Deconstructing Sexuality in Couples Therapy:
Helping Couples Therapists Navigate the Complex Terrain of Sexuality

January 30, 2015, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Couples presenting sexual concerns can be among the most challenging for psychotherapists. They often avoid bringing up their concerns, use euphemisms, or disguise their real complaints. The symposium is designed to help therapists identify the actual sexual concerns a couple presents and ways to reduce sexual anxiety. Four speakers will “fish bowl” around a pair of actors role playing a couple with sexual concerns. Panelists will demonstrate the types of questions they might ask, their diagnostic process, and various interventions. Workshop participants will explore these various approaches in small groups. A panel discussion will emphasize theoretical approaches behind the interventions they use.

Speakers

Eunice Avilés, Psy.D., LMHC, is a certified Sex Educator, and an AASECT certified Sex Therapist. Dr. Aviles moved to Springfield, Massachusetts in 2005 to participate in the Multicultural Internship of Massachusetts in the field of Clinical Psychology at the Brightside School Street Counseling Institute. After finishing her doctorate degree and obtaining her license as a clinical psychologist in Puerto Rico, Dr. Aviles provided individual, family, and couples therapy for the Springfield community, as well as psychoeducation on human sexuality and sex therapy. Currently, she is an independent practitioner in Springfield and Amherst, Massachusetts.

Dr. Avilés’ areas of expertise include mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, substance abuse, impulse control disorders, gambling addiction, the emotional consequences of bullying and other social issues.  She also specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunctions, as well as in sexual orientation and gender identity related issues.  Currently she is focused on helping other professionals assess their attitudes towards sex and gender identity and develop the confidence to address this in clinical practice.

 Donna Gilman, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist and Co-Director of the Couples Center of the Pioneer Valley in Northampton. Dr. Gilman received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, with a focus on couples therapy. She sought advanced training in mindfulness based meditation, behavioral medicine and Zen Budhhist applications to systems work. 

She has been working with couples since 1995, concentrating on sexual functioning issues such as sex addiction, loss of desire, desire discrepancy, erection and ejaculation issues, fetishism, unresolved trauma, body image issues, difficulty around orgasm; pain during sex, infertility and sex, and sexual functioning with chronic pain/illness. Dr. Gilman has a particular clinical focus on issues impacting the GLBTQ community.

Ronnie Zuessman, Ph.D., LMFT, earned a doctorate in Counseling Psychology in 1981 and completed postdoctoral training in both marriage and family therapy and sex therapy. Dr. Zuessman practices in Arlington and is licensed in Massachusetts as a Marriage and Family Therapist. A Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor of AAMFT for 30 years, he is also a Certified Sex Therapist in the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists. Dr. Zuessman has practiced in the United States, New Zealand and Australia. Having worked with culturally diverse populations, he appreciates the importance of sensitively engaging peoples of diverse backgrounds and actively empowering them in therapeutic processes with relationships and families.

His clinical practice addresses sexual identity, orientation, dysfunction, paraphilia, harassment, abuse survivorship, and offending. Contextualizing individuals and identified problems, he invites reflection upon culture, values, spiritual life, existential issues and questioning. He works with straight and LGBTQA communities. Dr. Zuessman works with relationship conflicts, couple or marital issues; life transitions around adolescence, mid-life and seniority; and families of all sorts.