AbstractsSocial Work

This exploratory study examined the frequency and approach used by mental health care professionals to address sexuality in individual therapy. Using convenience-sampling clinicians (N=75) from a variety of disciplines completed an online questionnaire. Study findings, based on quantitative data, suggest that 36% to 64% of clinicians initiate a discussion of sexuality depending on the diagnosis of the client. When sexuality is addressed in the clinical practice setting eclectic therapeutic techniques are most frequently used. In addition, due to the diversity of the sample a comparison using the Sexuality in Practice Scales showed that clinicians with a background in social work were significantly less comfortable addressing sexuality than clinicians from other disciplines; t(54)=2.15, p=0.036.