Training Centre


Professional Development

The Training Centre at the Calgary Sexual Health Centre provides a number of professional development opportunities for service providers. Our training ensures that professionals have the skills and knowledge to integrate sexual health into their everyday work with clients.

The overall goal of the workshops is to provide professionals with skills to respond to clients who have sexual health questions or concerns. Workshopscover basic communications about the topic, normalization, boundaries and increasing knowledge of community resources.

Our experienced sexual health facilitators lead evidence based, interactive and engaging sessions on the topics listed below. Or, we can design a session specifically for your group.

Category A Social Work credits are available for all training sessions.


Professional Development Programs

Integrating Sexuality Into Your Practice
In this training session participants will define sexuality in a broad context, explore their own attitudes about sexuality, and receive practical suggestions for engaging clients in conversations about their sexual health and well-being. This program helps professionals set boundaries around what is appropriate for discussion, and familiarizes participants with resources in the community.  

Creating a Culture of Respect
Based on our unique Diversity and Respecting Everyone (DARE) program, this session will explore the reality of heterosexism in society and its impact on client service delivery models and practices. Drawing on actual experiences, facilitators work together with participants to identify strategies to create safe and supportive environments for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender clients and co–workers.

Healthy Relationships and Sexual Decision Making
In this program, participants clarify how values and boundaries influence the health of relationships. Participants practice techniques for facilitating healthy boundary setting and proactive sexual decision making with clients.

Birth Control and Sexually Transmitted Infections Update
This training session provides a thorough review of basic sexual and reproductive anatomy and physiology, with an interactive look at current birth control methods. Current prevention and treatment strategies for STIs are discussed, and participants are provided with an up to date list of community resources. This program helps participants build confidence addressing the basic sexual health concerns of their clients.  

Taking Sexy Back: Helping Clients Reclaim Healthy Sexuality
Unfortunately, many people have experienced sex and sexuality in a negative way, through harmful cultural messages or abuse. In this workshop, you will examine the impact of trauma on the sexual response cycle and explore a framework for healthy sex. As well, you will learn strategies and tools to help clients reframe sex and sexuality and experience sexual well being.

Supporting Sexuality with Older Adults
Designed for those working with older adults, you will increase your confidence and comfort talking with clients about sexuality. Receive practical suggestions, tips and resources to start talking about sexual health and advocating for sexual wellbeing with your older adult clients.

Helping Guys Be Wise: Facilitating Male Sexual Health
Often neglected in sexual health messages and education, men require unique approaches in order to encourage healthy sexuality. In this training session participants will increase their comfort and skill communicating with men and boys about sexual health. Participants will explore: current issues in male sexual health, myths, the role of pornography, consent and relationships. You will receive practical strategies, tips and resources to help your male clients be sexually healthy.

Fees for professional training vary according to the length of the program and group numbers. Please contact us to discuss.  

Please note that workshops can be customized to meet the particular needs of your staff and the clients you serve.

Each program as a stand-alone can be delivered in approximately half a day, but programs may be combined to create a full day or more, based on agency needs.  

For a list of current workshops go to Upcoming Workshops

To book a training session for your organization, or to discuss customized training, please contact:  
Valerie Barr
Training Centre Manager
403-283-5580 Ext. 317 or
vbarr@calgarysexualhealth.ca  



Community Education

As part of the Training Centre, the Calgary Sexual Health Centre will be providing a number of community education opportunities. We are offering workshops, open to members of the Calgary community, to provide information, support and resources on a wide variety of sexual health topics.

Workshops are held at our office at 304, 301 – 14 Street N.W. Click here for our office location.

Poster for current community education program inserted here.


Workshops for Your Group

Calgary Sexual Health Centre is also pleased to present this workshop to any community organization or group, upon request.

Please call Diana Wark, 403 283-5580, Ext. 312