3 Hours / 3 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Addressing Sexuality and Sexual Health with Adolescents is presented by Rachel Jacoby, PhD, and LaToya Smith, PhD.

This program explores the developmental implications of adolescent sexuality and sexual health. During the program, communication approaches on tough subjects such as internet safety, safe sex, pregnancy, and conversations with family members are addressed. This program is ideal for all mental health professionals and students—particularly individuals who work with or plan to work with teenagers or parents/caregivers. 

Participants walk away from this presentation knowing how to navigate conversations surrounding sexual health for adolescents and how to provide resources and support tools to teens and their families.  

The resources offered in this program provide mental health professionals with communication tools and resources to help strengthen their practice. Training programs on the subject of adolescence and sexuality in the mental health field are limited in the counseling-specific profession. This program offers educational resources to participants interested in growing their knowledge of sexual health for adolescents. 

This program is developed using a multicultural lens. All aspects of this program embed clinical considerations for professionals working with ethnic, racial, religious, gender, and sexually-diverse, and socioeconomically diverse populations. Additionally, both presenters work from brave pedagogies, encouraging participants to feel safe to address topics surrounding social justice issues that clients and professionals may face.  

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe approaches to address sexual health and wellness with teenagers and guardians
  • 2 Describe safety surrounding sexual behaviors that teens may face
  • 3 Demonstrate approaches to communicating with caregivers and parents about healthy behaviors in adolescent development
  • 4 Describe resources and interventions to use in sessions with teenage clients

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for mental health professionals and students at any stage of their career who work with, or plan to work with, adolescents and their parents or caregivers. The program is especially relevant for those specializing in adolescent therapy, family counseling, school-based mental health, or sexual health education. Participants may work in a variety of settings, including schools, clinics, community centers, or private practice. All mental health professionals and students interested in supporting teenagers and their families will benefit from this training.

  • Experience Level

    Open to all experience levels, including:

    • Students and interns

    • Early-career professionals

    • Experienced practitioners seeking to expand their skills with adolescents and families

  • Practice Setting

    • - Mental health professionals (therapists, counselors, psychologists, social workers)

    • Graduate and undergraduate students in mental health fields

    • School-based mental health staff

    • Family counselors

    • Sexual health educators

    • Professionals working in schools, clinics, community centers, or private practice

Presented By

Rachel Jacoby, PhD, Visiting Faculty member at Palo Alto University

Dr. Rachel Jacoby is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor Supervisor in Ohio. She is currently a visiting faculty member at Palo Alto University. Dr. Jacoby has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and families. She values working with individuals on a personal and collaborative level; while building strong interpersonal relationships. With this consideration, Dr. Jacoby utilizes an existential-humanistic framework for her counseling relationships; while integrating evidence-based experiences through the use of cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, and narrative approaches. Dr. Jacoby’s clinical experiences include working with individuals who have experienced anxiety, depression, trauma, autism, and self-esteem work. She values collaborative relationships to provide best care to her clients, including working closely with families, schools, and allied medical professionals. She finds advocacy for all individuals to be crucial to the counseling process. She is currently the president of the Association of Child and Adolescent Counseling (ACAC).

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Rachel Jacoby, PhD

Presented By

LaToya Smith, PhD, Visiting Professor at Palo Alto University

LaToya Smith is a Visiting Professor at Palo Alto University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. She currently lives in Houston, Texas but is a proud native of San Diego, California. She graduated with her Master's and Doctoral degrees from the University of North Texas. Her focus in my Master's program was CMHC. Her clinical experience includes the following: Outpatient counselor and Assistant Director at a university-based counseling clinic, PRN Crisis counselor, Private practice counselor, and IOP/PHP Counselor/Site Supervisor. Her research has primarily been on various topics in diversity. Her clinical interests include diversity issues, trauma, creativity in counseling, wellness, and self-care. 

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LaToya Smith, PhD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • This presentation will utilize a PowerPoint presentation to offer structure.

  • Presenters will incorporate a case study, videos, and engaging conversational pieces embedded into the presentation.

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.