Sexual Health Institute, LLC

03/03/2023

Dear Friends,

I have expanded my inclusion criteria (see below) to include any clinical program. Please consider forwarding this to any colleagues and/or interested parties. Thank you for your help!

I am working on a doctoral project, entitled, “A Qualitative Study examining counselors-in-training/Novice Counselors experience in supervision developing self-efficacy when working with clients who identify with an alternative s*xuality.” This study is part of my doctoral education program at Capella University. My research will be overseen by my faculty mentor, Dr. Konja Klepper at konja.klepper@capella.edu.

My research examines the development of self-efficacy with counselors-in-training and Novice Counselors in supervision when working with clients who report an alternative s*xuality (e.g., kink, poly, and/or poly). I will be recruiting counselors-in-training (current graduate students in a licensure track programs) or recent graduates seeking initial licensure to participate in my study.

1) Are enrolled in a graduate level (Master or Doctoral) clinical program (current students). Or you graduated from a graduate level (Master or Doctoral) clinical program seeking your initial licensure. Examples can include LMFT, LPC, LP, LCSW or equivalent.
2) Are currently in supervision, either as part of a practicum/internship for current students or in supervision toward initial licensure for novice counselors;
3) Report you have discussed a client who reports an alternative s*xuality (e.g., kink, poly, and/or B**M) with their supervisor.
4) Report you are located in the United States.

As a participant, you will complete a 60–90-minute HIPAA-compliant Zoom meeting to explore your experience of supervision when talking about clients who present with an alternative s*xuality. The meeting will consist of a semi-structured interview. The questions I have prepared are available upon request for your review.

If you complete the interview, you will receive a $20.00 Gift Card (Amazon, Apple, Target, or Best Buy—other options may be possible). This will be sent via an email to you completing the interview. You will only be paid if you complete the interview.

Please complete this form if you are interested in participating in the study. https://forms.gle/aEtYRtBvkuDjKF7t5 Any information collected will not be shared with anyone for any reason other than to contact you.

If you have any concerns about this request, please contact me at the phone number listed below.
Sincerely,
Weston Edwards
Weston.Edwards@capella.edu
725 222 9739

All reactions:4Luis J. Osal, Donna Effinger and 2 others

A Qualitative Study examining counselors-in-training/novice counselors' experience in supervision developing self-efficacy when working with clients who identify with an alternative s*xuality. My name is Weston Edwards, and I am a Doctoral learner in the Ph.D. program in Counseling, Education and Su...

10/15/2015

https://youtu.be/XUXiTRvHrXk

The link is to a recent workshop I wrote for Catholic Priests.

Healing for the ordained in the age of the abuse scandal
Coping with Vicarious Trauma, Compassion Fatigue and Burnout

07/30/2015

Many of you know I work on line for the majority of my work. Since I left MN, and the NIP S*xuality Training Program, I've been working on project that was made public today.
http://www.capella.edu/online-degrees/masters-psychology-s*x-therapy/

Capella University's online Master's in Clinical Psychology program builds your proficiency in assessing and treating dysfunctional behavior.

01/23/2014

It's been a while since I've posted on this page, so I thought I'd add a brief note. The past 6 months has been focused on teaching the students at the NIP S*xuality Training Program. I've also been writing a s*xuality course for another institution, as well as teaching the Human S*xuality Course for Capella. Somedays it seems all I do is s*x! (Life could be worse!).

Just a quick shout out to the students today. Our conversation topic was Transgender and the WPATH.ORG Standards of Care for transition. I couldn't help but sense the care, passion, and compassion the students have toward clients, and a desire to promote health and healing. I know this is a great group of students committed to the field! Humbling!

09/12/2013

I'm excited with the start of the S*xuality Training Program at the Neighborhood Involvement Program (NIP). We have 8 candidates seeking competencies in human s*xuality education and therapy. If you have any client referrals, please consider referring clients to NIP. NIP provides free or low cost therapy to clients with limited resources and/or no insurance.

If you have questions about the program, please feel free to contact me.

