NAVIGATING INTIMATE PAIN
WHEN SEX HURTS
When Sex Hurts: Navigating Intimate Pain offers practitioners a comprehensive exploration of sexual pain conditions and their treatment. This four-week intensive course combines clinical expertise with practical interventions, empowering you to support clients experiencing intimate pain with confidence and sensitivity.
Over four weeks, weekly two-hour lectures and small group practice sessions, you'll deep dive into the complexities of sexual pain, including the physiological, psychological, and relational dimensions. Learn about conditions like vaginismus, dyspareunia, and endometriosis, while understanding how societal constructs, relationship dynamics, and personal histories influence the pain experience.
This four-week course is PACFA, ACA and SAS approved.
THIS COURSE COVERS
Societal constructs of sex and gender in relationships
The physiology of pleasure – vulva/vaginal arousal systems, things that most people don’t know
A discussion on sexual desire and how desire, pain, relationships and daily life are all intertwined
Medical reasons for sexual pain
vaginismus, dyspareunia, endometriosis, after birth scarring and more
Psychological reasons for sexual pain
Attitudes about sex
Relationship issues
Societal constructs
Treatment ideas for sexual pain
Consent, safety and pleasure
Working with Vulvas
Working with Penises
Communicating with lovers & partners
The fear/pain cycle
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Understanding vulva/vaginal arousal systems and pleasure physiology
Breaking the fear/pain cycle
Medical and psychological causes of sexual pain
Practical treatment approaches and interventions
Communication strategies for working with clients and their partners
Creating safety and incorporating consent in treatment
“In one lecture with you I learned more about sex than my entire medical degree”
What people say about Tanya
PRACTICAL DETAILS
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This course is offered through an online platform across four weeks.
Each week there is a three-hour lecture with Tanya and a one-hour meeting with your pod group to practice the interventions. Total study time: 4-6 hours per week
Each week there is a short 10-question multiple-choice quiz and a brief reflection task from your pod meeting.
The pod groups are small groups of 2-3 classmates. Your meeting time is decided based on your preferred time to meet, so the pod meetings can occur at a time that works for you.
Somatic teaching style
You will receive resources and handouts to use with your clients and read through in your own time.
Access to all content for one year.
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Tanya's unique approach ensures that everybody working in these areas, whether practicing for 5 minutes or 20 years, will learn valuable new skills.
Sex Therapists
Counsellors, Therapists & Coaches
Allied Health Practitioners
Medical Professionals
Students undertaking education in any of the above
Anyone who needs to talk about sex in a professional setting
This course counts as 12 hours PACFA category A CPD and 10 hours ACA OPD
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2026 Investment
Pay in full - $700AUD +GST
Payment plan - 2 x $350AUD + GST
Certificates are issued upon completion of all course requirements and payment plan instalments.
BIPOC and disability scholarships are open. Apply here.
*Prices subject to change.
Be the First to Know When Enrolment Opens
Tanya is offering a number of one-month-long professional trainings.
This is a rare opportunity to learn from Tanya’s over 20 years of clinical experience. Tanya has extensive clinical experience and has engaged in diverse and cutting-edge professional development with some of the world’s leading sex educators. This cumulative knowledge and experience are woven into simple, practical interventions.
In Tanya’s training for professionals, her participants gain valuable knowledge and practical client intervention frameworks. These workshops cover important issues, such as consent, sexual communication, relationships, desire discrepancy, sexual pain, and how to speak about sex.
Tanya will give you the language and skills to support your clients in navigating their sexuality, pleasure, intimacy, communication, and relationships.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
FAQs
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The next intake of Navigating Intimate Pain will be in the second half of 2026. Join the waitlist below to be notified when registration opens.
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This course is for people over 18 years of age.
It is professional training for therapists, medical or allied health practitioners, and any other practitioners who may need to speak to their clients about sex and relationships.
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We have a few BIPOC and disability scholarships per course.
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Yes, this course counts for 12 hours PACFA category A CPD or 10 hours ACA OPD.
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A full refund (minus any third party processing fees) is available up to two weeks prior to the course.
Cancellations in the two weeks prior to the course are liable to full course fee if we are unable to fill the place from our wait list.
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Yes, payment plans are available.
All payment plans must be complete before course commences.
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Yes—course participants must attend lectures and pod meetings to gain full benefit from interacting with Tanya and fellow students.
It is a course requirement that you participate in weekly pod meetings with fellow students as it is part of a somatic teaching style.
Not attending live lectures will impact your CPD/OPD points
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Lectures will be recorded and available for viewing within 48 hours.
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If you register for the Certificate in Sex Therapy Practice you will save $897 off the total cost of four courses.
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