Further Information : Training
British Association for Sexual Health and HIV
Centre for HIV and Sexual Health
Institute of Psychosexual Medicine
Relationships, Sex and Disability Project
Sexuality after traumatic brain injury workshop
Training for mental health professionals
WHO counselling skills training
British Association for Sexual Health and HIV delivers tailored education and training to health care professionals, trainers and trainees in the UK www.bashh.org/education_and_careers
Brook combines experience of working with young people with excellence in training practice to deliver a range of high-quality and affordable training courses for all professionals working with young people, including made-to-measure bespoke training: 020 7284 6051 or training@brook.org.uk. You can also contact your nearest Brook Centre about local courses www.brook.org.uk/find-a-centre
Centre for HIV and Sexual Health runs a wide range of courses and seminars ranging from equality and diversity to helping young people survive transition (from primary to secondary or child to adolescent) with their self-esteem intact www.sexualhealthsheffield.nhs.uk/training-events/training-courses
Family Planning Association offers high quality training to support people’s sexual health and rights. Their varied programme of courses offers professionals the opportunity to discuss issues, learn new information, practise skills and explore values and attitudes in a safe environment. Courses are all designed to support the professional development of anyone working in a sexual health setting, including those working with young people and learning disabled people. The fpa also offers University level accreditation on some of their courses. You can ask for specific training which is not yet available. Call Clare Lightly clairelightley@live.co.uk on 020 7608 5277. www.fpa.org.uk/professionals/trainingcourses
Headway runs a training course called Sex and Sexuality after Brain Injury www.headway.org.uk/sex-and-sexuality-after-brain-injury.aspx
Institute of Psychosexual Medicine provides education and training in psychosexual medicine for health professionals www.ipm.org.uk.
I-said Michelle Donald and Sue Lennon offer training on sex and working with disabled and ill people: anything from a one hour lecture on sexual awareness to a two day interactive workshop or a longer course of 6 sessions. Their aim is to ensure that including sex and sexuality in assessment and care planning is standard. Through training, confidence and creativity is engendered in order to facilitate help for patients and clients. They enable professionals to explore their own comfort levels when talking about sex with clients, suggesting various approaches through games and role play, examining prejudices, understanding sexuality in health, and appreciating the impact of illness or disability. Their work also considers the impact of illness and injury upon the sexual partner and the impact of a caring role on the sexual relationship. They offer to support organisations on the growing concern around legislation and the ethico-legal issues pertaining to protocol writing. Sue Ronaldson is an oncology nurse 07943 710 753 and Michelle Donald spinal injured 07775 927 533; both trained with Relate. www.i-said.co.uk
People First is an advocacy group of and for people with learning difficulties, providing nation-wide training for professionals and groups to improve their communication skills and work practices. They train groups on self advocacy, sexuality, disability equality and more. Unit 3.46 Canterbury Court, Kennington Park Business Centre, 1-3 Brixton Road, London SW9 6DE. 020 7820 6655, general@peoplefirstltd.com.
Pink Therapy trains professionals and paraprofessionals around gender and sexuality issues, including BDSM, asexuality and psychosexual therapy. They also supply bespoke training consultancy to groups and organisations around gender and sexual diversity. Look at the training section of their website www.pinktherapy.com
Relationships, Sex and Disability Project Warrington Disability Partnership, supported by NHS Warrington, offers a workshop for all health, social care & educational support professionals. For further information access www.disabilitypartnership.org.uk/advice/sextraining.shtml. The main aims of the day are as follows:
- To enable you to think about your own values and their impact on the work you do.
- To encourage you to examine your own inhibitions and fears regarding talking about relationships, and sex with your clients or patients and their partners.
