About
Many clients seeking support for sexual difficulties come from conservative or faith-based backgrounds where sexuality has been shaped by rigid beliefs, shame, or silence. For clinicians, this can create a complex therapeutic space where sex-positivity, religious values, and psychological safety must all be carefully navigated.
This professional development session is designed for sexologists, counsellors, psychologists, and allied health professionals who want to work more competently, respectfully, and effectively with conservative Christian clients experiencing sexual distress.
Drawing on clinical practice and theology-informed understanding this training will explore:
- What it means to be spiritually and culturally respectful and common clinical missteps that unintentionally alienate Christian clients.
- How to affirm sexual wellbeing without invalidating deeply held faith values especially with regards to topics such as masturbation, desire, fantasy and sex toys.
- Common presentations when working with Christian clients (spiritual shame and guilt, self sacrifice and sexual entitlement).
- Trusted resources including books, podcasts, and faith-sensitive educational tools that clients can engage with safely.
Participants will leave with a clearer framework for working with Christian clients in a way that is ethically sound, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and clinically effective, while honouring both sexuality and faith as meaningful parts of the human experience.
Presenter
Monica Cook - Sexologist & Educator
https://www.reconceived.com.au
Monica is a psychosexual therapist and sexuality educator based in Sydney.
In 2018 Monica was offered a position as a Senior Research Fellow at Anglican Deaconess Ministries. It was here she had the unique opportunity to design a sex and fertility program built on theological principles for the Church.
She has also worked for CatholicCare educating engaged couples, is a regular speaker for Family Planning NSW, a subcommittee board member for the Australasian Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine (AIRRM) and managed the Christian Society for Sexual Wellbeing (CSSW).
Monica has had many years of experience in education presenting to a range of audiences including couples, parents, students, doctors and church congregations. She holds a Masters of Sexual and Reproductive Health (Psychosexual Therapy) with additional university qualifications in health education and medical research. She is a member of the Australian Counselling Association and Society for Australian Sexologists (SAS).
