Belief Barriers

Time: 11:00 am-1:00 pm CT
Outside Study: 2 hours
Didactic Presentation: 1 hour 45 mins
Educator: Danielle Schaefer

Description: This didactic will address faith-based belief barriers in sex therapy with couples, focusing on how to identify when a belief barrier is present, how to assess its impact on intimacy, and how to treat it.

Pre-Didactic Materials:

– Read Song of Solomon
– Read Ezekiel 16
– Read Chapters 5 and 14 from Restoring the Pleasure

Read This:

The “What’s Allowed” List from Dr. Jennifer Konzen:

1. Is it prohibited by Scripture (i.e. lust, sexual immorality, Matt 5:28, Gal 5)?
2. Is it beneficial and constructive (1 Cor 10:23-24)? Does it build up? Does it benefit your relationship and are you seeking your spouse’s good?
3. Does it involve anyone else (even fantasizing – Heb 13:4, Matt 5:28)?
4. What is the fruit (Matt 7:16-20); when you put it into practice, does it create intimate connection between you? Does it lead to anything detrimental?
5. Is it contaminated by pollution of the world (James 1:27) or has Satan contaminated it but it now needs to be reclaimed (2 Pet1:3-4)?
6. Is it pleasing to your spouse (1 Cor 7:33-34)?
7. Does it violate your or your spouse’s conscience (Rom 14:5, 1 Cor 8:7-13)?
8. If you choose not to engage in this, is it truly about restraining or controlling sensual/sexual corruption, in a God given manner, or is it based on human teachings and self-imposed, false restrictions of the body (Col 2:21-23)?

The Hormones, Medications, Menopause with Konzen

EFT Stage 3 + Penner (Assignments 27-31)

Time: 11:00 am-1:00 pm CT
Outside Study: 2 hours
Didactic Presentation: 1 hr 45 mins
Educator: Peter Muhwati

Description:

The aim of this training is to integrate Phase 3 of the Penner protocol with EFT Stage 3 work.

Consolidating secure bonds in Stage 3 of EFT:

Stage 3: Step 8: Solutions to pragmatic problems

Stage 3: Step 9: Consolidating new responsive positions and cycles.

We will get practice at using the exercises as handles to do EFT experiential couples work.

Pre-Didactic Material:

1. Re-read Assignments 27-31 of Penner Protocol.
2. Refresh our knowledge of Steps 8 and 9 in EFT.
3. Stage 3 sex therapy session.

https://mycounselor.app.box.com/file/2109731865379?s=tmxdjry9z0as7uw4hs197g0rp83tgk21

Phase 2 Of Penner Protocol + EFT Stage 2 Review

Time: 11:00 am-1:00 pm CT
Outside Study: 1 hours
Didactic Presentation: 1 hr 45 mins
Educator: Melissa

Description:

The aim of this training is to integrate Phase 2 of the Penner protocol with EFT Stage 2 work

Therapists will learn hands on training for how to apply EFT to Penner protocol for each step:

Phase 2 Penner: Assignments: (13-22) will be utilized to integrate the following steps in Stage 2 of EFT

1. Stage 2: Step 5: Delve into and identify disowned needs and aspects of self that have been hidden for each partner.
2. Stage 2: Step 6: Promote acceptance of these tender and hidden parts, aspects of self and new ways of relating.
3. Stage 2: Step 7: Facilitate the expression of needs and wants, and restructure the relationship to create true emotional engagement

Therapist will also learn what secondary treatment protocols can and will be utilized before entering Phase 2 of Penner Protocol

Pre-Didactic Material:

1. Re-read all the assignments 13-22
2. Read through Slides Ahead of time
3. Read through Assessment Paperwork for female low desire avoidantly attached client
4. Read assessment using the assessment tree
5. Prep for didactic by reading the treatment chart in the slides carefully

Phase 1 Of Penner Protocol + EFT Stage 1 Review

Time: 11:00 am-1:00 pm CT
Outside Study: 1 hours
Didactic Presentation: 1 hr 45 mins
Educator: Melissa

Description:

The aim of this training is to integrate Phase 1 of the Penner protocol with EFT Stage 1 work

Therapists will learn hands on training for how to apply EFT to Penner protocol for each step:

Phase 1 of Penner: Step 1 Building Alliance (First Session)

Phase 1 of Penner: Step 1 Building Alliance (Second Session)

Phase 1 of Penner: Step 1 Building Alliance (Forth Session)

Phase 1 of Penner: Step 2 Mapping the Cycle (5th-8th Session)

Phase 1 of Penner: Step 3: Identifying Primary Emotion (5th-8th Session)

Phase 1 of Penner: Step 4: Reframing the Problem in the cycle (8-10th Session)

Pre-Didactic Material:

1. Re-read all the assignments 1-10
2. Read through Slides Ahead of time
3. Read through Assessment Paperwork for female low desire avoidantly attached client
4. Read assessment using the assessment tree

Phase 1 + 2 Of Penner Protocol + EFT Stage 1 + 2 Review

Time: 11:00 am-1:00 pm CT
Outside Study: 1 hours
Didactic Presentation: 1 hr 45 mins
Educator: Robbin

Description:

The aim of this training is to integrate Phase 1 + 2 of the Penner protocol with EFT Stage 1 + 2 work.

