Understanding the Complex Relationships Between ADHD, Sexual Wellbeing & Intimacy

Sexual wellbeing is an important component of overall health, yet experiences involving sexual desire, sensory differences, attention, intimacy, and relationships may not be routinely explored in conversations about ADHD.

Sex and ADHD: Sensory Experiences, Desire & Relationships is a professional education course presented by Anne-Marie Suddreth, MA, LPC, Associate Director of MindfulU.

This course explores how ADHD-related characteristics may interact with sexual experiences, including the roles of interoception, attention, sensory preferences, novelty, rejection sensitivity, and relationship dynamics.

Through recorded lectures, research readings, case-based learning, and practical downloadable resources, participants will develop a more nuanced understanding of sexual wellbeing and how to approach these experiences within their professional roles.

The original lectures were recorded on July 17, 2026, and are supplemented by research-informed educational materials and practical resources.

Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction & Foundations

Explore the relationship between ADHD and sexual wellbeing, including sexual desire, satisfaction, individual differences, and findings from the existing research literature.

Examine how ADHD-related characteristics may influence sexual experiences while recognizing that individual differences in desire and preferences are not inherently pathological.

Module 2: Interoception, Attention & Hyperfocus

Examine how awareness of bodily sensations, attention regulation, distraction, sensory experiences, and hyperfocus may influence sexual experiences.

Explore research on interoceptive awareness and its associations with orgasm frequency and satisfaction, including the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA-2).

Consider how research findings can inform professional inquiry without establishing predetermined explanations.

Module 3: Rejection Sensitivity & Hypersexuality

Explore rejection sensitivity, impulsivity, sexual desire, and experiences involving distress or difficulty controlling sexual behavior.

Examine the distinction between consensual sexual variation and concerns that may warrant further investigation.

Consider the importance of individual experiences, autonomy, functional impact, and avoiding assumptions about sexual preferences or behavior.

Module 4: Women's Sexual Styles & Relationship Compatibility

Explore physical and emotional dimensions of sexual desire, sensory preferences, novelty, pacing, emotional safety, and communication.

Examine how apparent differences in sexual interest between partners may involve several interacting factors rather than a simple mismatch in desire.

Apply course concepts through a case involving changes in intimacy, sensory discomfort, relationship expectations, and communication.

Module 5: Q&A — Real-World Scenarios & Discussion

Anne-Marie responds to questions involving orgasm difficulties, sensory sensitivities, sexual pain, risk-taking, consent, communication, and specialized support.

Additional lessons explore how professionals can create space for conversations about sexual wellbeing, recognize concerns requiring further attention, and determine when collaboration or referral may be appropriate.

Who This Course Is For

This course is designed for healthcare and mental health professionals, as well as coaches, seeking a deeper understanding of ADHD and its potential relationship with sexual wellbeing and intimacy.

• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners and Other Nurse Practitioners

• Psychologists

• Social Workers, Counselors, and Other Therapists

• Psychiatrists, Physicians, and Other Healthcare Professionals

• Coaches Working With Adults

No prior specialization in sex therapy or ADHD assessment is required. Foundational knowledge of ADHD and professional experience supporting adults will be helpful.

What's Included With Your Enrollment

Five Recorded Lectures and Discussions

Learn from Anne-Marie Suddreth, MA, LPC, through recorded presentations and Q&A discussions originally delivered on July 17, 2026.

Research-Informed Learning

Explore peer-reviewed research, including a systematic literature review of ADHD and sexual functioning, research examining interoceptive awareness and sexual experiences, and a narrative review addressing emerging perspectives on ADHD and sexuality.

Supplementary materials distinguish research findings from theoretical explanations and emphasize the importance of understanding the limitations of available evidence.

Downloadable Tools and Reference Materials

Access practical guides designed to support professional conversations and individualized inquiry, including:

• Sexual Wellbeing Conversation Map

• Attention & Body Awareness During Intimacy

• Sexual Desire, Control & Distress

• Intimacy & Compatibility

• When to Explore, Collaborate, or Refer

Access to the MAIA-2

Explore the published Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, Version 2 (MAIA-2), through its original source at the University of California, San Francisco.

Case-Based Learning

Examine realistic scenarios illustrating how attention, sensory experiences, emotional safety, communication, and relationship expectations may interact.

The course includes an evolving case involving Nadia and Morgan, whose experiences highlight the complexity of changing sexual desire and relationship compatibility.

Knowledge Checks and Supplementary Readings

Reinforce important concepts through knowledge checks, research readings, and additional reference materials.

Flexible, Self-Paced Access

Complete the course online and on your own schedule during your three-month access period.

Certificate of Completion

Receive a certificate of completion documenting 2.25 estimated learning hours upon successfully completing the applicable course requirements.

Course Access, Learning Hours & Completion

Estimated Learning Hours: 2.25 hours.

Course Access: Three months from enrollment.

Format: Fully online, asynchronous, and self-paced. All lectures are prerecorded; no live attendance is required.

Lecture Recording Date: July 17, 2026.

Completion: Participants complete the applicable course content and required knowledge checks to receive their certificate of completion.

Continuing Education Credits: This course does not currently include accredited CE credits. If a CE option becomes available, it will be offered separately and may require an additional fee.

Refund Policy: All purchases are final and nonrefundable. Please review the course information and applicable MindfulU policies before enrolling.

Important Information

This course provides professional education and is not a substitute for formal diagnostic training, specialized sex therapy education, medical evaluation, or professional supervision.

Participants are responsible for determining how the educational material applies to their qualifications, professional responsibilities, and applicable laws or regulations.

Completion does not independently authorize participants to diagnose ADHD, provide specialized sexual health treatment, or practice outside their existing professional scope.

Understanding Sexual Wellbeing Beyond Familiar Assumptions

Sexual desire, sensory experiences, attention, and preferences for intimacy vary considerably among individuals.

Understanding how ADHD may interact with these experiences requires curiosity, thoughtful inquiry, and an appreciation for the many factors that influence sexual wellbeing.

Sex and ADHD: Sensory Experiences, Desire & Relationships offers professionals a research-informed perspective on these complexities, along with practical resources for approaching conversations about sexuality, intimacy, and relationships with greater understanding and confidence.