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COED 635

OED 635. Human Sexuality Issues in Counseling

Prerequisites: COED 610, equivalent course, (or concurrently) or permission of instructor

Credit Hours: (3)

This course explores the importance of human sexuality issues in the counseling of children, adolescents and adults. Areas explored include basic human sexual functioning and sexual expression, gender identity development, gender issues in counseling men and women and the effects of sexual abuse on personality development and functioning. Other issues considered will include current topics such as sexual harassment and date rape.

 

Detailed Description of Content of Course

This course will provide the student with knowledge concerning human sexual function and sexual expression, gender development and identity, gender differences between men and women, and the effects of sexual abuse or sexual assault on personality functioning. The course will focus on the counseling implications of sexuality issues. For example, the course would help the student identify counseling interventions for individuals who are experiencing personal distress concerning some aspect of their sexuality. The student will also explore his or her attitudes and beliefs concerning sexuality issues and how these attitudes and beliefs might affect their ability to provide counseling to individuals.

 

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

The course will include lectures, class discussion, small group work and role-plays. Videotapes and guest speakers will also be included.

 

Goals and Objectives of the Course

Having successfully completed this course, the student will be able to:

 

1. recognize the importance of sexuality issues in counseling individuals;
2. articulate a strong knowledge base concerning sexuality, gender development, and the effects of sexual abuse and assault;
3. better understand their own attitudes and beliefs concerning sexuality issues, especially those which might impair their ability to function optimally as counselors (i.e., blaming the victim of sexual assault);
4. apply knowledge concerning gender differences, gender development, and sexual development in individual assessment and in planning counseling interventions.

 

Assessment Measures

Student outcomes will be assessed through student presentations, a research

paper, and a mid-term, and final exam.

 

Other Course Information

Bibliography of Readings

  • Alpert, J. (Ed.) (1995). Sexual abuse recalled: Treating trauma in the era of the recovered memory debate. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.
  • Arliss, L., & Borisoff, D. (1993). Women & men communicating: Challenges and changes. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
  • Bates, B. (1992). Communication and the sexes. Prospect Hts, IL: Waveland Press.
  • Beal, A., & Sternbert, R. (Ed.) (1993). The psychology of gender. New York, NY: Guildford Press.
  • Bem, S. (1993). The lenses of gender: Transforming the debate on sexual inequality. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
  • Briere, J. (1989). Therapy for adults molested as children: Beyond survivall. New York, NY: Springer.
  • Brownmiller, S. (1975). Against our will: Men, women, and rape. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.
  • Davies, M. (1995). Childhood sexual abuse and the construction of identity. Briston, PA: Taylor & Francis.
  • Ellis, L. (1989). Theories of rape: Inquiries into the causes of sexual aggression. New York, NY: Hemisphere.
  • Gilmartin, P. (1994). Rape, incest, and child sexual abuse: Consequences and recovery. New York, NY: Garland Publishing.
  • Golombok, S. (1994). Gender development. Cambridge, NY: Cambridge University Press.
  • Hewlett, S. (Ed.) (1992). Father-child relations: Cultural and biosocial contexts. New York: Aldine De Gruyter.
  • Higgins, L., & Siliver, B. (Ed.) (1991). Rape and representation. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.
  • Hughes, J. (1988). Peer harassment: Hassles for women on campus. Washington, DC: Project on the Status and Education of Women.
  • Kalbfleishch, P., & Cody, M. (1995). Gender, power, and communication in human relationships. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum Associates.
  • Kipnis, A. (1994). Gender war, gender peace: The quest for love and justice. New York, NY: Morrow.
  • Kreps, L. (Ed.) (1993). Sexual harassment: Communication implications. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press.
  • Landry, D. (1991). Family fallout: A handbook for families of adult sexual survivors. Orwell, VT: Safer Society Press.
  • Lew, M. (1990) Victims no longer: Men recovering from incest and other sexual child abuse. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
  • Lewis, J., Hayes, B., & Bradley, L. (Ed.) (1992). Counseling women, over the life span. Denver, CO: Love Publishing.
  • Lloyd, B. (1992). Gender identities and education: The impact of starting school. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.
  • Lorber, J. (1994). Paradoxes of gender. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
  • Masters, W. (1994). Heterosexuality. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
  • Meiselman, K. (1990). Resolving the trauma of incest: Reintegration therapy with survivors. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
  • Mondimore, F. (1996). A natural history of homosexuality. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.
  • Paludi, M. (1991). Academic and workplace sexual harassment: A resource manual. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
  • Reed, B. G., & Garvin, C. (Ed.) (1983). Groupwork with women/groupwork with men: An overview of gender issues in social groupwork practice. New York, NY: Haworth Press.
  • Russell, J. (1993). Out of bounds: Sexual exploitation in counselling and therapy. Newbury Park, CA: SAGE Publications.
  • Schnarch, D. (1991). Constructing the sexual crucible: An integration of sexual/marital therapy. New York, NY: Norton.
  • Schoer, L. (1988). Sexuality and chronic illness: A comprehensive approach. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
  • Serbin, L. (1993). The development of sex typing in middle childhood. Chicago, IL: The Society for Research in Child Development.
  • Walsh, M. (Ed.) (1997). Women, men and gender: Ongoing debates. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
  • Weinstein, E. (1988). Sexuality counseling: Issues and implications. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing.
  • Wood, J. (1994). Gendered lives: Communication, gender, and culture. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
  • Wyatt, G. (1993). Sexual abuse and consensual sex: Women’s developmental patterns and outcomes. Newbury Park: Sage.

 

Review and Approval
April 1999 Revised