Practice Briefs

Healthy Sexual Practices

Counseling Approaches for Differentiating Typical and Atypical Sexual Behavior in Adults

Healthy Sexual Practices

Historically, sexual health has been primarily considered with respect to physiological well-being and from the aspect of adverse health outcomes (e.g., HIV/AIDs, sexual abuse; Anderson, 2013; Burnes, Singh, & Witherspoon, 2017). Since the early 2000s, there has been an increased focus on sexual health from the holistic frameworks of positive sexuality and sex-positivity, which emphasize sexual satisfaction, pleasure, self-efficacy, and the integration of physical, emotional, relational, intellectual, developmental, cultural, and contextual aspects of sexuality and sexual practices (Anderson, 2013; Burnes et al., 2017; Murray, Pope & Willis, 2017).

The World Health Organization (2019, para. 1) has one of the most widely accepted definitions of sexual health as “a state of physical, mental, and social well-being concerning sexuality. It requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination, and violence.” Recent models emphasize sexual health as a human right, access to information, values, autonomy, responsible decision-making, respect, vulnerability, intimacy, sexual expression, relational boundaries, spirituality, and the rejection of negative sexual attitudes and shame (Southern, 2017a, 2017b).

Guidelines for Healthy Sexual Behavior

Given the complex and multifaceted nature of sexual health, professional counselors may face challenges in differentiating healthy sexual practices from atypical sexual behavior. The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS, 2004) and the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH, 2019) offer guidelines for healthy sexual behavior to include:

• Affirming sexual development as a part of human development
• Appreciating one’s body
• Seeking information about relationships, reproduction, and other sexuality-related topics
• Affirming and respecting diverse gender identities and sexual orientations
• Taking responsibility for one’s sexual choices and behavior
• Preventing harmful consequences of sexual practices for oneself and others
• Appropriately expressing love and intimacy to develop meaningful relationships
• Using critical thinking and decision-making skills concerning sexual behavior
• Communicating openly and directly with family, partners, and peers about sexuality
• Conveying sexuality as in congruence with one’s values
• Enjoying sexual feelings without always acting on them