Sex Therapist
Which schools offer Sex Therapist-related training?
Sex Therapist Career
Conducting sex therapy sounds a lot more racy than it actually is. Just like any other Therapist, a Sex Therapist sees clients to discuss problems and issues in their lives. However, Sex Therapists have client conversations that revolve around things like the inability to orgasm, rapid ejaculation, and abnormal sexual desires.
As a Sex Therapist, you deal with a wide variety of sexual issues, and with a wide range of clients. They can be couples, individuals, homosexuals, heterosexuals, and people of any age. Just as a person goes to a Dentist because of problems with their teeth, a person comes to you when there’s something wrong with their sex life.
For the most part, your therapy sessions involve talking things out, discussing issues from past relationships or sexual fears that a client may have. You can try other methods besides discussion, like giving homework assignments or using visioning exercises to explore a person’s deepest desires. You might also give a basic anatomy lesson, or explain the ways different types of touch or sensations can help a sex life. But before you get any ideas, you never ever do actual sex in a therapy session, and that means no touching or demonstrating either.
You help people embrace and understand aspects of their sexuality, especially if they’re struggling to come out as gay or trying to overcome their inhibitions. You also help couples who have been together for a long time in rekindling their passion, and dealing with problems like differing frequency expectations or turn-ons.
How do I become a Sex Therapist?
Your path to this job starts out like any other Therapist’s. First, you need a Master’s degree or Doctoral, and you should get one in Counseling, Family and Marriage Therapy, or a closely related field. While you’re in school, be sure to focus and specialize in sex therapy by taking specialized classes on the subject. Then get an internship, work, or volunteer experience with a certified Sex Therapist. When you’re done with school, you’ll need to pass a licensing exam, which varies by state. After you complete this, you’ll be able to start your practice.