Sex therapy does not involve sex, sexual touch, nudity, or physical examinations of any kind…Ever.

There are often misconceptions about what a sex therapist does as part of their therapeutic work with clients and what training is required to practice sex therapy. All sex therapists are licensed mental health professionals with a degree in social work (LMSW), psychology (PhD, PsyD), or psychiatry (MD) who have sought additional post-graduate training in supporting people with sexual health concerns/difficulties. Certified Sex Therapists (CST) have completed the required educational training, supervision, and clinical experience required by The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT). 

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Sex therapists work with individuals and relationships (2 or more people) to help resolve sexual health concerns. We assess multiple areas of a client’s life and collaborate with other medical providers to rule out and/or address physiological/medical attributes that may be contributing to the concern. RISE is an  affirming space which values the spectrum of human diversity, empowering individual expression, and intentionally tailoring treatment to the goals and desires of each client.

 

Just like traditional therapy for mental health concerns, sex therapists and clients talk and assess the situation through questions, descriptions of the concern, and collaboration with other medical providers. Certain treatment approaches and interventions may involve activities or exercises for the client to try in the privacy of their home, but these exercises never take place in a therapist’s office or during teletherapy.