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