How do you know if a sex therapist is qualified?

One must realize that with any new field, a variety of definitions and expectations will exist for a time, and that a wide variety of people will claim expertise in accordance with their own definition of the field. The expectations presented here might be criticized by some as too rigid, but it is purposefully intended to present a fairly strict set of guidelines for selecting a sex therapist. Very few states license sex therapists, so the client must exercise caution and must choose wisely!

Five criteria need to be met in choosing a sex therapist. First of all, the therapist must have a sound knowledge of the anatomical and physiological bases of the sexual response. The sex therapist may, therefore, have a basic medical background or may come out of another non-medical profession but with post-graduate education in the biological aspects of human sexuality. A qualified non-medical sex therapist will usually work closely with physicians or may function as a non-physician in a medical clinic or university school of medicine.

Secondly, the qualified sex therapist must be skilled in providing counseling and psychotherapy, and most sex therapists will be found to have a sound background in psychology, psychiatry, psychiatric social work or psychiatric nursing. This background in the behavior sciences is essential to the understanding of the total individual and to the planning of an individualized treatment program. There are, however, some notable exceptions to the rule that a sex therapist should have a traditional mental health training background, in that there are also highly respected and well-trained sex therapists who began as clergy. These clergy, however, need to demonstrate specific post-graduate training in pastoral counseling or in equivalent psychiatric mental health areas.

The third criterion is that the sex therapist, having both biological and psychological sophistication, must be able to demonstrate extensive post-graduate training specifically within the areas of sexual function and dysfunction, sex counseling, and sex therapy. A weekend workshop or possession of a few sex therapy films does not meet this criterion, and the prospective client should feel free to ask for a list of specific training experiences in these specialized areas.

The fourth requirement to be met is that of having expertise in relationship counseling. That is, the sex therapist should also be a skilled marital, family and/or group therapist. In order to work effectively with sexual problems, the sex therapist must be able to work effectively with non-sexual relationships as well. Sexual behavior does not occur in a vacuum - it occurs within a relationship! The total relationship must, therefore, be accurately evaluated and treated.

The fifth requirement is the therapist's adherence to a strict code of ethics! Prospective clients have the right to request a copy of the therapist's ethical code before agreeing to any treatment.

How do you find a qualified sex therapist?

Most qualified sex therapists do not depend on ads in the newspaper, as most professionals have made themselves and their credentials known to other professionals in the community. If you need a sex therapist, you might begin by consulting your family physician, gynecologist or urologist. Ask for a referral to someone your doctor has used confidently in the past. In addition to this, you might be inclined to ask a trusted clergyman for a referral. As you begin to collect information about available resources, you might then wish to turn to the telephone directory Yellow Pages, looking under such headings as "Psychologist," "Social Workers," "Marriage and Family Counselors," and elsewhere. Remember, there is probably no legislative control of the title "Sex Therapist" in your state, so simply finding the title in the phone book does not document that individual's clinical skills! In all states, however, licensing laws control who can list as a "Psychologist" or as a "Physician." A small number of states now also restrict the listings of "Social Workers" and/or "Marriage Counselors."

When calling a professional, be sure to ask questions about qualifications, experience and fees! It is recommended that you call and ask, "Do you have a specialty?" rather than stating, "I have a sex problem - can you help?"

Perhaps the most useful referrals will come from other knowledgeable professionals within your community. However, it is also helpful to be able to discover which therapists belong to recognized national professional associations having high membership requirements and enforcing rigid codes of ethics. Specifically, The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) is a national professional association which credentials marriage and family therapists and which would provide a list of its clinical members in your geographical area. More specifically, The American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) is the largest national group which certifies sex educators, sex counselors and sex therapists. You can learn the names and addresses of the certified professionals in your area by writing to this association. AASECT will also provide you with a copy of their Code of Ethics for Sex Therapists upon request. Addresses for AAMFT and AASECT are provided at the end of this page.