Sexual health and substance use are essential components of mental well-being, yet these topics are often overlooked in mental health care. This session equips participants with practical, inclusive, and trauma-informed strategies to integrate these discussions into routine mental health visits. We will explore common provider barriers, including a lack of training, discomfort discussing sexuality in shared decision making, uncertainty about discussing sexuality as part of recovery, and programmatic constraints.

This session will introduce a pleasure-based approach to sexual heath and provide guidance on asking affirming, inclusive questions for patients who are queer, trans, poly, or engaged in kink. We will discuss current treatment options to managed decreased libido, painful frontal/vaginal sex, and erectile dysfunction. We will review opportunities for a collaborative treatment approach with mental health and primary care providers in combining mental health medications with HIV prevention and treatment medications, including injectables.

Substance use will be addressed using the SBIRT model and harm reduction strategies, empowering providers to counsel patients on safer substance use without stigma. Current treatment updates for methamphetamine and opioid use will be reviewed.