114: The SLP Role in Supporting Clients’ Communication on Intimacy with Laura Wolford, PhD, MS CCC-SLP
In this episode, Laura Wolford discusses the speech-language pathologist’s role in supporting clients’ sexual and intimate communication. We talk about why it is so difficult to have conversations about sexuality, and we present cases where clients may benefit from SLP services to address intimacy and sexual communication.
Topics covered:
The role of the SLP in addressing sex and intimacy.
Reasons why sex and intimacy are difficult subjects to discuss.
Scenarios in which an SLP’s services would be helpful in addressing a sex or intimacy concern.
How did Laura start The Language For Sex?
How do SLPs facilitate communication about sex & intimacy?
Resources mentioned in the episode
Eva Sweeney, Sex Therapist on Instagram: @crippingupsex
Laura’s tip for increasing your comfort level and competence: check in with your PTs and OTs! Your pelvic floor therapists have been having these conversations for a while! OTs have textbooks addressing intimacy/sex. Start the conversation with trusted colleagues and go from there.
Get in touch with Laura: www.theLanguageforSex.com and Instagram: @thelanguageforsex
References:
Kitzmüller, G., & Ervik, B. (2015). Female spouses’ perceptions of the sexual relationship with stroke-affected partners. Sexuality and Disability, 33(4), 499-512.
McGrath, M., Lever, S., McCluskey, A., & Power, E. (2019, February 1). How is sexuality after stroke experienced by stroke survivors and partners of stroke survivors? A systematic review of qualitative studies. Clinical Rehabilitation. SAGE Publications Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269215518793483
McGrath, M., Low, M. A., Power, E., McCluskey, A., & Lever, S. (2020). Addressing sexuality among people living with chronic disease and disability: A systematic mixed methods review of knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare professionals. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Montesi, J. L., Fauber, R. L., Gordon, E. A., & Heimberg, R. G. (2011). The specific importance of communicating about sex to couples’ sexual and overall relationship satisfaction. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 28(5), 591-609.
Stead, A., & White, J. (2019). Loss of intimacy: A cost of caregiving in aphasia. Topics in Language Disorders, 39(1), 55-70.
Stein, J., Hillinger, M., Clancy, C., & Bishop, L. (2013). Sexuality after stroke: patient counseling preferences. Disability and rehabilitation, 35(21), 1842-1847. DOI: 10.3109/09638288.2012.754953
Willis, M., Hunt, M., Wodika, A., Rhodes, D. L., Goodman, J., & Jozkowski, K. N. (2019). Explicit verbal sexual consent communication: Effects of gender, relationship status, and type of sexual behavior. International Journal of Sexual Health, 31(1), 60-70.
Thanks for these great resources, Laura!
Laura Wolford (she/her) is a speech-language pathologist, researcher, and sex educator. She holds a master's degree in speech-language pathology, a PhD in educational leadership, and competency certificates in sexuality clinical education, sexual health issues, lifespan sexual development, and sex technology. She is the founder of TheLanguageforSex.com, an online portal to teach speech-language pathologists how to talk about sex and intimacy with their clients.
As an education researcher, her work focuses on finding accessible ways to teach clinicians complex skills. As an SLP, she works primarily with adults with voice disorders and complex communication needs. As a sex educator, she brings these two passions together. Laura believes that communication is central to consent, relationship satisfaction, and intimacy. For many clients, relationships and sexuality are their functional goals. Yet these taboo topics are often overlooked and rarely discussed. Laura's mission is to give other clinicians the tools they need to start these conversations.
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