Course Description

This workshop will address the conundrum of desire and attachment, do they enhance each other or complicate matters? What is a love/lust split? What actually is desire, this thing everyone wants more of? Is desire even necessary for a thriving sex life? Attendees will learn practical tools for integrating sex therapy into their work to enrich their effectiveness in working with those challenging couples who report a lack of sexual interest. Case material will be presented. Come with your questions.


3 C earned! (See CE information below.)

This course will allow you to:

  • Understand the complexity of desire and how to address a lack of desire

  • Elaborate on ways to understand the absence of sexual aliveness in otherwise satisfying long term relationships

  • Learn several clinical interventions based on the above understanding to help a couple move towards greater sexual connection

  • Be able to articulate some of the underlying factors that make it difficult to integrate attachment with erotic desire for some people

  • Learn how to conduct a sexual history with clients and why this is important

Meet Your Instructor

Wendy Miller, PhD

Wendy E. Miller, PhD is a clinical psychologist with over 35 years of experience treating individuals and couples. She received her PhD from George Washington University and is a graduate of the NYU Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. She is an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) and has trained extensively in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy as well as with the Tavistock Center for Couple Relationships. Currently, Dr. Miller is on the faculty of The Women’s Therapy Centre Institute where she teaches classes on human sexuality. She is also on the Executive Committee of the Center for Optimal Living in NYC, a premier harm reduction treatment and training center. Most recently, she became a therapy and research collaborator with Dr. Peggy Kleinplatz’s Optimal Sexual Experiences Research Team of the University of Ottawa and is conducting couple therapy groups based on this model.

Past Participant Testimonials

"I was blown away by the depth and breadth of Dr. Miller's knowledge; her ability to weave seamlessly among models, to note limitations to each model; to point us toward relevant literature. Additionally, Dr Miller's presentation, her warmth, her ease, her invitation for participation were notable. I rarely stay this engaged in a training."

Kim S.

"It was so relevant to my practice. Even in individual work, clients often complain about low desire with their partners. I feel more able to help them sort this out now."

Lauri N.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Introduction

    • Course Description

    • Meet Your Instructor

    • Getting to know you and your course goals
  • 2

    Lesson Video

    • Part 1: Understanding low desire and sexuality in couples

    • Part 2: Research and theory on attachment and sexuality; Attachment-based treatment approaches

    • Part 3: Dual Control Model; Reframing goals; Assessment; Sensate focus

    • Part 4: Q&A
  • 3

    CE Quiz

    • CE Quiz
  • 4

    Course Wrap Up

    • Course Survey

Continuing Education: 2 Contact Hours Earned

Credit requirements and approvals vary per state board regulations. Please save the course curriculum, the certificate of completion you receive afterward and contact your state board or organization to determine specific filing requirements.

Embodied Mind Mental Health Counseling, PLLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0186.

Embodied Mind Mental Health Counseling, PLLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0645.