Working systemically with mixed-orientation relationships

Keely Helmick

A workshop for mental health clinicians to help us be more empathic, imaginative, culturally humble, and ethically curious providers.

Northeast Portland

<h3>Note: this is an in-person event. We ask that you please wear a mask.</h3>

<h2>Five (5) AASECT Continuing Education Units on Sex &amp; Relationship Therapy</h2><p><strong><strong>Making space for centering sexuality needs is a paradigm shift that’s necessary for every mental health clinician to practice.</strong></strong></p><p>Many of us understand that sexuality is far more fluid than we used to think, and that many more people are engaging in non-monogamous relationships nowadays. However few of us have been trained in how to work with mixed-orientation relationships, that is relationships where partners have different sexual, relational and/or erotic orientations. For example, how do you work with a couple where one person is straight and one bisexual, or with a polycule where two people are pansexual and one is gay? How do you work with couples where one person is monogamous and the other is polyamorous, or where one person is kinky and the other is not? In this workshop, we will first define mixed-orientation relationships, then address what challenges and opportunities they present from an intersectional lens, before focusing on how to work with these relationships systemically within a therapeutic context. This workshop is appropriate for family therapists, sex therapists and any other therapeutic providers who work with people in intimate partner relationships.</p><p><br></p><p><strong><strong>Learning Objectives</strong></strong></p><p>After this workshop, participants will be able to:</p><ol><li>Define mixed-orientation relationships;</li><li>Describe what challenges and opportunities different kinds of mixed-orientation relationships might present;</li><li>Recognize common patterns in mixed-orientation relationships through an intersectional lens;</li><li>Examine some of their own biases, values and beliefs with regards to mixed-orientation relationships;</li><li>Appraise which therapeutic approaches might be helpful when working with people in mixed-orientation relationships.</li></ol><p><br><strong><strong>AASECT Core Knowledge Areas:</strong></strong></p><p>C: Socio-cultural, familial factors (e.g., ethnicity, culture, religion, spirituality, socioeconomic status, family values) in relation to sexual values and behaviors., D: Issues related to sexual orientation and/or gender identity: heterosexuality; issues and themes impacting lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual people; gender identity and expression.,</p><p>E: Intimacy skills (e.g., social, emotional, sexual), intimate relationships, interpersonal relationships and family dynamics.,</p><p>F: Diversities in sexual expression and lifestyles including, but not limited to, polyamory, swinging, BDSM and tantra.,</p><p>O: Professional communication and personal reflection skills..</p><h2><br></h2><h2>Contact</h2><p>Please don't hesitate to send questions about this workshop to info@connectivetherapycollective.com</p><h2><br>Pricing Intention</h2><p>Our goal is to create a space where individuals, groups, and communities can learn and grow, overcome systemic barriers to accurate sexual health information, trauma healing, and shame-free pleasure-based support. Please consider your personal intersection of power, privilege &amp; experienced oppression when choosing a fee for this service.</p><p><br></p><h2>Presenters</h2>

<h3>Presented by: Alex Iantaffi (they/them or he/him), PhD, MS, SEP, CST, LMFT</h3><p>Alex Iantaffi, PhD, MS, SEP, CST, CST-S, LMFT (they/he/lui) is an award-winning author, family therapist, WPATH certified gender specialist, AASECT certified sex therapist, Somatic ExperiencingⓇ practitioner, and clinical supervisor. Alex is currently President of the Minnesota Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (MAMFT) and Past Chair of the Trans and Queer interest network of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). They were the recipient of the 2023 AASECT Humanitarian Award, the 2019 MAMFT Distinguished Service Award, the 2013 Twin Cities Deaf Pride Community Organization Award, the 2012 Breaking the Silence Award at the University of Minnesota, and the 2000 Best Dissertation Award from the British Educational Research Association. Alex has researched, presented and published extensively on gender, disability, sexuality, relationships, and HIV. They are a trans masculine, nonbinary, bi queer, neurodivergent, disabled, Italian immigrant who has been living on Dakota and Anishinaabe territories, currently known as Minnesota (US) since 2008. Alex is the author of "Gender Trauma: healing cultural, social, and historical gendered trauma", which was awarded the Nautilus award (gold category) in 2022 and the AASECT Book Award for Sexuality Professionals in 2023. They are the co-author of the books "How to Understand Your Gender: a practical guide for exploring who you are", “Life Isn’t Binary”, “Hell Yeah Self-Care: a Trauma-Informed Workbook”, “How To Understand Your Sexuality: a practical guide for exploring who you are” and the upcoming “How to Understand Your Relationships”, with Meg-John Barker, and editor of the upcoming “Trans and Disabled” anthology. They also host the podcast Gender Stories. You can find out more about them at <a href="http://www.alexiantaffi.com/" title="http://www.alexiantaffi.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">www.alexiantaffi.com</a> or follow them on Instagram @xtaffi and @genderstories</p>

<h3>Hosted by Connective Therapy Collective Founder: Keely C. Helmick (they/she), Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Sex Therapist</h3><p>My name is Keely C. Helmick and I am the owner of Connective Therapy Collective in Portland, Oregon. I use they/them and she/her pronouns and I am a White, able-bodied, queer, gender fluid, non-binary femme.</p><p>These identities inform the passion and experience I bring to my professional practice as a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and certified sex therapist. In my work I focus on supporting individuals or relationships/family structures processing topics of gender, sexuality, non-monogamy, and polyamory. People want to talk about sex and either don’t have the language to have the discussion, or are hindered by misinformation, trauma, embarrassment or lack of self-awareness and understanding. My practice lens is intersectional, anti-oppression and de-colonization oriented. I have been working with folks for over 12-years to address a myriad of personal, sexual concerns in a sex-positive, non-judgmental way. I specialize in work with the LGBTQIA2S+, gender diverse people, as well as the kinky community. My goal is to create a space where individuals, groups, and communities can learn and grow, overcome systemic barriers to accurate sexual health information, trauma healing, and shame-free pleasure-based support.</p><p>At Connective Therapy Collective I supervise Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. I received my graduate degree from Lewis &amp; Clark College and maintain certification through the state of Oregon as well as nationally with The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT).</p>

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Working systemically with mixed-orientation relationships

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