05/05/2013

In The Varieties of Religious Experience, William James describes two personality types, "once-born" and "twice- born." People of the former type are those for whom adjustments to life have been straightforward. The twice-borns, on the other hand, experience life as a continual struggle to attain some sense of order. For a twice-born, the sense of self derives from a feeling of profound separateness.

For many individuals in recovery, s*xual behavior is an attempt to bridge the separation. Sometimes it can work, but often s*xuality is a place where healing is also needed.

05/01/2013

When you gracefully sidestep conversations about the past, the future, someone’s sense of injustice, or gossip about your family, coworkers, or the world, you become more and more silent—and more able to hear that still, small voice within.

Khalsa, G, Walters W. (2007) Kundalini Rising (p. 44).

I love this quote when applied to s*xuality. We spend so much energy in the mainstream media focusing on s*xual gossip that we loose our inner truth. We emphasize stories of who did what, focus on gossip, or scandal, who and what we should be/do. We don't talk about what is healthy, or how to move toward s*xual health. Your Personal Definition of S*xual Health requires you to examine your deepest core. Your integration of spirituality and s*xual health occurs when you listen to your inner voice.

04/21/2013

S*xuality and Spirituality.

The power of s*xuality includes the possibility of s*xuality as a pathway toward spiritual awakening. In my opinion, most Western trained professionals aren't trained to talk about spirituality and s*xuality much less s*xuality as a pathway toward s*xuality. Within various Eastern traditions, alternative views of s*xuality exist. Based on a recommendation, I started reading an amazing book titled, "Kundalini Rising." In all of my academic study, this has never been talked about.

Why do I share this? SImply to affirm that s*xuality is an amazing part of your life. Don't shut it off. Discover more and more. When integrated, spirituality and s*xuality will be a vital part of your life energy.

To read more about the book, check out the Amazon Link.

Around the globe, Kundalini energy is on the rise--from Olympic athletes and celebrities in Vogue magazine who are practicing Kundalini Yoga to an increased number of spiritual healers and seekers who are reporting spontaneous "kundalini awakenings." But what is kundalini? Can this powerful energ...

04/08/2013

Neighborhood Involvement Program (neighborhoodinvolve.org) is starting a S*xuality Training Program for graduate students/professionals seeking training and certification in the area of Human S*xuality. This program reflects requirements for AASECT (American Association of S*x Educators, Counselors and Therapists). For information contact Amanda Richards at arichards@neighborhoodinvolve.org or Weston Edwards at wedwards@neighborhoodinvovle.org. We will send more information about the entire program and explain the details. This is an incredible opportunity for people interested in working in the field of s*xual health

02/11/2013

S*x, Drugs and the Internet

Today, I presented on s*x, drugs and the internet to a group of graduate students. I am always surprised when students are "shocked" at how easy it is use the internet to find drugs and s*xual partners. It took 8 seconds to find the party ads.

For clients, it is a reminder to me that clinicians need training. If the therapist isn't bringing up the issue, you need to bring it up.

For therapists, get the training to serve our clients.

02/04/2013

Relationships and Recovery: Which Deadly Horsemen are you?

John Gottman works at pinpointing factors that contribute to long-term relationships as well as behaviors that facilitate the demise of relationships. One of the metaphors he identifies is that of the “Four Deadly Horsemen” in relationships—those behaviors that bring about an end of a relationship. Here are the “horsemen” he identifies:

Criticism is focusing or otherwise only seeing the negative components of a partner.

Defensiveness focuses everything on your partner’s mistakes. The defensiveness creates a barrier to admitting your own part of the conflict or struggle.

Stonewalling refers to the avoidance of the partner, or passive-aggressive behaviors. This is where your words don’t match your attitudes and behaviors.

Contempt is the judgment that occurs in a relationship. It usually serves to demean the individual. Finding healthy ways to address the underlying issues is important.

Which of these horseman were most present in your relationship(s). Often these patterns are linked with the others. As the saying goes, “the four deadly horsemen don’t travel alone.”

02/02/2013

Insight into why desire must be addressed in your recovery.

