PARENT SESSION

Room 524-B

Sexuality, Intimacy and Love Tuesday, July 12, 2005 Time: 8:30 AM-9:30 AM

The Yin and Yang of Youth Safer Sex: Innovative Workshop Techniques Integrating East and West.

Kuriansky, Judy^*,1, Simonson, Heather^*,2, Montecalvo, Michele³, ¹ Columbia University Teachers College, NY, NY, USA² Planned Parenthood of Nassua County, Glen Cove, New York, USA³ Columbia University Medical School, New York, New York, USA

ABSTRACT- ± Topic and rationale: The problem of teens contracting HIV AND STIs is reaching epidemic proportions, in the United States and around the world. Many countries are just beginning to recognize the extent of this problem and need to address it. Designing appropriate, effective and appealing programs for youth is exceptionally important given this increasing problem, and the specific problems of addressing these issues in this youth population. Various programs have been developed and applied in schools and by NGOs to address health risks for young people, some that include exercises to increase self-esteem and improve decision-making as well as information about STIs, but the present approaches are the first to integrate eastern techniques, focusing on awareness and direction of energy, with western techniques of object relations and communication skills, to accomplish these goals. These techniques can be immediately applied by the participants in various of their clinical settings and even with caried populations, and can appeal to researchers to develop collaborative research efforts in this area. Objectives: 1) To impress upon the participants the seriousness of the epidemic of STIs in youth 2) To identify the unique aspects of working with youth in this areas 3) To present the importance and usefulness of developing unique approaches that appeal to youth 4) To demonstrate unique approaches that have been applied in various settings around the world and that have appealed to youth 5) To present preliminary data suggesting the effectiveness of these approaches 6) To encourage future trials, applications and collaborative research in this area Relevance to sexology: Workshop highlights new developments in the clinical field of sexuality and intimacy, that can be applied in varied settings to varied populations, that focuses on a new model of sexuality, and can further improve self-esteem, foster intimate relationships and even facilitate cultural tolerance. Method: Includes didactic and experimental elements. Use of worksheets, posters, as videos, as well as demonstrations and experimental elements where the participants can actually get a sense of the experience. Outline: Didactic information through multi-media presentation, interspersed with demonstrations and participation. Audience: Wide audience: all clinicans, interested researchers, professionals interested in youth programs, AIDS prevention, sexuality and teens, unique workshop approaches that can be helpful to all clinical populations

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