Affirmative exploration is a central principle in Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy, as well as in psychotherapy more broadly. Yet one of the most significant blocks to this process — and one that can be difficult for both therapists and clients to detect — is shame.
In this self-access class, Silva Neves explains how shame presents itself in specific ways during the exploration of diverse sexual orientations. By learning to identify and address both client and therapist shame, therapists can transform the therapeutic space into one that fosters not only self-discovery but also deep healing.
You will learn:
- How shame manifests: Recognise the subtle and specific ways shame can arise during the exploration of sexuality.
- The impact on clients and therapists: Understand how shame can affect both sides of the therapeutic relationship.
- Therapeutic strategies: Explore approaches for addressing shame to make affirmative exploration a more healing and empowering process.
This is an edited recording of Silva Neves’ live presentation at the 2022 COSRT Conference; Gender, Sexual and Relationship Diversity in Modern Therapy.
About The Trainer
Silva Neves
Silva Neves is a COSRT-accredited and UKCP-registered Psychosexual and Relationship Psychotherapist, and a Trauma Psychotherapist.
He is a Pink Therapy Clinical Associate. Silva works in his Central London private practice and online seeing individuals and couples presenting with a wide range of sex and relationship issues. Silva specialises in working with sexual trauma and compulsive sexual behaviours. He speaks internationally on sex, relationships, LGBTQ+ topics, and trauma. Silva is a COSRT-accredited clinical supervisor. He is a Course Director for CICS (Contemporary Institute of Clinical Sexology). He is a member of the editorial board for the leading international journal Sex and Relationship Therapy. He is also the author of Compulsive Sexual Behaviours, A Psycho-Sexual Treatment Guide for Clinicians (Routledge, 2021)
