Overview

This full-day workshop (9:00am – 4:30pm) offers an in-depth exploration of the relationship between trauma, nervous system responses, and sexual function through a bio-psycho-social lens. Participants will gain an understanding of how trauma affects the mind, body, and behaviour, influencing emotional regulation, relational patterns, and sexual expression. The workshop will introduce key concepts, including the Adaptive Information Processing Model, Polyvagal theory and models of sexual function, while exploring specific traumas such as sexual trauma, attachment trauma, and the impact of cultural norms on sexuality.

Using practical examples, the workshop will examine how trauma is stored in memory networks, how it impacts sexual functioning, and how adaptive responses manifest in sexual behaviour and sexual issues. Participants will also explore treatment approaches, including domains of therapeutic support, Sensate Focus Therapy, and trauma processing techniques to help clients heal from trauma and reconnect with their sexual selves.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this event, participants should be able to:

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Define trauma and understand its impact on memory processing, nervous system regulation, and behavioural adaptations.
2. Explain the Adaptive Information Processing Model and apply it to understanding trauma activation and adaptive responses.
3. Recognise the interplay between trauma and sexual function, including how nervous system activation influences sexual expression and relational patterns.
4. Explore bio-psycho-social models of sexuality and development and their application in clinical practice.
5. Identify the impact of specific traumas, including sexual trauma, attachment trauma, and cultural norms, on sexual health and behaviour.
6. Understand protective adaptations in clients' sexual expression and their connection to trauma responses.
7. Outline domains of therapeutic support for addressing the impacts of trauma on sexual function.
8. Apply Sensate Focus Therapy and trauma processing techniques to help clients re-establish a sense of safety, regulate their nervous system, and improve their sexual wellbeing.
9. Recognise the importance of creating a safe, attune therapeutic environment that promotes healing, self-awareness, and sexual empowerment.

Presenter(s)

Dr. Sarah Ashton

About the presenter(s)

Dr Sarah Ashton (she/her) is the Director and Founder of SHIPS, the first organisation dedicated to inclusive, trauma-informed, evidence-based sexual health psychology treatment. She is also the Founder and Lead Training Author The Institute of Sexual Health Psychology Australia (ISHPA) and the Coordinator of the MHPN Sexual and Mental Health Primary Health Network. She is a registered psychologist (AHPRA) and board approved supervisor (AHPRA) and member of the Society of Australian Sexologists. Dr. Ashton is also a lecturer and academic at RMIT and Deakin University and has recently co-authored Deakin Sex and Sexuality Unit. Her research on pornography has been published in The Journal of Sex Research, Porn Studies, and Feminism & Psychology as well as The Conversation and Red Magazine. Dr Ashton is passionate about liberating our fearful relationship with sex on a cultural level, making visible the voices of erotically marginalised communities, providing exceptional sexual health care for our community and raising the bar of healthcare by empowering practitioners with skills and knowledge.

Notes

Registration includes Morning & Afternoon Tea and Lunch.

Target Audience

This activity is aimed at psychologists and health professionals.

CPD

It is up to attendees to assess and determine how learning from this event aligns with the requirements of their learning plan. The providers accordingly do not make any representation that the event counts towards attendees’ CPD learning requirements. If an attendee determines themselves that the learning they complete aligns to their learning plan, then they can decide to count those hours towards their CPD requirements for the registration cycle.

The information in this presentation has been prepared in good faith and for educational purposes only. Therefore, the information is general in nature and should not be relied upon in the treatment of any condition and you should seek your own independent professional and/or legal advice concerning any specific issue. The APS accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions or decisions relating to the information. The content should not be reproduced without permission or unless permitted by law.

If you are experiencing registration difficulties please contact APS Events Support.