EDSE Taps Damon Holzum to Teach Upcoming Training

LOS ANGELES—Everyone Deserves Sex Ed announced clinical therapist, educator and author Damon Holzum, LCSW, will train attendees of EDSE’s upcoming 25-hour sex educator certification program, scheduled April 6-7 and 13-14 in Los Angeles. Holzum will facilitate discussion of sexual orientation and the diverse ways humans attract and connect with each other, giving budding educators a more confident and accurate understanding of the individuality of sexual identity. “Educating and empowering people is my passion, whether it’s through writing, workshops, or one-on-one sessions, and working with EDSE is a great opportunity to help spark this passion in others,” Holzum said. “Sexual orientation and attraction can be complicated—even intimidating—subjects to explore, I look forward to helping EDSE attendees develop their vocabulary and expand their understanding of sexual identity as something individual and unique to each person.” As a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, Holzum provides insight, support, and empowerment for individuals interested in or actively exploring alternative sexual practices and relationships encompassing polyamory, open, non-monogamy identities and more. For more than a decade, Damon has provided insight and services through individual and couples counseling, speaking, and public education. Through individual sessions, workshops, and interactive classes specializing in the de-stigmatization of all things intimate, Damon has provided sex-positive, trauma-informed services to diverse populations and communities.  EDSE founder and lead educator Anne Hodder-Shipp, ACS, tapped Holzum to teach these portions of the certification because of his years of experience, interactive teaching style, and strong grasp of the subject matter. A California State-certified HIV counselor and a regular speaker at The Pleasure Chest, The Stockroom, and The Village at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Holzum utilizes his public platforms to educate, normalize, and celebrate all the ways we express our sexuality. “Damon is a beloved speaker and teacher, especially at sex-positive events across the country, and I knew he’d be a perfect fit for our sex educator certification,” Hodder-Shipp said. “Damon is known for his high-energy, interactive and compelling teaching style and he dedicates much of his work to embracing and normalizing sexual behaviors and identities that are often misunderstood—and even stigmatized—by service professionals. EDSE attendees will leave this training with a stronger, more accurate understanding of the word ‘normal.’”   Ideal for budding sex educators, health and social service workers, and anyone looking to bolster their sex ed knowledge, the EDSE certification program prepares attendees to have informed, inclusive and confident conversations about sex. Over the course of two weekends, EDSE attendees will learn key information about human sexuality, intimate health, consent, and communication skills and be trained to respond to sex-related questions in a concise, intersectional, and nonjudgmental manner. Attendees also will leave with new insight into their own sexuality—a fun side effect of sex education training. The next EDSE certification will take place April 6-7 and 13-14 in Los Angeles. Individual certification is $995, and payment plans are available at request. To apply, fill out the form at EveryoneDeservesSexEd.com/certification/. An EDSE representative will review and be in contact within 48 hours of submission.  “During my time as a sex educator, and a sex blogger before that, there was one thing I noticed most people had in common: a lack of confidence in, and even a little fear about, talking about sex,” Hodder-Shipp said. “This insecurity has a dramatic trickle-down effect. It leaves professionals feeling unprepared for workplace dynamics, parents terrified of having ‘the talk,’ and service providers caught off-guard during sensitive conversations with their clients. My goal with EDSE is give people access to the kind of professional and educational support so many of us have lacked throughout our personal and professional lives.”  More information about Hodder-Shipp can be found at https://www.annehodder.com/, or email her directly at [email protected].