Date: May 5, 2026
Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm ET / 8:00 am – 10:00 am PT
Format:   Live interactive training offered via Zoom

Presented by: Nikole Nassen, PhD (see bio)

You must attend the entire live training and complete an evaluation to be eligible for CE credits. If you seek only psychology credits, the evaluation is optional, and you can remain anonymous.

Online Training Description:

A paraphilia is any intense or persistent sexual interest—sometimes one that is preferred—directed toward anything other than normophilic behaviors with a legally consenting human partner.  While definitions of what makes normal versus atypical interests can be controversial, a paraphilic disorder involves behavior that includes people who do not or cannot consent, causes marked distress, or creates a significant risk of injury or death. Properly differentiating between paraphilias and paraphilic disorders is critically important to assessment and treatment. Misunderstanding clients’ sexual interests can result in either underestimating risks or imposing unnecessary and counterproductive restrictions on their liberties.

In this training, Dr. Nikole Nassen builds on this distinction by exploring how clinicians can best understand and treat paraphilias. The training includes:

• Differentiating anomalous target preferences and anomalous activity preferences
• Differentiating atypical from problematic sexual interests
• Understanding when paraphilic interests become risk-relevant
• Getting started in treatment
• Helping clients to manage paraphilic interests and behaviors
• The role of trauma
• Safety planning
• The role of pharmacology

Throughout the training, case examples and sex-positive approaches are used to assist clinicians in applying the materials in treatment. 

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

1) Explain how clinicians conceptualize paraphilias and distinguish paraphilic interests from paraphilic disorders
2) Demonstrate strategies for helping clients identify, make sense of, and talk about their paraphilias
3) Apply techniques for managing paraphilic interests and behaviors 

Interactive Follow-Up Meeting

Attendees are invited to join an open discussion 15 minutes following the end of the training, where you can engage with fellow attendees by turning on your camera and microphone. This is an opportunity to share your experiences and contribute to a meaningful exchange of ideas. Time will be allocated to address questions or insights from the training. Please note that attendance is optional and will not affect your eligibility for a training certificate.

We can refund your training fee up to 24 hours prior to the start of the training.

To view all training details and review our list of frequently asked questions, please click here to visit the promotional page.