What Clinicians Miss: Sex, Relationships, and Desire Across Autism, ADHD, and PDA

CE Hours 1.5

About this live event

AASECT CE Pending A client stops wanting sex after a baby. A husband can't stand the feel of his partner's body since she gained weight. A client tells you she's asexual. Each of these can look like a body-image problem, a character problem, or a trauma problem, and sometimes it is. But for a lot of neurodivergent clients there's a sensory story underneath, and most clinical training never teaches you to look for it. In this 90-minute live conversation, Kory Andreas and Emma Smith bring 2 lenses to the same room: Kory's neuro-affirming work with autistic, ADHD, and PDA adults, and Emma's sex and couples therapy practice. Tammy Nelson moderates, pushes on the hard cases, and brings your questions in live. You'll look at how a changed sensory profile can drive changes in desire and touch, how to tell sensory overwhelm apart from asexual identity or an undisclosed trauma history (and what to do when it's more than one), and how an autistic partner's distress about an aversion differs from a narcissistic partner's contempt. From there the panel gets practical: when conjoint couples therapy helps, when it does harm, and why standard neurotypical relationship advice (the date night, the unscripted talk about what's missing) so often backfires. You'll leave with assessment questions to use in your next session and a few adaptations to your couples and sex therapy work that make it safer for neurodivergent clients and their partners.

Learning Objectives

Distinguish sensory-based changes in sexual desire and touch tolerance from body-image, relational, and characterological explanations, including narcissistic contempt, when a neurodivergent client presents with low desire or touch aversion.
Identify at least 3 assessment questions that help differentiate asexual identity, sensory overwhelm, and a trauma history in neurodivergent clients, including presentations where more than one is present.
Apply at least 2 adaptations to couples and sex therapy that reduce harm for neurodivergent clients, such as individual sessions before conjoint disclosure, structured communication formats, and predictable, low-sensory-load connection in place of standard date-night advice.

Learning Levels

Beginner
Intermediate

Target Audience

This educational activity is intended for behavioral health professionals, including Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, and MFT's.

Agenda

4:00 PM Welcome, CE housekeeping, attendance instructions

4:02 PM Framing: why sex and relationship work needs a neurodivergent lens. Opening poll: what shows up most on your caseload?

4:10 PM What it looks like vs. what it is: sensory profile shifts (postpartum desire, touch and texture aversion) and how they get misread as body-image or relationship problems

4:25 PM Ace, overwhelmed, or carrying trauma? Differentiating asexual identity, sensory overwhelm, and trauma history, and working with overlap. Case example

4:40 PM Autistic or narcissistic? Shame vs. contempt as a clinical marker, and how misattribution happens in both directions

4:52 PM When neurotypical strategies do harm: when conjoint couples therapy is contraindicated, the case for individual sessions, and scripts for disclosing sensory needs without shaming a partner

5:07 PM Intimacy without a template: connection through shared interests, scheduled and predictable intimacy, structured dialogue formats, and building a headspace for desire

5:17 PM Live audience Q&A

5:29 PM Clinical takeaways and closing reflection

Total CE instruction is 90 minutes = 1.5 CE hours.

Live event Instructor(s)

Kory Andreas, LCSW-C

Kory Andreas, LCSW-C, is a clinical psychotherapist and Autism specialist with extensive expertise in Neurodivergent-affirming care and education. With over 20 years of experience in therapy, supervision, and consulting, Kory is deeply committed to advancing affirming practices across therapeutic, educational, and workplace settings. She supports Neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ individuals through diagnostic work, direct care, and systemic change efforts. Sought-after speaker on modern Autism and Neurodivergent relationships, Kory is known for translating clinical insight into engaging, relatable instruction. She provides dynamic, accessible psychoeducational content and consultation that promotes empathy, inclusivity, and practical strategies for supporting Neurodivergence across diverse environments.

As a skilled presenter and content specialist, Kory develops and delivers accessible, impactful psychoeducational content for broad audiences. Through dynamic speaking engagements and Neurodiversity-affirming training sessions, Kory promotes awareness, empathy, and best practices, fostering inclusive and affirming approaches to Neurodivergence. Known for her passionate advocacy, her work reflects a deep commitment to education and the advancement of supportive practices in the field.
Tammy Nelson, PhD

Founder and Executive Director, Integrative Sex Therapy Institute

Tammy Nelson, PhD, is a sex and relationship expert, international speaker, author, and licensed psychotherapist working with individuals and couples. In private practice she focuses on helping people of all ages, orientations and genders find love, healing and passion. Dr. Nelson is the Founder and Executive Director of the Integrative Sex Therapy Institute and has been a licensed sex and relationship therapist in practice for over thirty years. She teaches at several Universities, is a TEDx speaker, and hosts The Trouble With Sex podcast & Pair-A-Docs Podcast.
Emma J. Smith, PhD, LPC-MHSP, CST, CCTP

Founder, SOLILOQUIE

Dr. Emma Smith is an existential psychotherapist and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist who has spent more than fifteen years teaching desire to the audiences least willing to discuss it: military commands, law enforcement agencies, boardrooms, and retail floors. She is the founder of SOLILOQUIE and the creator of The Desire Recalibration™, an eight-week program for seven-figure founders and the relationships that went unattended while they built it.

