I Realized There Was No Sex Ed Training For Healthcare Professionals - So I Made One.

I didn’t start my journey as a sexuality educator and advocate; I started as a very scared young queer woman.

I think it was when I first went to therapy as an adult that I began realizing that something was wrong with the system. I had been reading about polyamory on Reddit for a few months, and it felt like the right label for my relationships. I thought sharing this in therapy would open the door to further discussion, and I was hopeful that I could gain some insightful knowledge about this identity from a licensed therapist. But I was wrong; while they didn’t react poorly by any means, they had never heard of polyamory before. They had more questions for me than I knew how to answer.

Since then, I've long observed a significant gap in sexual health education within healthcare training. I continued to navigate the healthcare space as a queer adult woman, eventually finding strength in my identity and becoming a sexuality educator and advocate for the LBGTQIA+ community, but this only illuminated the gaps. At worst, there was discrimination. At best, there was a kind but ill-informed professional attempting to navigate our conversation with the delicacy of someone who wants nothing more than to understand.

Why is comprehensive sexual health training so rare in healthcare? Perhaps it's been overlooked due to traditional biases in medical education, or maybe it's been sidelined as a less critical area of health. However, this oversight is not just a mere gap in training; it represents a significant shortfall in our approach to holistic healthcare. Sexual health profoundly influences the physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being of individuals at every stage of life. It's a dimension of health that, when ignored, can lead to a myriad of misunderstandings and missed opportunities for care.

In response to this gap, I took the initiative to create a solution, underpinned by a foundational pledge: 'To uphold unwavering dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion. To actively challenge the patriarchal and white supremacist structures ingrained in our society, and to relentlessly strive towards dismantling these systems as part of our commitment to equitable sexual health services.' This is where the HealthEquity Toolkit came into play.

I recognized the urgent need for a comprehensive resource that not only delivers crucial information about sexual health but does so with empathy and an understanding of diverse experiences. The HealthEquity Toolkit would transcend being merely a repository of information. It would be a thoughtfully designed tool that sought to redefine the approach healthcare professionals take towards sexual health. A training focused on more than just imparting knowledge; but about fostering a new mindset and skillset that prioritize inclusivity and holistic care. By bridging the educational gap in this crucial area, the Toolkit would pave the way for transformative changes in healthcare, positioning sexual well-being as a central element of overall health and patient care.

BUT FIRST… Confronting Systemic Barriers

Through my journey, I saw firsthand how misconceptions, biases, and lack of informed care created barriers to wellness, especially for marginalized communities. It doesn’t take much searching online to find out that everyone has a Healthcare-Horror Story.

These accounts represent just a fraction of the untold stories that remain unvoiced and unaddressed in the realm of healthcare.

Consider the experience of one woman discussing her nonbinary partner with a Primary Care Physician. In an attempt at sexual risk assessment, the doctor insensitively asked, 'Does your partner have a dick?' This question, far from being professional or sensitive, reflects a profound lack of understanding and respect for gender diversity.

In another instance, a man consulting about his sexual dysfunction was dismissively told by a healthcare practitioner that it was just a 'natural outcome' of his bipolar disorder. This response grossly oversimplifies the complex interplay between mental health and sexual functioning.

Then there’s the Latina woman who sought help for her physical symptoms, only to be hastily diagnosed with 'just anxiety' – a blanket statement that disregards her unique health concerns and cultural background.

These stories are powerful and emotive, but as an academic, I turn to evidence and statistics to paint a broader picture of the systemic issues at play. Personal anecdotes resonate on an individual level, but numbers reveal the systemic truths that define these experiences.

Let's consider some sobering statistics:

• Approximately one-sixth of LGBT adults have encountered discrimination in a healthcare setting – not just as stories or fears, but as direct, personal experiences.

• Even more troubling, one-fifth of LGBT adults actively avoid seeking medical treatment, not because of costs or inconvenience, but due to the fear of facing discrimination.

These figures are not mere data points; they represent real individuals – community members who feel compelled to avoid or distrust the healthcare system, the very institution meant to offer healing and support.

This crisis is what we aimed to address with the HealthEquity Toolkit. By educating healthcare professionals on the nuances of sexual health and the diverse experiences of patients, we seek to transform these statistics into stories of positive change and inclusive care.

Transforming Perspectives Through Inclusivity

A central goal of the HealthEquity Toolkit is to illuminate the experiences of those frequently marginalized in healthcare discussions. This includes mostly non-white individuals, but also those of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and relationship dynamics. In crafting the Toolkit, I recognized the necessity of incorporating varied perspectives and expertise. To achieve this, I enlisted the feedback of three PhD-licensed counselors from Ohio, each bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the project.

The initial draft of the Toolkit, which took over a year to develop, laid the foundation. However, it was the invaluable input and editorial assistance of these licensed professionals that truly refined and elevated the content. Their insights were instrumental in ensuring our approach wasn't just factually accurate, but deeply empathetic and representative of real-world scenarios.

We focused particularly on identities and experiences that are often excluded from mainstream research. It was imperative for us to not only include these perspectives but to actively amplify them in the spirit of equity. We strived to gather and integrate insights from various cultures and from counselors actively working in the field. This diversity of input was crucial in shaping a Toolkit that truly addresses the nuances and complexities of sexual health in a way that is both inclusive and practical for healthcare providers.

