Recovery. Sexual life: rehabilitation after trauma or injury

An educational series on sexual life recovery after injury or trauma for professionals working with the military and veterans

Experts: Olha Serdiuk, Sviatoslava Fedorets, Kathryn Ellis, +2

The educational series Recovery. Sexual Life is dedicated to restoring sexual health and intimacy after physical and psychological trauma, particularly among military personnel and veterans.

The series is adapted for first-contact professionals, including nurses, rehabilitation specialists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and other specialists who work with affected individuals. It covers sexual disorders, general interventions, the PLISSIT model, confidence building, adapting intimate life to physical limitations, use of assistive devices and sex toys, supporting partner relationships, and communication about sexual needs.

The series helps professionals provide sensitive and ethical support, reduce shame and fear, restore bodily autonomy, pleasure, and intimate connection, and understand when to refer a client to a specialized professional.

The educational series was created by the Recovery. Sexual Life program team with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation for the Diia.Education platform.

Format:
Education series
EKTS:
0.1
Languages:
Ukrainian, English
Topic:
Veterans support
Intended for:
for medical workers

Skills:

Address stereotypes and biases
Apply fantasies in therapy
Apply sexual rehabilitation principles
Apply the PLISSIT model
Apply therapeutic interventions
Assess psychosexual development
Assess sexual desire levels
Collect patient sexual history
Coordinate basic interventions
Initiate conversation on sexuality
Initiate sexual health discussions
Normalize sexual needs
Plan initial sexual rehabilitation
Recognize sexual arousal responses
Select adaptive sexual devices
Teach safe adaptive sexual devices usage
Discuss sexual behavior norms
Identify personal biases

Program

Start

Olha Serdyuk, the CEO of the Olena Pinchuk Foundation, explains what sexual rehabilitation for wounded servicemen and veterans is and why it is not only about sex, but about dignity, embodiment and returning to life. She speaks about the challenges faced by veterans and their partners and why this topic must become an integral part of comprehensive rehabilitation in Ukraine.

Invited experts

Olha Serdiuk
The CEO of the Olena Pinchuk Foundation
Sviatoslava Fedorets
Sexologist, psychologist. Specializes in sexual rehabilitation of military personnel, veterans, and civilians with disabilities
Kathryn Ellis
Certified sexuality counselor, somatic sexological bodyworker, and Doctor of Occupational Therapy. Author of certification programs for occupational therapy professionals and multiple interdisciplinary trainings at both national and international levels
Borys Vornik
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Sexology and Medical Psychology. Honored Doctor of Ukraine, sexologist of the highest category, member of the European Federation of Sexologists