Emma teaches from one premise: desire is a meaning problem, not a technique problem. Which is why the fix is never a new position or a nicer vacation; it's releasing the brake no one taught you was there.

She hosts The Intimate Philosopher podcast and keynoted the STIMULATE Sexual Wellness Symposium. Bookers describe her as the consummate professional who talks like your closest friend: clinically rigorous, disarmingly human, and genuinely funny about it.

Disclosure

DISCLOSURE OF RELEVANT FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity ― including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests). The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity’s planners, faculty, and the reviewer: PLANNERS AND REVIEWER The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships. FACULTY The faculty of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

CE Process Info

Before the event, you will receive an email from CE-Go with access to the virtual event. After the event, you will receive access to your evaluation and continuing education certificate via a personalized "attendee dashboard" link, hosted on the CE-Go website. This link and access to the virtual event will be sent to the email account you used to register for the event.

Upon accessing the CE-Go "attendee dashboard", you will be able to:

Complete evaluation forms for the event
Download your continuing education certificate in a PDF format

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the CE-Go platform, please contact CE-Go at 888-498-5578 or by email at support@ce-go.com Please Note: Emails for this event will come from "support@ceactivities.com".

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Joint Accreditation (JA)

In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
American Psychological Association (APA)

Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, CE Learning Systems is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 clinical continuing education credits.
New York Education Department's State Board for Social Work (NYEDSW)

CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) 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. #0060.
New York Education Department Board of Creative Arts Therapy (NYSEDCAT)

CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board of Creative Arts Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists. #CAT-0008
New York Education Department for Licensed Mental Health Counselors (NYSEDLMHC)

CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) 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-0072.
New York Education Department Board for Licensed Psychoanalysts (NYSEDLP)

CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychoanalysts as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychoanalysts. #P-0031.
New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology (NYEDPSY)

CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) 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-0016.
New York Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy (NYEDMFT)

CE Learning Systems, LLC (d/b/a impactce.com) is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists. #MFT-0045.

Where can I find my Attendee Dashboard link?

Upon registering, you should receive an email from support@ceactivities.com with a link to access your Attendee Dashboard. If you do not see it in your inbox, please check your spam/junk folder. If you still cannot locate the email, you may retrieve your Attendee Dashboard link by clicking HERE

Technology

1. This virtual event will be hosted via Zoom Webinar, and you may be prompted to download or upgrade your Zoom app if using a mobile device. A strong WiFi connection will be required for best quality.

2. We recommend clicking your "Join Webinar" button early and checking that your speakers are on before the event begins. Please do not worry about being seen or heard! Attendee video feeds and mics are turned off by default when entering a webinar. You will be able to ask questions via the Q&A feature.

3. Please respect that no copying, recording, or distribution of live session content is allowed. CE's are provided for the "live" sessions only. CE's will not be available for the recordings.

Disability Accommodation

We are committed to providing ADA accommodations in compliance with the law. To ensure your needs are met, please inform us of any requirements when you register, ideally at least 30 days before the event. You can do so by emailing support@ce-go.com or calling 888-498-5578.

CELS Grievance Policy

If a grievance arises pertaining to continuing education activities or processes, please contact Tyler Gibson via confidential email to tyler@celearningsystems.com as soon as possible, so that the nature of the concern may be addressed in a timely fashion.

What Clinicians Miss: Sex, Relationships, and Desire Across Autism, ADHD, and PDA

About this live event

Learning Objectives

Learning Levels

Target Audience

Agenda

Live event Instructor(s)

Disclosure

CE Process Info

Joint Accreditation (JA)

American Psychological Association (APA)

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

New York Education Department's State Board for Social Work (NYEDSW)

New York Education Department Board of Creative Arts Therapy (NYSEDCAT)

New York Education Department for Licensed Mental Health Counselors (NYSEDLMHC)

New York Education Department Board for Licensed Psychoanalysts (NYSEDLP)

New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology (NYEDPSY)

New York Education Department's State Board for Marriage and Family Therapy (NYEDMFT)

Where can I find my Attendee Dashboard link?

Technology

Disability Accommodation

CELS Grievance Policy

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