DIVERSITY
Each module may be taken on its own or as part of a 6-day series leading to a Certificate in Diversity within Contemporary Relationships, more info can be found here: Certificate in Diversity within Contemporary Relationships
Any links we have written in bold green are to help you gain access to the main page of the workshop required.
Please note all discount prices shall show at the final checkout
Bisexuality and Sexual Fluidity - Tuesday 13th June 2023 BOOK BY 13TH MAY FOR THE EARLY DISCOUNT PRICE OF £125
Other Loves - Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th June 2023 BOOK BY 24TH MAY FOR THE EARLY DISCOUNT PRICE OF £175
or Monday and Tuesday 16 & 17 October 2023
Neurodivergence, sex, and relationships - Sunday 16th July 2023 BOOK BY 16TH MAY FOR THE EXTRA EARLY DISCOUNT PRICE OF £110
Friday 27th October 2023 or Saturday 6th January 2024
Working with Kink - Sunday 17th September 2023 BOOK BY 17TH JULY FOR THE EXTRA EARLY DISCOUNT PRICE OF £110
Working Alongside Trans, Non-Binary and Questioning Clients - Friday 1st December 2023 BOOK BY 1ST SEPTEMEBR FOR THE EXTRA EARLY DISCOUNT PRICE OF £110
WE HAVE PUT MORE DETAILS ABOUT EACH OF THE WORKSHOPS BELOW
Bisexuality Sexual Fluidity and Bisexuality with Bernd Leygraf
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) as so often, got it right. In his theories related to libidinal drives he sensed that attraction and desires were omnidirectional, and that human beings could be attracted to anyone, independent of gender and sexual orientation.
Alfred Kinsey (1894-1956) continued with a two-dimensional scale of sexual orientations. Then Fritz Klein (1932 – 2006) developed a multidimensional tool. He discovered that around 38% of people could be described as bisexual, with people who are ‘exclusively heterosexual’ and ‘exclusively homosexual’ being in the minority.
Unfortunately, this has not found its way into peoples’ general awareness, nor into the way sex and relationship therapists conceptualise the work. This is starting to change with GSRD (Gender Sexuality and Relationship Diversity) awareness, but more work is needed.
This workshop intends to explore ways of working with these invisible client populations.
Other Loves: Polyamory, Polygamy and Arranged Marriages with Bernd Leygraf.
This two-day Intensive is dedicated to exploring a wide range of relationship models taking into account culture, sexuality, gender rather than assuming that one size fits all.
During the two days, we will explore and learn specific skills for welcoming and working with:
- couples (an intimate dual system)
- multiple partner relationships
- non-eurocentric relationships
- including arranged marriages and
- polygamous ones
- clients from collectivist cultures rather than individualist culture
- erotically marginalised client groups
Participants will be supported in:
- recognising and adjusting our communication which may sound
- discriminatory,
- hostile,
- including micro aggressions and
- overt prejudice
- exploring (counter)transference in this work.
Neurodivergence, sex, and relationships with Tiga-Rose Nercessian
This 1-day experiential training offers you the opportunity to further develop your competence and confidence when working with neurodivergent adults. This includes looking at different presentations you may work with, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD), Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), Dyslexia, Alexithymia, Synesthesia, and Tourette’s Syndrome.
By moving away from pathologising psychiatric terms such as “disorder” and taking a more developmental approach, we can explore and discuss some of the experiences of neurodivergent clients and their common presenting issues concerning sex and relationships. These include sensory processing issues in relation to sex, rejection sensitivity in dating, and alexithymia and OCD in relationships. We also investigate the intersectionality between neurodivergence and gender, asexuality, non-monogamy, and kink. Woven into the day are eight fun and reflective activities for you to try and potentially to use with neurodivergent clients. Lastly, there will be time to reflect on the appropriate adjustments you’re willing and able to make in your practice.
Kink with Bernd Leygraf.
This workshop is open to counsellors and psychotherapists who work one-to-one with clients, as well as relationship therapists, family therapists, psychosexual specialists, coaches, health workers and medics. In fact any professional who wishes to explore the difference between pathological behaviour and what is commonly perceived as “kink”. We define kink as a set of pleasurable activities that in other contexts are defined as not pleasurable or usual. Kink is sometimes also known as BDSM.
BDSM is a general term which applies to activities, fantasies, or scenes that involve a consensual exchange of power, where it’s agreed that one person has more power over another person (for a set period of time), such as in role play or in sado masochistic practices. These rules are normally agreed in advance. It might involve physical control, sensory deprivation, restraint, pain, humiliation, and/or being told off. These things, in the ‘usual world’ might be perceived as unpleasant, but in kink may feel exhilarating. A lot of people just fantasise about kink but don’t take it any further.
