2.Reflect on an aspect of your own sexuality and how this may impact your comfort and ability to counsel.

Examining one’s own experience is a key area of professional competence for counsellors. In this paper, students will explore the evolution of their own identity and sexual development which may highlight: cultural, religious, familial and/or peer influences. This paper will highlight key moments in students’ development when their understanding of self and sexuality created meaning making, impacts in their life or significantly changed. Reflections should be supported with citations from relevant scholarly literature. This paper must be 4 to 6 pages, double-spaced, using a minimum of three to five peer-reviewed sources from the past 5 years and/or the Instructor recommended Bibliography. APA formatting and citations are mandatory as the failure to cite sources appropriately constitutes plagiarism.

Please see below for my in class reflections and let me know if you need help finding research papers.

1. What messages have you received about sex throughout your life?

Sex and sexuality was a taboo topic when I was growing up. My parents never talked about sex with me. I often associated sex with guilt and shame. Sexual education was definitely very lacking when I was in Taiwan. Choosing not to be sexual was the safest option. Seeing a therapist can help individuals overcome sexual shame. 

2. Reflect on an aspect of your own sexuality and how this may impact your comfort and ability to counsel.

Sexuality was a personal and forbidden topic when I was growing up. I am still not completely comfortable talking about it. Before I ask my clients to be honest about their feelings and stories, I should learn to be more comfortable with my own sexual beliefs and my ability to express my sexual desires. Being able to address, articulate and discuss different factors impacting sexual satisfaction will enhance my ability to counsel in a therapy session.

3. Reflections on your sexual development

During my early adolescence years, I was trying to separate from my family, spending more time with friends, developing romantic feelings and attraction to others. I never really wanted to engage in sexual intercourse because I was taught if a man was willing to wait for sex, he would value and cherish me more. However, I was pressured (sweet talk) into having sex with my boyfriend at the time and the experience was not very satisfying. I was sad that my motivation to have sex with him was to please him not for my own sexual desire. I suffered from sexual regret and kept researching for information about hymen repair surgeries. Eventually, I chose not to undergo the surgery and learned how to turn down sex when I wasn't ready. As a aspiring therapist, I want to help others who had similar painful experiences. 

4. Provide a summary statement of your preferred theoretical approach indicating the reason for your preference, (e.g. the context of your anticipated counselling setting or as related to the implications for counselling).

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy is my preferred theoretical approach for sex therapy. MBCT is useful in reducing sexual stress and pain, improving sexual desire, excitation, lubrication, orgasm and sexual satisfaction. I would like to work with clients to lower their performance anxiety, heighten awareness of their sensations, and educate them to focus on pleasure. 

Links for textbooks:

Binak, YM and Hall, KSK, Eds (2014). Principles and Practice of Sex Therapy 5th Ed. New York: The Guilford Press.