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What Is Sex Therapy?
Sex therapy is an area of specialization with roots in clinical counseling, that is designed to provide compassionate assistance to couples and individuals experiencing sexual difficulties. Sex therapy utilizes treatment methods that are common to the practice of counseling, psychotherapy, and talk therapy which means that some treatment options and counseling techniques may overlap with other specialized disciplines. Commonly treated issues include sex and disability, sex and chronic illness, abuse and neglect, cultural differences, reproductive anatomy, sex education, transgender and LGBTQ education, faith-based sex, and more.
At its most basic level, the objective of sex therapy is to help people make better sense of their lives as sexual beings, to improve communication about issues related to sex with their spouse or partner, to address disorders originating with sexual abuse or trauma, find solutions to behavioral problems, and to help people develop healthy, trusting sexual relationships.
What Does a Sex Therapist Do?
Many people have a false view of sex therapy, believing that a therapist is a coach the helps a couple toward “the finish line”, but that is a misconception. Problems with intimacy and sexual difficulties often begin with underlying issues that originate outside the bedroom, so it is a sex therapist’s job to identify the root causes that affect sexual dysfunction.
Specializing in sex therapy requires knowledge of a wide range of issues for which individuals seek treatment. A few specialization topics include the following:
To overcome such issues, sex therapists may use a variety of techniques crafted for individuals and for couples. Frequently, sex therapists will combine couples therapy with individual talk therapy, so that each person can share sensitive information or feelings in a safe environment without fear of judgement from their partner or spouse. If a person, for example, has experienced a traumatic event (rape, abuse, etc.) or otherwise learned to fear or avoid sex, they may feel safer working in a one-on-one environment, where they can be sure that their thoughts and feelings will remain private, before they are ready to incorporate their partner into the discussion. Common methods of overcoming sexual problems, or improving a person’s view of sex and sexual relationships include:
What Happens in Sex Therapy?
Typical Work Environment & Occupational Challenges
According to occupational data collected about the profession, most sex therapists work in private practice. In private practice, therapists may offer specialized services or choose to offer a range of services covering many mental health issues. Sex therapists may work in corporate settings as well. They often provide workshops about healthy sexual interaction and expression, educate people on sexual harassment, and offer counseling services to employees. Additionally, they may work in educational settings, helping students deal with sexual issues, providing sex education services, and developing curriculums for both educational and workplace institutions.
In some roles, sex therapists educate the public. They may hold free seminars for social service organizations, speak at community events, visit inpatient and outpatient mental health clinics, or visit nursing homes – where sex issues are surprisingly rampant. They may also work in healthcare for hospitals or clinics that treat sexually abused or assaulted patients.
Sex Therapist Salary & Job Outlook
Occupational data is not collected about sex therapists as an independent category, rather the profession is often included in groups such as psychiatry, psychology, counseling, and social work. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that therapists outside of traditional fields like marriage and family therapy bring home a median salary of$60,800as of May 2022.
Other roles that provide a foundation for sex therapy include nursing, counseling or the clergy, all of which report a different salary and employment outlook.
Sex Therapy Jobs & Job Description
Sex therapists help people work through individual issues as well as form closer relationships with their spouses or partners. To be successful in this practice, they must possess important qualities and develop advanced skills and knowledge, including:
Sex Therapist Degrees & Education
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health Counseling
Students enrolled in a Behavioral Health Counseling degree program will learn about a broad range of evidence-based practices associated with counseling, assessment and treatment planning. Areas of focus will include psychiatric rehabilitation, substance abuse treatment, individual and group counseling, and child and family focused interventions. Graduates of a behavioral health counseling program will have the educational foundation to confidently pursue entry-level careers in mental health and addictions treatment, or to go on to graduate school in areas such as psychology, counseling or social work.
Master of Science in Clinical Psychology – Sex Therapy Specialization
A Master’s in Sex Therapy provides coursework rooted in clinical psychology with a focus on sex therapy. Curriculum builds on foundations of clinical counseling, including specialized coursework in wide range of areas such as sexuality counseling and therapy, intimacy and sexuality in couples relationships, criminal sexual behavior, trauma, anatomy and physiology, sexual variations and disorders, sexual addiction and compulsivity, and relationship systems. Common outcomes of a master’s program include certification as a sex therapist, or job titles such as: sexual health educator, mental health counselor, or clinical psychologist.
Sex Therapy License and Certification Requirements
2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics job market trends and salary figures fortherapists (all other),social workers,psychologists, andthe social service sectorare based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed July 2023.
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