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Menopause and Sexual Health: An Interdisciplinary Clinical Framework for Sex Therapy

Tuesday, November 24th, 2026   10:00 AM EST -1:00 PM EST
Diana Melnick and Sara Klein
$59.99 USD

Menopause can affect mood, sleep, identity, sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, lubrication, genital comfort, urinary function, pelvic floor tone, and relationship dynamics. This 3-hour online seminar provides clinicians with an integrated biopsychosocial framework for understanding menopause-related sexual concerns, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, dyspareunia, pelvic floor dysfunction, body image changes, and relational distress. The seminar combines sex therapy concepts with pelvic physical therapy principles so clinicians can screen more effectively, communicate more comfortably, and collaborate across disciplines.

 

About the Presenter

Diana Melnick is a registered psychotherapist and certified sex therapist with over a decade of experience helping folks navigate mental health, relationship, sexual and intimacy struggles. She is an ICEEFT certified Emotionally Focused Therapist (Supervisor in training), and Somatic EMDR Practitioner. She is the Clinical Director of Toronto Intimacy Counselling, a multidisciplinary clinic in Toronto which specializes in the treatment of relationship and sexual issues.
 
Sara Klein is a registered Physiotherapist with more than 19 years of experience. She graduated from the University of Toronto with an MScPT in 2005 and subsequently completed additional training in Woman’s Pelvic Health Physiotherapy. Sara specializes in the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction including pelvic pain. She treats women at all stages of life including, teens, perinatal, perimenopause and menopause for any bowel, bladder or sexual dysfunction. Sara is passionate about treating people with pain and also serves as a researcher, educator and staff physiotherapist in the Chronic Pain Program at the Hospital for Sick Children assessing and treating teens and children with persistent pain conditions.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Differentiate common menopause-related sexual and pelvic health concerns, including vasomotor symptoms, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, dyspareunia, pelvic floor overactivity, urinary symptoms, body image distress, and changes in desire or arousal.
  2. Apply a biopsychosocial assessment framework to menopause-related sexual concerns, including medical, pelvic floor, psychological, relational, cultural, trauma-related, and medication-related contributors.
  3. Identify appropriate interdisciplinary treatment and referral pathways, including sex therapy interventions, pelvic physical therapy, medical evaluation, menopause-specialist referral, and red-flag symptoms requiring medical follow-up.
  4. Demonstrate inclusive, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive clinical language for discussing menopause, sexual pain, desire discrepancy, partner dynamics, and pelvic health concerns with diverse clients.

Agenda:

Timed Agenda — 180 Instructional Minutes

Time

Segment

Presenter

Content

0–10 min

Welcome, CE Orientation, Scope of Practice

Both

Program goals, confidentiality in online learning, boundaries between sex therapy, pelvic PT, and medical prescribing; overview of interdisciplinary model.

10–30 min

Menopause Foundations for Clinicians

Sex therapist

Definitions: perimenopause, menopause, postmenopause, surgical menopause, premature/early menopause; common symptom clusters: sleep, mood, vasomotor symptoms, sexual changes, urinary/genital changes.

30–50 min

Sexual Health Changes in Menopause

Sex therapist

Desire, arousal, orgasm, lubrication, pain, avoidance, shame, relationship distress, identity changes, “I should still want sex” narratives, and partner misunderstanding.

50–70 min

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause and Sexual Pain

Pelvic PT

GSM symptoms, vulvovaginal dryness, irritation, burning, dyspareunia, urinary urgency/frequency/recurrent UTI concerns, tissue sensitivity, and when symptoms require medical assessment.

70–85 min

Clinical Screening Questions

Both

How to ask about pain, libido, lubrication, orgasm, urinary symptoms, trauma history, cancer history, hormone use, medications, relationship context, and religious/cultural values without over-pathologizing.

85–95 min

Interactive Case Poll

Both

Case vignette: menopausal client with low desire, painful penetration, avoidance, and partner distress. Participants identify possible contributors and referral priorities.

95–120 min

Pelvic Physical Therapy Framework

Pelvic PT

Pelvic floor overactivity vs. weakness, guarding, breathing, down-training, graded exposure, dilator work, manual therapy concepts, home programs, urinary symptoms, and how clinicians can explain pelvic PT to clients.

120–145 min

Sex Therapy Interventions

Sex therapist

Psychoeducation, permission-giving, sensate focus modifications, sexual communication, grief and identity work, desire discrepancy, responsive desire, mindfulness, pacing, pleasure mapping, and partner-inclusive treatment.

145–160 min

Integrating Medical and Nonmedical Care

Both

Lubricants, moisturizers, vaginal estrogen/DHEA/ospemifene discussion as referral topics, nonhormonal vasomotor options, testosterone/HSDD referral considerations, oncology-sensitive care, and collaboration with prescribers.

160–172 min

Diversity, Ethics, and Trauma-Informed Practice

Both

LGBTQ+ clients, clients after hysterectomy/oophorectomy/cancer treatment, disability, cultural modesty, religious values, sexual trauma, informed consent, scope of competence, avoiding coercive “just have sex” messaging.

172–180 min

Summary, Clinical Takeaways, Q&A

Both

Three-part clinical map: screen, normalize, refer/collaborate. Final questions and post-program instructions.

This workshop offers 3 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits

This presentation is open to:
  • Social Workers
  • Professional Counselors
  • Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
  • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: intermediate
Level of Clinician: intermediate
  • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
  • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
  • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
  • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
  • This program meets the requirements for the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists. These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification. AASECT Knowledge Areas: Developmental Sexuality, Health/Medical factors that influence sexuality, Intimacy Skills, Learning theory and its application, Range of sexual functioning and behavior, sexual and reproductive anatomy, Socio-cultural and familial factors. May be used for Sex Therapy Training ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST5, ST6, ST7.
  • Therapist Express 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 creative arts therapists. #CAT-0122.
  • Therapist Express 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 marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express 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-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0275.
  • Therapist Express 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 marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express 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-0325.
  • Therapist Express 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-0774.
Refund Policy:
Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
*exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.