Couples therapy focuses on resolving struggles within a relationship while deepening openness and trust. When working with couples, I focus on helping them to create new patterns of relating without sacrificing themselves or their respective voices.
In situations where couples therapy may not be an appropriate first choice, I may offer couples discernment counseling. Discernment is a short-term intervention, no more than 5 sessions, designed to work with couples on the brink. This model can create a. clarity and confidence as you move forward, b. provide a deeper understanding of what brought the marriage to this point and, c. understanding the role each partner contributed to the situation.
Couples and Discernment Counseling
Certification as a sex therapist requires an intense course of study requiring a minimum of 150 hours of training in basic human sexuality throughout the lifespan, the completion of a Sexual Attitude Reassessment process group of a minimum of 14 hours. A certification candidate must also complete a minimum of 50 hours of sex therapy supervision, over a period of no less than 18 months and have a minimum of 300 hours of clinical experience. As an AASECT certified sex therapist and certified supervisor of sex therapy, as well as a clinical member of The Society for Sex Therapy and Research, I can assist you in reaching your goal of becoming a sex therapist.
Consultation is a discussion between professionals, in which one clinician seeks a non-binding opinion about their clinical work from a professional with expertise in a specific area of practice. Consultation is often sought when considering the pros and cons of an intervention, or one needs a differing perspective about how to proceed in the work.
Sex therapists work to help people develop a better relationship to their bodies, desires, sense of self, and relationships with their intimate partners.
What causes sexual difficulties? Struggles with sexual functioning may stem from past events, medical issues, relational problems, or some combination of all of these events. Sometimes people begin to discover aspects of their sexuality and desire that they had not previously been known and do not know how to share these discoveries with their partner fearing rejection or loss of the relationship. When people enter sex therapy, they can expect a respectful environment in which the therapist begins an assessment of the presenting concerns, information and sexuality education as needed and directed therapeutic interventions designed to assist you in exploring and creating a sexuality that is reflective of your desires and needs.
Finding a Sexual Health Professional The first place to begin exploring someone’s qualifications to provide sex therapy is to ask whether they are certified in sex therapy. The primary certifying body for sex therapy in the United States is The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists, or AASECT. Certification through AASECT is a rigorous process requiring study, specialized training, supervision, and a peer review of one’s academic and therapeutic accomplishments to ensure a standardized level of training and basic competence.