We will get practice at using these exercises as handles to do EFT experiential couples work.

Pre-Didactic Material:

Re-read all the assignments 1-26 of Penner Protocol.

EFT Stage 2 + Penner Phase 2 (Assignments 11-26)

Time: 11:00 am-1:00 pm CT
Outside Study: 2 hours
Didactic Presentation: 1 hr 45 mins
Educator: Peter Muhwati

Description:

The aim of this training is to integrate Phase 2 of the Penner protocol with EFT Stage 2 work. Particular attention will be given to the arousal aspect of the protocol.

We will get practice at using these exercises as handles to do EFT experiential couples work.

Pre-Didactic Material:

1. Re-read Assignments 11-26 of Penner Protocol. In later editions, Assignment 11 is Self-examination, and Assignment 26 is “Pleasuring , Not using hands (Including using the penis as a paint brush).
2. Refresh our knowledge of step 4 in EFT and markers of de-escalation.
3. Stage 2 sex therapy session. https://mycounselor.app.box.com/file/2042020499800

FT Stage 1 & Penner Phase 1 (Assignments 1-10)

Time: 11:00 am-1:00 pm CT
Outside Study: 2 hours
Didactic Presentation: 1 hour 45 mins
Educator: Danielle Schaefer

Description:

The aim of this training is to provide a clinically grounded overview of the sex therapy treatment process, integrating protocols from Counseling for Sexual Disorders and Restoring the Pleasure by Clifford and Joyce Penner with the stages and steps of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). The training will begin with a broad overview of the treatment framework before focusing specifically on the first session and assessment, corresponding with EFT Stage 1, Step 1. Particular attention will be given to identifying contraindications to sex therapy and recognizing factors within the assessment that may introduce additional complexities to treatment. The training will also include a brief review of the first ten Penner assignments, which align with EFT Stage 1, Steps 2–4, and incorporate Sensate Focus exercises designed to promote emotional safety, secure attachment, and the gradual restoration of sexual intimacy.

TLDR – The aim of this training is to:

1. Provide an overview of the sex therapy treatment process, combining the Penner Protocol with EFT. 
2. First Session & Assessment = EFT Stage 1: Step 1
   1. Contraindications
   2. Complexities
3. Assignments 1-10 = EFT Stage 1: Steps 2-4 & Sensate Focus
4. **Experiential exercises will focus on doing Steps 2 & 3 with a couple after trying an assisgnment**

Pre – Didactic Material:

Dearest Team. 

We have quite the intellectual and educational FEAST for pre-didactic materials. The main course will be the opportunity to watch THE Sarah Cowan do some wonderful, early stage sex therapy work. I would love for you all to spend at least one hour observing Sarah’s tapes. I have provided a few time stamps to help guide your viewing if you are short on time – and to prepare you, specifically, for the experiential exercises we will be doing in our didactic. 

An important piece of sex therapy is combining EFT, Penner Protocol, and quality education for our clients. Sarah does such a beautiful job of demonstrating how to do this from the very beginning of work with clients. If you have any extra time, I would encourage you to watch as much tape as possible, because it can be so helpful in providing verbiage and a felt sense of what this can look like practically. 

I have also included some readings from the Penner’s Counseling for Sexual Disorders. These chapters provide a good review of our overall goals, assessment, and the purpose of the assignments (if you are short on time, it is okay to skim). 

Tape [[At least 1 hour]]:

• Watch Sarah complete a sex therapy intake. Step 2 (identifying and tracking the cycle) starts at 30:00 with wife, 41:00 with husband: https://app.box.com/file/1974860243974
• Watch Sarah do a session with a couple following individual sessions. If you have time, watch the entire tape, because Sarah spends the first 20 minutes introducing the guidelines for exercises. If you are crunched for time, start at 23:00 – where she demonstrates leaning into EFT Step 2 while also introducing nervous system language: https://app.box.com/file/1934412909411
• Watch Sarah, with the same couple, do Step 2 and Step 3 (uncover primary emotion, attachment needs, and position in the cycle) utilizing initial assignment (Step 2 starts at 18:00, enactment at 35:00): https://app.box.com/file/1934405915386?sb=/activity

Readings [[Approximately 30-45 mins]]:

• Counseling for Sexual Disorders: A Therapist’s Handbook by Clifford and Joyce Penner
  • Chapter 6. What is Sexual Therapy? (3 pages)
  • Chapter 8. Assessment (10 pages + review the assessments)
  • Chapter 9. Sexual Therapy (review assignments 1-10)

Future Didactics:

11-05-25 Process Groups

11-12-25 EFT Stage 2 and Penner Phase 2 (Assignments 11-24)

11-19-25 EFT Stage 3 and Penner Phase 3 (Assignments 24-End)

11-26-25 NO DIDACTIC – THANKSGIVING

12-03-25 Process Groups

Friendly Reminder

– Articles are due by the end of November.

– Make sure that you schedule a time to film a video.

– Instructions & link to sign up for video time with Josh: https://app.box.com/file/2002100939685)