| 103 Room 519-B | Sexuality and Media Sunday, July 10, 2005 Time: 9:00 AM-12:00 PM |
The Advice Columnist as Sexologist: An Experiential Workshop Exploring Advice Column Work and its Relationship to Other Sexology Disciplines.
Quilliam, Susan *,1, 1 British Association for Sexual and Relationship Therapy (BASRT), London, London, England
ABSTRACT- Topic and rationale The work of advice columnists - writers or broadcasters who offer one-way sexual counsel through print, web or broadcast media - seems at first glance to be very different from the work of sexology clinicians, researchers, educators, activists or policy makers. In fact, advice columnists are an integral and vital part of the sexology community, not least because their audience is large and their work far-reaching and socially influential. The rationale behind this workshop is therefore to reflect the conference topic 'Unity in Diversity' by offering an opportunity for delegates to explore the work of this minority profession. Objectives of the session To inform participants about the work of advice columnists, to bridge the gap between disciplines, to allow participants to examine their own practice by comparison. Session outline Introduction: advice column work and what it involves ⊙ Exercise 1: participants explore a sexual problem and the parameters by which they could address it ⊙ Feedback: the differences between advice column work and clinical/educational work. ⊙ Exercise 2: participants critique a sexual advice column 'question and answer' ⊙ Feedback: the parameters, challenges and opportunities of advice column work; how these factors both limit and enhance professional practice ⊙ Exercise 3: participants write their own answer to an advice column question ⊙ Feedback: reflection on participants' own practice when seen in this new light ⊙ Conclusion, review and summary of insights gained Relevance to sexology The conference theme is Unity in Diversity. It is therefore particularly relevant to look at a discipline where sexology is practised in a somewhat different arena, and to then use that as a springboard to explore good practice in participants' own disciplines. Target audience All delegates could find this session enjoyable and interesting because it takes a non-standard approach. However clinicians and sexual educators in particular will find it useful because their work parallels that of advice columnists.
Key words: exploration, advice-column, comparison, contrast, sexology