Title:
The Birds and the Bees: Engaging Children and Caregivers in Dialogue on Sexual Health and Wellness
Presenters:
Sheldon Aaron, LCPC, NCC; Jerry L. Mize, MA, MEd, NCC; and Ben Willis, PhD, NCC, ACS
Description:
In 2024-2025, it was estimated that 3.15 million students graduated high school in US states that have mandates related to sexual health education content within the k-12 school system (Nelson et al., 2025). Of those 3.15 million students, only 19% of them received sexual education that was medically accurate, relevant to current research, and evidence-based (Nelson et al., 2025). In the field of counseling, this number should be startling because we must consider the education, or lack thereof, underage clients are presenting with when initiating treatment. Our recent CACREP (2024) standards align with the Association for Counseling Sexology and Sexual Wellness Exemplary Practices (Pope et al., 2024) in the recognition that counselors need to understand and address how sexual development and sexuality influences physical and mental well-being and relational wellness across the lifespan. Counselors are uniquely positioned to navigate conversation related to sexual health and wellness with children and their families due to our roles as advocates (Schubert & Pope, 2022). If we honor sexual development and sexuality as fundamental aspects of self, counselors can aid families in processing normal and difficult conversation surrounding the topic. For these reasons, the purpose of this presentation is to teach strategies clinicians can utilize to engage clients who are minors, and their caregivers, in developmentally appropriate dialogue pertaining to sexual health and wellness throughout childhood and adolescence (Willis et al., 2025). Clinicians will leave this session with tools that enhance their skill level in addressing sexual health and wellbeing topics with children and adolescents, and their caregivers.