Bisexuality Sexual Fluidity and Bisexuality with Bernd Leygraf
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) as so often, got it right. In his theories related to libidinal drives he sensed that attraction and desires were omnidirectional, and that human beings could be attracted to anyone, independent of gender and sexual orientation.
Alfred Kinsey (1894-1956) continued with a two-dimensional scale of sexual orientations. Then Fritz Klein (1932 – 2006) developed a multidimensional tool. He discovered that around 38% of people could be described as bisexual, with people who are ‘exclusively heterosexual’ and ‘exclusively homosexual’ being in the minority.
Unfortunately, this has not found its way into peoples’ general awareness, nor into the way sex and relationship therapists conceptualise the work. This is starting to change with GSRD (Gender Sexuality and Relationship Diversity) awareness, but more work is needed.
This workshop intends to explore ways of working with these invisible client populations.
Working Alongside Trans, Non-Binary and Questioning Clients: with Serge Nicholson.
Therapists increasingly get to meet gender diverse and gender questioning people in their client base. This day will bring a greater awareness and understanding of the broad spectrum of GSRD (gender, sex, sexual and relationship diversity). Together we will explore good practice, further increasing our knowledge, confidence and competence.
In the exploration of gender identity there often comes a re-frame of both sexuality, and relationships. Part of the therapy work may involve:
- Holding a space for the questions that our client’s ask themselves
- Exploring their model of what a relationship is
- Helping clients who are in an existing relationship that is itself in transition
- Supporting the potential for individuals to have new relationship(s) within a gender re-frame
- Assisting clients who are exploring relationships for the first time as a woman, a man, or a non-binary person
- Thinking about the whole family structure involved in the transition, for example where there is a move to two moms and / or two dads or other non-binary kinship terms
Topics covered include:
- Examining marginalised culture contexts, language and terms
- Exploring the issues that can come up when working alongside transgender, non-binary, queer, lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual and outsider gender and sexuality clients
- Working with gender diverse and gender questioning clients along with their partners (who may be gender diverse or cisgender)
- Thinking about neurodiversity in relation to our GSRD clients
Please note that this is a day working alongside adult client work, and we will not be looking at gender issues in young people.
You will be encouraged to be self-reflexive, raise questions, share thoughts on good practice and consider what you bring to this area of work from your own background and modality.
Serge will share his clinical experience with LGBTIQ+ clients – both individuals and those in a partnership(s). We will use questioning, discussion and case studies to deepen our understanding.
This rich area will be about transitions, in more than one sense.
THE TRAINERS
Bernd Leygraf
Consultant Psychotherapist co-founded a number of organisations (London Men’s Forum, UK Standing Conference on Sexual Abuse of Men, the Centre
for Personal and Professional Development, the Whittington Hospital Psychotherapy Clinic, the Hungarian Gestalt Association, NAOS Institute). He co-authored with Judi Keshet-Orr the first MSc in Humanistic Psychotherapy and the first Masters programme in Psychosexual & Relationship Therapy in the UK. He also authored or co-authored, as well as led, several masters programmes in the UK, primarily at South Bank University, Middlesex University, Westminster and the University of Surrey. He was external examiner to various universities in the UK.
A former Chair of the Professional Standards and Accreditation Board at the European Association for Counselling, and Ethics Committee of COSRT, Bernd works currently with trainees, from over 40 countries. He is familiar with and interested in working with issues of cultural difference. His principal influences in sexological and couples work are David Schnarch, Joseph Zinker, Ellen Bader, Judith Hemming, Joan Lachkar, Judi Keshet-Orr and, as ever, his clients.
Tiga-Rose Nercessian
Tiga-Rose Nercessian (she/her) is a COSRT accredited psychosexual and relationship therapist, multi-certified intimacy coach, trainer, and academic 
Serge Nicholson
Serge Nicholson is a C.O.S.R.T accredited Psychosexual and Relationship Therapist with a passion for his work alongside GSRD clients. 
Serge embarked upon his therapist career change training with the London Diploma in Psychosexual & Relationship Therapy, with a long-term placement (from pre-diploma to full accreditation) within a Central London NHS sexual health service setting, including his work in helping to build a pioneering gender diverse affirming Psychosexual service. Serge has a therapy practice, based in London and the South Coast, delivering individual and partnership therapy. Serge has also been developing an innovative model of queer kitchen table therapeutic group work in Trans and Non Binary and LGBTIQ + community settings. In addition Serge is also a GSRD guest lecturer, and co-founder of www.hotpencilpress.co.uk ‘Letter To My Little Queer Self’, 2021 latest title.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: If you have further questions please email: [email protected] or call Juliet Grayson on 01291 638805
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Organised through Sleeping Mountain Ltd
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