There are a lot of words that people can use to describe sex, not to mention the various body parts that come into play when people are having (or thinking about) sex. Counselors who work with clients facing sexuality-related concerns often experience a tension between wanting to maintain a professional stance and wanting to match the client’s language in order to “meet them where they are.” It can be very challenging to walk the line between being appropriate and professional and becoming too clinical so that a client’s lived experiences are dismissed.
It is important to consider that the language a sexuality counselor uses can either hinder or enhance the counseling process. Sometimes, the same words or phrases can have very different implications depending on the context and/or the client’s background. Some clients may view slang words, to be very offensive, whereas other clients may use only such terms to describe sexual intercourse. As such, it is important to differentiate among the ways that language can be understood and used in the practice of sexuality counseling.
To prepare for this Discussion, consider a statement that a sexuality counselor could make in a counseling session that could be interpreted as inappropriate or offensive by a client. Then reflect on when, if ever, it might be appropriate to use slang in sexuality counseling sessions.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post by Day 4 an example of a statement that a sexuality counselor could make in a counseling session that a client might interpret as inappropriate or offensive and explain why. Then explain when, if ever, it might be appropriate to use slang in sexuality counseling sessions.
Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.