- To provide insights into the importance and benefits of being open to discuss relationship, sex and sexuality
Respond Their training is drawn from many years’ experience of providing psychotherapy to people with learning disabilities who have experienced trauma. Training courses are delivered by their psychotherapists who are also skilled trainers and many of whom have published in their own field of expertise. Courses can also be tailor-made to your organisation’s needs. 020 7874 5481 admin@respond.org.uk: http://www.respond.org.uk/what-we-do/training/
Scottish Sensory Centre runs a course Batteries not Included on issues in sex education and sexuality for people with multiple disabilities. http://www.ssc.education.ed.ac.uk/courses/db/battery7.html
SECCA — disabilty relationships, sexuality — conducts training workshops and seminars in Perth, Australia, to address the needs of people with disability, their staff, carers, family, health and human service professionals http://secca.org.au
SENSE offers training and consultancy to professionals working with deaf-blind adults. They also train deaf-blind men and women in sex and relationships skills. 101 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9LG.0845 127 0060 Textphone: 0845 127 0062 info@sense.org.uk.
Sexuality after traumatic brain injury This is a workshop to increase awareness of the impact of traumatic brain injury on sexuality, increase participants’ awareness of their own attitudes towards sexuality, and offer participants useful strategies to enhance the sexual lives of clients and manage difficulties such as disinhibition. The workshop was created by the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit at Liverpool Hospital, Sydney. www.tbistafftraining.info/Presenters/Module6/mod6-presenter.pdf
Simon Parritt trains and talks to various and diverse groups from PhD and diploma students at University on psychology, disability and counselling courses to social services, staff training in care homes etc., as well as giving disability and sexuality presentations at conferences. simon.parritt@talktalk.net
Sue Newsome Sue specialises in providing education and support in the area of sexuality and relationships. She teaches tantra with Shakti Tantra and has trained as a psychosexual therapist at the Porterbrook Clinic, Sheffield. She now combines all her expertise to help disabled people meet their sexual needs. She runs groups and works with individuals and couples to help them maximise their sexual pleasure and overcome any difficulties resulting from physical or emotional impairment.
As a sexual educator, Sue offers practical advice and training in the following areas: female sexual pleasure, male sexual pleasure, masturbation, ways to enhance your sex life as a couple, the theory and practice of sensual touch. She also provides Sexual Awareness Training for professionals who require advice about how to broach the subject of sex with their patients and clients. sue.newsome@googlemail.com
Susan Quilliam authoress of the New Joy of Sex and co-writer of this website. Susan is a coach, trainer and consultant as well as writer, with a wide range of expertise. For details of her current relationship courses or to commission a bespoke course or have individual coaching, email: susan@susanquilliam.com. Her website is www.susanquilliam.com
Touching Base runs Service Provider Awareness Training workshops in Australia. These workshops are aimed at sex workers and carers, allowing exploration of the issues carers may face when assisting people with disability to access sex workers. Training is held at Family Planning NSW. training@touchingbase.org. www.touchingbase.org/workshops-and-training/spat
Training for mental health professionals Resources developed for busy mental health professionals, as an easy-to-use guide to key aspects of sexual and reproductive health in the context of mental illness, with clear sign-posting for those who want to take this subject further.
http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/elearning/sexualhealth
University of Greenwich provides sexual health training, some of which is CPD. They are also developing new one-day courses for GPs and other non-specialist professionals in sexual health www.gre.ac.uk/schools/health/current_publications
WHO counselling skills training Counselling Skills Training in Adolescent Sexuality and Reproductive Health — a facilitor’s guide See website http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/1993/who_adh_93.3.pdf
Zoe Cousins Zoe’s sexuality training is based around current policies in place for any organisation or group within the local authority or third sector provision. Zoe is responsive to the needs of the participants so, if it is for staff within learning difficulties services, this can include issues ranging from supporting people to form friendships, to all aspects of sexual expression and the relevant underpinning legislation. Puppets, art and drama may be offered in order to facilitate the most fun and accessible styles of learning. Training is also available for staff with managerial responsibilities. All training includes aspects of safeguarding, person-centred choices and advocacy. 01379 851959 / 07813035763 zoeleapfrog@gmail.com