How Do You Become a Sex Therapist?

Like many people, you might wonder: What does a sex therapist do? A sex therapist guides individuals struggling with certain components of sex, such as arousal and performance. These therapists meet with an individual or a couple in a professional setting -- usually an office -- just like any other mental health practitioner would. Then sex therapists assess the psychological or physical reasons for their clients' challenges and provide treatment through sex counseling.

Professionals in the mental health, therapy, and counseling fields need to earn state licensure in order to legally work. Although most states do not offer licensure strictly for the sex therapy field, aspiring sex therapists still need some sort of therapy or counseling licensure to practice. Then they can apply for certification from the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT).

The certification process requires a graduate degree in a mental health, psychology, or therapy field. Candidates must also complete a certain number of supervised clinical hours. You can learn more details about those requirements, and how to become a sex therapist, below.

Educational Pathways to Becoming a Sex Therapist

Most states do not outline specific educational requirements for sex therapy. However, to gain certification from AASECT, individuals must fulfill the association's expectations. Aspiring sex therapists should obtain at least a master's degree in a mental health field with psychotherapy training. Several sex therapist degrees are available for learners. However, many students choose more common master's programs in psychology, psychotherapy, psychiatric nursing, professional counseling, family and marriage family, or social work.

Master's programs generally last two years for full-time students, and learners in these fields learn about psychological theory, along with therapy techniques. Some individuals also continue on to doctoral programs in their fields, which could last 3-7 years and give students additional expertise.

Obtaining a Sex Therapist License

Sex therapists do not earn licensure in sex therapy. Instead, they can obtain state licensure as mental health counselors or marriage and family therapists. In fact, for certification, AASECT requires applicants to hold licensure in psychology, medicine, social work, counseling, nursing, or marriage and family therapy. Individuals must apply for these through their state licensure boards, which all set different requirements for various types of licenses.

Usually candidates need a master's or doctoral degree for licensure. They may also need to complete some supervised clinical hours. Check with your state's licensing board to learn the specifics.

Sex Therapy Certification

A sex therapy certification program equips candidates with the knowledge and skills they need to effectively guide clients as sex therapists. Certification prep programs cover the core knowledge areas of sex therapy, including developing sexuality over the lifespan, sexual orientation, intimacy skills, and diversities in sexual expression.

Students in the sex therapy programs study scientific subjects, such as sexual and reproductive anatomy, biological sexual functions, and health and mental health factors that influence sexual behavior. Ethics also make up a significant part of the curriculum. Finally, AASECT certification requires candidates to participate in supervised training before they can apply for their certification.

Clinical Experience Requirements

Candidates should fulfill a few different types of clinical experience requirements to qualify for certification. First, they should complete at least 10 hours of structured group experiences meant to explore candidates' personal values on sexuality. Applicants must also participate in 300 hours of AASECT-supervised clinical treatment, in addition to at least 50 hours of supervision with an AASECT-certified sex therapy supervisor. Candidates can complete these hours either in a group or individual supervision environment, but individual supervision should count for at least 50% of candidates' hours.

Certification Renewal Requirements

Once certified, sex therapists must renew their AASECT credential every three years. These professionals should participate in at least 20 continuing education hours during each three-year period. Many sex therapists accomplish this by enrolling in AASECT-sponsored continuing education courses. They can also earn credit in other ways, such as publishing a scholarly article in a journal or book, developing a teaching tool for others in their field, or completing face-to-face supervision with an AASECT-certified supervisor.

Frequently Asked Questions with a Sex Therapist

Dr. Kate Balestrieri Dr. Kate Balestrieri is a licensed psychologist, certified sex therapist, certified sex addiction therapist - supervisor, PACT II couples therapist, and founder of Modern Intimacy in Beverly Hills and Miami. The team at Modern Intimacy focuses on helping people heal from trauma, addiction, and sex and relationship issues. Follow her on IG at @themodernintimacy and @drkatebalestrieri.

Career and Salary Outlook For a Sex Therapist

It's difficult to find reliable data on sex therapist salary numbers and career outlooks, so instead you may find it useful to look at comparable careers, such as psychologists and mental health counselors. Psychologists earn a median annual salary of $80,370, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Mental health counselors, in comparison, bring home median annual earnings of $46,240. The BLS projects that both fields may grow over the next decade. The number of psychologists may increase by 14% from 2018-28, while the mental health counselor profession could grow by 22% in that same time period.