‘INTERNET PORNOGRAPHY – INFLUENCING AND SHAPING SEXUALITY TODAY?’
– The physical, mental and social impact of internet pornography
Date: Friday, 26th October 2018
Duration: 1 day
Start Time: 9:30 am
End Time: 17:00 pm
Type: Training course/workshop
Location: SouthWest Counselling Centre, Lewis Road, Killarney, Co. Kerry
Audience: Psychotherapists, Counsellors, GPs, Teachers, Youth workers, Practice nurses, Psychiatrists, Psychologists.
CPD: 6.5 hours
OUTLINE
Overuse of internet pornography is fast emerging as a compulsive sexual behaviour
disorder. This corresponds to the greater use of smartphones and easy access to streaming
video in the past 10 years. A wide range of mental and physical health issues has ensued.
For instance, a staggering increase in erectile dysfunction in younger men, widespread
evidence of lower sexual satisfaction in men and women, and more social anxiety and body
dysmorphia in adolescents all appear to be related to this cultural phenomenon.
Healthcare practitioners need to be aware of the evidence that supports the addiction
model along with effective treatment options and remedies that enhance recovery including
effective social prescribing.
This interactive one-day workshop will provide an introduction to addiction neuroscience in
general and internet pornography use in particular, based on the latest research. It will look
at different types of physical health and mental health conditions related to porn use
emerging from the research. We will encourage reflective discussion among practitioners
about best practice, possible improvements, and signpost recovery options.
PROGRAMME
09.30 – Introduction to internet pornography, The Great Porn Experiment, the World Health
Organization’s definition of sexual health, addiction and brain models, patterns of user
behaviour, the Hook model, desensitisation and escalation to stronger material
11:00 – Break
11:15 – Pornography use and risks – the mental and physical health implications, including
sexual dysfunctions for adolescents, men and women. Small group discussions followed by
whole group discussion. Adolescent use patterns, sexual conditioning, changing patterns of
sexual behaviour across society, mental health issues, child-on-child sexual abuse, porninduced
sexual dysfunctions and the role of pornography in domestic violence. Q & A
session.
13.30 – Lunch
Medical Strand A (For medical, therapeutic and clinical professionals)
14.30 – Pornography use and sexual diversity issues, testing for user problems and providing
resources to support resilience. Pornography as a lifestyle issue in the LGBTQI+ and MSM
communities, comorbidities, chemsex, treatment options, the Problematic Pornography Use
Scale, online recovery communities and social prescribing. Group discussions.
15.45 – Break
16.00 – Recovery and prevention – How much porn is too much? Treatment and educational
options, addiction, withdrawal, ‘flatlining’, mindfulness, CBT, drug treatments and building
an understanding of internet pornography into your clinical practice
16.50 – Evaluation and close.
Educational Strand B (for teachers, youth workers and other professionals working
with young people)
14.30 – The challenges around introducing pornography lessons to schools. Small group
discussion followed by whole group discussion. Lessons learned by Reward Foundation of
teaching in schools including sexual diversity issues; faith schools; working with parents.
Lesson plans for teachers of 11-12 year olds on how the brain learns and builds habits
with sexual conditioning at puberty
lesson plans for 13-14 year old on sexting- the legal and health implications
lesson plans for 16-17 year old about addiction including criminal law implications
related to problematic use of pornography- including sexual assault and possession of
indecent images of children. Leaving school and moving on to work or college.
Understanding the business model of the porn industry.
15.45 – Break
16:00 – Recovery and prevention – How much porn is too much? Look at withdrawal,
‘flatlining’, where to get help. Interventions like mindfulness, CBT, online support;
psychotherapists, recovery coaches. Getting parents on board to cooperate with school.
16.50 – Evaluation and close.
PRESENTERS
Mary Sharpe is founder and CEO of educational charity The Reward Foundation- Love, Sex
and the Internet. She has been presenting on the impacts of internet pornography to
professionals in healthcare, criminal justice and education and to schools for the past 5
years. Mary is also Board member of the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health in
the USA.
Mary was based at the University of Cambridge for ten years where she did research for the
NATO Science for Peace and Security programme. She was a science reporter for the
Cambridge-MIT Institute, a job she had done previously at the European Commission in
Brussels. She also tutored students and staff on sustaining peak performance through
workshops on life skills and stress management. She is an Associate of Lucy Cavendish
College, University of Cambridge.
Mary practiced law as a solicitor and Advocate for over 15 years. She has published on many
aspects of health, sexuality and law and spoken at conferences worldwide. She enjoys faceto-
face teaching and discussion.
Darryl Mead PhD is an internet expert and pornography industry researcher with an interest
in the impact of pornography use on behaviour among adolescents and adults. He is
developing innovative policy responses to the health challenges created by the widespread adoption of pornography viewing as a phenomenon of mass entertainment.
As a senior executive at the National Library of Scotland, Darryl helped to establish the system the UK uses to archive the internet. A trained teacher, he held previous roles as a science communicator and is a chartered information professional (FCLIP).
Whilst we endeavour to present the programme as advertised, we reserve the right to amend timings and content
Venue: SouthWest Counselling Centre, Lewis Rd, Killarney, Co. Kerry
CPD: 6.5 hours
Cost: €140
Please note due to the high level of interest from participants full payment is required to secure your place.
To Register please contact: info@southwestcounselling.ie or Phone 064 6636416
Limited places available.
