You're already managing clients, documentation, meetings, and the responsibilities that come with a demanding professional career. But you've also noticed something: Sexual health concerns come up frequently in your work, and you want the specialized training to address them with greater knowledge and confidence.

Maybe you're a licensed therapist who wants to expand into sex therapy. Perhaps you're a social worker, psychologist, or marriage and family therapist interested in specializing in intimacy, relationships, or sexual concerns.

There's just one problem.

How do you find time for sex therapy certification when you're already working full-time?

If you're exploring a career in sex therapy, sexuality education, counseling, or sexology, you've probably encountered two names: the Sexual Health Alliance (SHA) and the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT). Both play important roles in professional sexual health education, but they are not the same organization, and their certifications are not interchangeable. Understanding the difference can help you choose the right training, avoid unnecessary expenses, and build a clear pathway toward your professional goals.

The 2026 Sexual Health Alliance Annual Sexological Conference brought hundreds of sexual health professionals together in Denver for three days of expert-led education, interdisciplinary conversations, and meaningful connections. From groundbreaking discussions in sexual medicine, therapy, and research to immersive experiences like A Taste of Kink and the Black-Tie Bondage Gala, this year's conference celebrated the people and ideas shaping the future of sexual health.

In the age of constantly improving technology, mental health and sexual health professionals would be remiss not to consider new tools and approaches. These days we have apps, websites, and other technological tools. Some professionals, like Laura Wood, LMHC, NCC, CST, even use video games as a catalyst to therapeutic interventions.

There’s a lot on a healthcare provider's mind when treating patients with chronic conditions or disabilities. On the other side of the exam table, patients have their own pressing concerns, and rightfully so! But with limited time during visits, crucial topics often fall through the cracks. One of the most frequently overlooked? Sexual health.

Mental load can affect more than stress levels—it can shape sexual desire, intimacy, and relationship satisfaction. Learn what the research says about low libido, responsive desire, and the impact of unequal responsibilities.

SSRIs can support mental health while also affecting sexual function. Learn how antidepressants may influence desire, arousal, sensation, lubrication, and orgasm—and why sexual health should be part of the conversation.

Netflix’ Age of Attraction is an “ageless” dating show where participants date at a remote retreat without revealing their ages. If they choose to go forward together, they then reveal their ages, move in together, and then meet each others’ friends and family. Some couples had just a year or a few between them (and were not followed for the rest of the show) while others had substantial age gaps of 15 to over 30 years!

What is the “Red Zone”?

More than just an American football term, the “red zone” refers to the 6-10 week period at the beginning of the university fall semester (typically between the start of the semester and up until Thanksgiving) when individuals may be at elevated risk to experience sexual violence, including sexual assault and rape.

When you picture your dream home, what does it include? Maybe a giant kitchen with gorgeous countertops comes to mind. What about a spacious living room to relax in after work? You likely thought about the staples of a home, but did you think about a sex room?

Not everyone sees themselves reflected on dating shows. But, Netflix's Love on the Spectrum is changing the game by focusing on a community underrepresented in this genre: the show specifically follows the lives of individuals on the autism spectrum as they navigate dating and relationships.

Whether your relationship is separated by a few hour drive, takes a short flight, or means journeying halfway across the globe, it can be a long distance relationship. What constitutes "long distance” can vary substantially, but this kind of relationship generally fits into the category of “living apart together” and means less time together compared to relationships where the partners live closer. A few months ago, I shared personal anecdotes and reflections about my experience in a long distance relationship. It got me thinking: it’s not that different from a shorter distance relationship. Although, I'm not actually sure a “shorter distance relationship” is a term. Regardless, I see some clear similarities that I believe are worth exploring. Let’s get into it!

Do you ever wonder how the sausage gets made? Well, I’m specifically talking about a different kind of sausage than what you might see in most behind-the-scenes blogs or on a How It’s Made type show. Jenn Chang, a sexual wellness product developer and creative strategist with over ten years of experience, gave a talk at SHA’s “Sexology & Media Summit” about safety and regulatory requirements as well as the stages of product development of sexual wellness products. Let’s start with some basics, and then dive into the sexual wellness product development process!

Am I doing enough for SEO? How do I navigate algospeak? What even is shadowbanning? Creating sexual health content can feel like an uphill battle. Luckily, at SHA’s “Sexology & Media Summit”, I had the opportunity to hear from Alex Hall who has years of experience in reproductive rights content creation and now runs The Bottom’s Digest alongside his husband. The event also featured Nikki Mars Messick of NikLovin’ who specializes in bringing sex education to the content space in a comedic and approachable way!

The primary difference between a sex coach and therapist is the type of support they are trained and legally qualified to provide.

A sex coach typically uses education, coaching, goal-setting, communication strategies, and practical exercises to help clients improve sexual confidence, intimacy, relationships, and sexual well-being.

A sex therapist is a mental health professional with clinical training who provides psychotherapy for sexual and relationship concerns within the scope of their professional license. Sex therapists may work with complex mental health concerns, trauma, anxiety, relationship distress, sexual dysfunction, and other issues that require clinical assessment and treatment.

Both professions can make an important contribution to sexual wellness, but sex coaching and sex therapy are not interchangeable.

An intimacy coordinator is a trained professional who works with performers and production teams to help plan and facilitate scenes involving nudity, simulated sex, physical intimacy, and other hyper-exposed content. Intimacy coordinators advocate for performers, facilitate communication around consent and boundaries, collaborate with directors and production departments, and may help choreograph intimate movement so scenes can be performed safely, consistently, and authentically.

It can be difficult for sexual health education and information to find its way into niche communities. At the Sexual Health Alliance’s “Sexology & Media Summit”, LoveHoney Group’s North American PR Manager Jessica Puder tackled a question that a lot of sexual wellness marketers wrestle with: in a world that feels increasingly sex-negative, how do you reach people who aren't already looking for you?

There is no single salary for sex therapists because earnings depend on numerous factors. Most sex therapists begin their careers as licensed mental health professionals and then pursue advanced education in sex therapy. According to salary data for licensed mental health professionals, many therapists earn between $60,000 and $120,000+ annually, while experienced clinicians in successful private practices may earn significantly more. Income can vary based on clinical hours, fee structure, specialization, and business model.

An intimacy coach helps individuals and couples strengthen emotional and physical intimacy, improve communication, build confidence, and develop healthier relationships. Through education, coaching, and goal-oriented guidance, intimacy coaches support clients in creating more connected and fulfilling intimate lives.

A Sexologist Certification is advanced professional training that prepares individuals to become experts in human sexuality. Sexual Health Alliance offers a globally recognized Sexologist Certification designed to help professionals develop evidence-based knowledge, practical skills, and professional credibility in the field of sexology.

Whether you plan to work in education, healthcare, coaching, consulting, media, advocacy, or another sexuality-related profession, a comprehensive Sexologist Certification can provide the foundation needed to build a meaningful career.