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.

Through 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 course is PACFA, ACA and SAS approved.

2025 DATES

Thurs 10-12pm, Oct 16 - Nov 6

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

“A few hours with you has changed my whole view on sex!”
— Allied health, workshop participant

PRACTICAL DETAILS

    • This course is offered through an online platform across four weeks.

    • Each week there is a two-hour lecture with Tanya and a one-hour meeting with your pod group to practice the interventions. Total study time: 3 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. 

  • 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

    • Therapists

    • Allied Health Practitioners

    • Medical Professionals

    • Students undertaking education in any of the above

    This course counts as 12 hours PACFA category A CPD and 10 hours ACA OPD

    • Early bird price of $600 until Sep 16th 2025.

    • Full price $740.

    • Pay in full or via payment plan.

    • There is a $760 discount when you sign up for all four courses.

    • Payment plans are available and BIPOC and disability scholarships are open. Apply here.

Tanya is offering a number of one-month-long professional trainings.

This is a rare opportunity to learn from Tanya’s almost 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

Testimonials

  • It was such a pleasure learning from Tanya! The knowledge shared during her training has supported my professional growth, really helping me understand my clients better and practical tools on how to support them through their difficulties.

    Desire Discrepancy Participant, May 2022

  • I feel illuminated and enriched from doing this course with you, Tanya. The information given was at the right level for me to begin using it immediately in my work as a singles/couples therapist who wants it not to be a taboo topic in the therapy room. I feel empowered to drop lingering feelings of inadequacy and embarrassment....

    How To Talk About Sex Participant, Nov 2022

  • ...The sociopolitical angle was super important too, and while I feel I was fairly well across this beforehand, you certainly ensured that I now approach sex and relationships (and life!) with commitment to enhancing an understanding of this in myself and those I am around. Thank you for what you do and who you are

    How To Talk About Sex Participant, Nov 2022

  • Tanya is so incredibly generous with her wealth of knowledge. Thank You.

    Desire Discrepancy Participant, May 2022

  • I found the course really interesting and valuable. Thank you for offering it!

    Desire Discrepancy Participant, May 2022

  • You have a beautiful way of speaking about sex and relationships

    Nurse, Workshop Attendee

  • A few hours with you has changed my whole view on sex!

    Aus Workshop participant

FAQs

  • 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.

  • We have a few BIPOC and disability scholarships per course.

    To apply, please complete this form.

  • Yes, this course counts for 12 hours PACFA category A CPD or 10 hours ACA OPD.

  • 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.

  • Yes, payment plans are available.

    All payment plans must be complete before course commences.

  • 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.

  • Lectures will be recorded and available for viewing within 48 hours.

  • There is a $760 discount when you sign up for all four courses for a limited time.