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BeingaSexTherapist

ChristopherK.Belous,PhDLMFTbelous_ck@mercer.edu

/realdrbchrisbelous.com@chrisbelous@chrisbelous/chrisbelous

#SEXTIME

Whatissextherapy?

ItIS,however:• Adistinctmentalhealthspecialty

• Multidisciplinary,andcollaborativeapproachtohelpingpeoplewithpsychologicalorsocialissuesaroundsexandsexuality

• Includingthediagnosisandtreatmentofthoseconditionswithinthescopeoftheirpractice

ItisNOThavingsexwithclients.Wedonothavesexwithclients.

Ever.Wealsodonotwatchourclientshavesex.Beingpresentduring

sexualactivityisnotapartofsextherapy.

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Howdoyoubecome asextherapist?• Musthaveatleastamaster’sdegree• Sextherapistscomefromallmentalhealthfields;

• Psychology,Counseling,SocialWork,andCoupleandFamilyTherapy

• Mustbelicensedinthejurisdictioninwhichyouresideandpractice

ThebestsextherapistshaveadditionalCREDENTIALSthatprovetheyarecapabletoprovidesextherapyinanethicalandcompetentmanner.

• TrainingPrograms/GraduateCertificatesbeyondyourmaster’sdegree• UniversityofMichigan,SchoolofSocialWork:GraduateCertificateinSexualHealth

• UniversityofWisconsin– Stout,MarriageandFamilyTherapyProgram:GraduateCertificateinSexTherapy

• ContinuingEducation• BuehlerInstitute(CA)• InstituteforSexualityEducation&Enlightenment(CT)• CaliforniaInstituteofIntegralStudies– CertificateinSexTherapyandEducation(CA)

• Conferences,localprogramming• UniversityPrograms/Coursesduringdegree

• WidenerUniversity’sCenterforHumanSexualityStudies(MEd,PhD)- Pennsylvania

• InstitutefortheAdvancedStudyofHumanSexuality– SanFrancisco

Howdoyoubecome asextherapist?

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CertificationRoutes

• AmericanAssociationofSexEducators,Counselors,andTherapists(AASECT)• www.aasect.org• Requiresextensivespecificeducationalattainment,supervisedpractice,time

• AmericanCollegeofSexologists(ACS)• www.americancollegeofsexologists.org• Requiresspecificeducationalattainment,workexperience,time

• AmericanBoardofSexology(ABS)• www.americanboardofsexology.com• Requiresextensivespecificeducationalattainment,supervisedpractice,time,invitation

Thereareafewcertificationbodiesthataccreditthedisciplineofsextherapy

Whatisa“dayinthelife”ofasextherapist?• Verysimilartoalltherapy• Wehelpwithavarietyofspecializedconcerns,e.g.:• Bettersex• SexualTrauma• Intimacy• Desire/Interest/Arousal• ErectileDysfunction• Fetishes• OutofControlSexualBehavior• EducationalIssues• Pain• PrematureEjaculation

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Whatdoyoudowiththeseissues?

• Sometimesit’sarelationshipsituation• Sometimesit’sindividual• Sometimesweworkwithotherhelpingprofessionals!• Physicaltherapists,medicaldoctors,psychiatrists,holisticpractitioners,etc.

• Moreoftenthannot,specificsextherapyisshort-term(lessthan12sessions)• Longer-termissuescomefromtrauma,outofcontrolbehavior,relationshipdistress,etc.

CaseExample

Greg– OutofControlSexualBehavior• Male,late40’s,Caucasian,Middle-UpperClass,Married,nochildren,Heterosexual• Traumainhischildhood– sexualabuse• SexualActingOut• TreatmentProcess

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Questions?

Thankyouforinvitingme!

belous_ck@mercer.edu/realdrbchrisbelous.com@chrisbelous@chrisbelous/chrisbelous

Let’sConnect!