Breaking Down Myths and Misconceptions

One of the Toolkit's pivotal challenges was dismantling the numerous myths and misconceptions surrounding sexual health. We thoroughly addressed stereotypes related to disability and sexuality and navigated the complexities of non-traditional relationships, including ethical non-monogamy and kink/BDSM. A crucial aspect of this effort was developing resources for inclusive intake procedures and smart safety assessments. This approach not only equips healthcare providers with the knowledge to confidently and sensitively handle these topics but also ensures that patient care is respectful and well-informed.

As highlighted in a testimonial from Sam Graber, a healthcare practitioner who utilized the Toolkit, these resources were particularly impactful. Sam noted, 'The lessons on safety and kink were valuable in learning how to educate clients on potential safety concerns in a respectful and non-judgmental way.' This feedback underscores the importance of our approach - replacing ignorance with understanding and enhancing the quality of patient-provider interactions.

A Comprehensive Approach to Care

Our Toolkit transcends traditional theoretical frameworks, delving into the realm of practical application. Each lesson is enriched with real-life case studies that provide tangible examples of how to navigate complex situations. These scenarios are carefully selected to represent a diverse range of experiences and challenges faced in sexual health care. By analyzing these cases, healthcare practitioners gain insights into applying theoretical knowledge in real-world contexts.

Furthermore, the Toolkit emphasizes the importance of embodiment exercises. These exercises encourage practitioners to engage more deeply with the material, fostering empathy and a better understanding of the diverse experiences of their patients. Through these interactive activities, practitioners learn to embody the principles of informed consent, cultural humility, and trauma-informed care, rather than merely understanding them conceptually.

We also incorporate practical application exercises in every lesson. These are designed to translate the learned concepts into actionable steps that practitioners can implement in their daily interactions with patients. From navigating diverse relationship dynamics to understanding the nuances of power structures in healthcare settings, these exercises equip healthcare providers with the skills to approach each patient interaction with sensitivity, respect, and a deep understanding of individual needs.

By combining case studies, embodiment exercises, and practical applications, the HealthEquity Toolkit ensures that its lessons are not only learned but also internalized and effectively integrated into the everyday practice of sexual health care.

The Power of Microlearning

In the development of the HealthEquity Toolkit, I consciously chose to adopt the microlearning approach, a strategy that's becoming increasingly recognized for its effectiveness in adult education, particularly in professional settings. This method is characterized by concise, targeted lessons, each carefully crafted to ensure easy comprehension and enhanced long-term retention. The Toolkit is organized into five distinct modules, encompassing a total of less than two hours of lessons. This brevity and focus are intentional, ensuring that no single lesson extends beyond 20 minutes.

This structure is designed not only for convenience but also to maximize learning efficiency. The content is segmented in a way that allows healthcare professionals to engage with the material in short bursts, making it feasible to integrate learning into their busy schedules. We recommend completing the Toolkit over the course of one to two months, allowing enough time for the information to be thoroughly absorbed and reflected upon.

Each module in the Toolkit is a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical application, presented in a format that aligns with the latest findings in educational science. The lessons are structured to build upon each other, gradually developing a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. By the end of the Toolkit, healthcare professionals are not just passively informed but are equipped with actionable knowledge and skills that can be directly applied in their daily practice.

The microlearning format of the Toolkit is particularly effective in ensuring that the learning is not superficial. Instead, it fosters deep, lasting knowledge retention, enabling healthcare providers to confidently apply these insights in real-world scenarios. In this way, the HealthEquity Toolkit stands as a testament to the potential of modern educational strategies to bring about significant improvements in healthcare delivery.

A Personal Mission Turned Into a Movement

What began as a personal quest to address a stark void in healthcare education has evolved into a broader movement for change. I believe The HealthEquity Toolkit, born from both professional insight and personal experience, has the potential to become a beacon of transformation in healthcare. As I reflect on my journey, I'm reminded of moments that starkly illustrate why this work is so vital.

Imagine being young, navigating the complexities of adolescence, sitting in a cold, sterile doctor's office. You’re seeking understanding, guidance, and answers to questions that feel too 'embarrassing' to ask. It was in one of these vulnerable moments that a pediatrician compared my virginity to 'a piece of bubble gum, and no one wants one that's already been chewed up.' That statement, made to me, Braelin, by a trusted medical professional, left a lasting impact.

Fast forward to adulthood, after years of internalizing these messages and grappling with depression, I finally sought therapy. I opened up about my love for two incredible men, now my life partners. Yet, within the confines of those therapy sessions, the concept of 'polyamory' was a foreign concept riddled with questions of ethics, leaving me engulfed in guilt and confusion, further perpetuated by my medical providers.

These personal experiences highlight the glaring gaps and biases in the knowledge and sensitivity of healthcare professionals whom I desperately wanted to trust. They underscore the urgency for comprehensive, inclusive, and empathetic sexual health education.

I aimed to create more than just a collection of lessons; but a personal mission turned into a catalyst for change. This training represents a bridge over the gaps I, and countless others, have encountered. It’s about equipping healthcare providers with the tools they need to offer compassionate, trauma-informed, and holistic care. We're creating a healthcare environment where every individual's sexual health is understood, respected, and adequately cared for. Through the HealthEquity Toolkit, we're not just educating; we're healing, understanding, and transforming healthcare into what it always should have been – a safe, inclusive, and empathetic space for all.