Most of us are brought up to think that the key to happiness lies outside of ourselves. We look forward to falling in love, having a family, making a career, or building a home, and expect that those levels of accomplishment will be enough. But often we find, to our own chagrin, that when one level of need is satisfied, another stands ready to take its place. There are a variety of reactions when these new needs assert themselves. The most common, is to try to squeeze more juice out of what one already has. Another common strategy is to try to override the feelings of loneliness with behaviors that have worked previously to alleviate it. So people turn to food, drugs or alcohol, or to secret attempts at s*xual gratification to try to drown out their disappointment. This is the path of compulsion or addiction, and its casualties are legion. The third, and related, reaction, is to begin to turn against that which one also needs.

Epstein, Mark (2006) Open to Desire: The Truth About What the Buddha Taught

01/21/2013

Even when it degenerates into addiction, there is something salvageable from the original impulse that can only be described as sacred.

Epstein, Mark (2006-01-05). Open to Desire: The Truth About What the Buddha Taught (Kindle Locations 161-162). Penguin Group. Kindle Edition.


One of my areas of specialty is S*x, Drugs and Recovery (sounds like a great book title). I am struck by Epstein’s affirming the core energy of desire as healthy and sacred. In my opinion, the goal of therapy for those in recovery for substance use and s*xual compulsivity is the task of rediscovering the sacredness of desire. It is good. It is VERY good!

http://livingalifeilovebooks.com/Living_a_Life_I_Love_Books/Drugs,_S*x_and_Recovery.html

Recovery is the about living a better life. Imagine a life in recovery where everything fits together as a nice picture. S*xuality is a part of the picture. For many individuals, s*xuality is a piece of the recovery puzzle that is never examined. Often, s*xuality is often a piece of the life puzzle ...

01/19/2013

Desire is a teacher: When we immerse ourselves in it without guilt, shame or clinging, it can show us something special about our own minds that allows us to embrace life fully.

Epstein, Mark. Open to Desire: The Truth About What the Buddha Taught (Kindle Locations 175-176). Penguin Group. Kindle Edition.

In reading Epstein's book, I’m struck by the simple fact that desire is a way to discover our deepest self. Too often we can go toward over indulging in desire (aka addiction/compulsivity) or avoidance (aka repression). Our truest self is found when we can fully embrace our desire. We are then able to choose a life that is fully alive.

01/15/2013

The release of the new workbook creates an opportunity Here's a New Year's Coaching Special. Two months for the price of one. Start your new year integrating s*xuality into your recovery. (Good until 1/31/13). Check out my updated life coaching website: www.LivingalifeILovecoaching.com.

12/23/2012

My new book, Drugs S*x and Recovery, is now available on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Drugs-S*x-Recovery-Fitting-Together/dp/1468130420/

Recovery is about living a better life. Picture a life in recovery in which everything fits together like the pieces of a puzzle. S*xuality is a part of that picture--an important piece of the recovery puzzle that many people fail to examine. S*xuality is often fraught with confusion, embarrassme...

12/12/2012

The newest workbook is available. A slight change in the title. The workbook directly examines the link between s*x and drugs!

Please feel to share the info!

https://www.createspace.com/3756475

Recovery is about living a better life. Picture a life in recovery in which everything fits together like the pieces of a puzzle. S*xuality is a part of that picture--an important piece of the recovery puzzle that many people fail to examine. S*xuality is often fraught with confusion, embarrassment,...

09/25/2012

New Workbook Title Needed.

I’m on the finishing touches of my new book (less than 2-3 weeks). The editor wants me to change the title (too cliché). I thought I’d throw it out there to see if anyone has any ideas to share.

A theme throughout the workbook (and the front cover) is puzzles.

Current title: Drugs, S*x and Roll: Integrating S*xuality Into Your Recovery.
(see http://s*xualhealthinstitute.blogspot.com/2012/08/workbook-cover.html)
Possible: Drugs, S*x and Recovery: Putting the pieces together.

Other suggestions?
Thanks in advance!