available for undergraduate credit). This course provides an examination of the major variables affecting human sexuality including the physiological, psychological, and sociocultural variables associated with the development and manifestation of sexual identity, sexual behavior, and sexual disorders. Special attention will be given to the etiology, assessment, and treatment of sexual dysfunctions and to the relationship between sexual dysfunction and intimate interpersonal relationships.
1. to acquire knowledge about physiological, psychological, and cultural aspects of normal and
dysfunctional sexuality with a focus on information necessary for licensing preparation.
2. to reduce shock potential for future therapists regarding sexuality issues.
3. to understand the processes of assessing and treating sexual dysfunction (to know when to refer).
4. to acquire strategies for counseling related to sexuality across the life span.
5. to give an overview of how sexuality and sexual issues fit into general treatment and clinical practice.
6. to provide practice in case conceptualization and treatment planning regarding issues of sexuality.
Nathan (1986) defined four levels of expertise on sexual issues:
Level 1: comfort in discussing sexual material.
Level 2: recognition of sexual problems
Level 3: evaluation of sexual problems for intervention or referral.
Level 4: Treatment of severe sexual problems.
Level 3 training is the goal of this course. Students are not expected to be sex therapists at the end of the ten week quarter, but they should acquire increased comfort in discussing sexual material, be more aware of their own reactions to various sexual practices, be able to recognize sexual problems, be able to evaluate sexual problems for intervention with less serious sexual dysfunction, and to recognize and refer more serious sexual problems. Ethics of sexuality and confidentiality issues will be discussed. Special attention will be given to the serious problem of therapist and client sexual involvement and how they might deal with their own sexual feelings toward clients when in the therapist role.
WARNING:
This course will deal with issues that some students may find sensitive. A wide variety of lifestyles and behaviors will be discussed. Visual materials provide an important part of the desensitization process for the future therapist.
class sessions. These can not be made-up if a student is absent. Homework
assignments are given during lecture and completed outside of class. (45%)
3. Research on a special topic and presented in class (5%). Topics must be
coordinated with the instructor.
4. MAKE-UP TESTS ARE NOT ALLOWED. If you miss an exam because of an
unavoidable emergency, you may make a contract with the instructor to
complete an alternate assignment to replace part of your exam score.
50% EXAMINATIONS:
(25% MIDTERM EXAMS & 25% FINAL EXAM)
45% CLASS AND HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
(THESE ARE ASSIGNED REGULARLY TO COORDINATE WITH LECTURE TOPICS.)
5% RESEARCH ON A SPECIAL TOPIC
(MUST BE CONTRACTED WITH INSTRUCTOR BEFORE 4/4/96.)
A = 95-100% B = 82-87% C = 65-77%
A- = 90-94% B- = 80-81% D = 60-64%
B+ = 88-89% C+ = 78-79% F = BELOW 60%
3/26 T INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
3/28 R RESEARCH ON GENDER & SEXUALITY
4/2 T ANATOMY/ PHYSICAL SIMILARITIES & DIFFERENCES
4/4 R SEXUAL RESPONSE/ MOTIVES/ ACTS
4/9 T SEXUAL HISTORY INTERVIEW
4/11 R WPA - No official class meeting - Continuation of Interview Project
4/16 T BIOLOGY OF GENDER (SH)
4/18 R LOVE/ CHOICE OF LOVE OBJECT
4/23 T SEXUALITY OVER THE LIFE SPAN
4/25 R CHILDHOOD SEXUALITY & PARAPHILIA
4/29-30 HUMAN SEXUALITY SEMINAR
5/2 R MIDTERM EXAM
5/7 T GAY, LESBIAN, AND BISEXUAL ISSUES
5/9 R SEXUAL COMMUNICATION/ DYSFUNCTION
5/14 T SEXUAL DESIRE DISORDERS
5/16 R SEXUALITY IN SPECIAL POPULATIONS (KM)
5/21 T CLIENT-THERAPIST SEXUAL CONTACTS
5/23 R VICTIM AND OFFENDER
5/28 T MONDAY SCHEDULE (NO CLASS)
5/30 R SEXUAL ISSUES IN CLINICAL PRACTICE/ CASE STUDY
6/4 T CASE DISCUSSION & REVIEW (LAST DAY OF CLASS)
6/7 F FINAL EXAMINATION / FRIDAY 5- 7:30 PM
American Psychological Association (1991). Bias in psychotherapy with lesbians and gay men. (Available on reserve in CSUB library.)
Berson, B. (1990) Permanent partners (full information unavailable as my copy was not returned from a student).
Hatfield, E. & Rapson, R. L. (1996). Love and sex: Cross cultural perspectives. Boston: Allyn & Bacon
Heiman, J. R. & LoPiccolo, J. (1988). Becoming orgasmic: A sexual and personal growth program for women. New York: Prentice Hall
Neistadt, M. E. & Freda, M. (1987). Choices: A guide to sex counseling with physically disabled. Malabar: Krieger.
Pope, K. S. (1994). Sexual involvement with therapists: Patient assessment, subsequent therapy, forensics. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Pope, K. S., Sonne, J. L., & Holroyd, J. (1993). Sexual Feelings in Psychotherapy: Explorations for Therapists and Therapists-In-Training. . Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Strong, B., DeVault, C. & Sayad, B. W. (1996). Core concepts in human sexuality. Mountain View: Mayfield
ADDITIONAL READINGS AND EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS ARE ON RESERVE IN THE CSUB LIBRARY FOR YOUR ACADEMIC PLEASURE AND INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY.