Welcome back, lovely readers! If you're new here, I'm thrilled to welcome you to my journey towards earning my Sexuality Educator Certification. My name is Emily Kane, and I'm a 25-year-old artist aiming to build confidence through education and share that knowledge with the world!
I've been documenting my progress in a series of articles as I work towards my certification with the Sexual Health Alliance. I'm halfway through my coursework, so don't worry—there will be plenty more content to come.
Now, it's time to wrap up Module 3! In the first half of this module, we learned a great deal about ethical practices in therapy and significant discussion points to consider with our clients. Module 3 has been essential for understanding practical and emotional treatment and conversation approaches. While we must promote health, healing, and understanding, knowing how to prevent harm is equally crucial.
Some things I learned in Module 3, part 2 of my Sex Educator Certification
Ethics in sexuality professions
Ethical porn
Abuse and coercion in sex and relationships
My Sex Educator Certification at the Sexual Health Alliance: Module 3 Part 2
Starting my Sexuality Educator Certification at Sexual Health Alliance has been an adventure. This month, diving into Module 3, Part 2 opened my eyes to essential topics like empowerment, relationship dynamics, and some of the trickier aspects of sexual behavior. The stuff I’ve learned isn’t just going to help me understand sexuality better; it's also giving me the tools to have more honest conversations about these often-overlooked subjects. In this article, I’ll recap some of the highlights from my recent studies and share how they will influence my journey as a sexuality educator moving forward. Let's get into what I’ve learned and what’s next on this exciting path!
Empowerment in Sexuality
This section will address various topics related to power, empowerment, and power dynamics. We will explore the concept of "finding your unicorn," a term that refers to a partner who complements an existing relationship (usually referring to a woman, but doesn't exclude men). Our discussion will cover polyamorous, open, and closed relationships and the nuances in between. Additionally, we will revisit previously covered topics, such as interracial relationships and multi-sexual relationships. Being in any kind of unconventional relationship is covered in this unit, as it may be something many people misunderstand. It can be challenging to understand when it's not something you participate in. This section will also include other areas of power dynamics, such as conflicts within relationships, as well as unhealthy behaviors in relationships.
Some Things I Learned:
Planned healing separation
Feeling scared during sex
Polyamorphy and unicorns
Sex Addiction and Problematic Sexual Behavior
Sex addiction is somewhat of a controversial subject, but SHA doesn't shy away from it. This unit will cover far more than just sex addiction, however. It will cover all areas of problematic sexual behavior! Sex addiction and hypersexuality are the two main topics we will be reading about in this section. We dive into what sex addiction is, porn addiction, and the origins of their treatments. It's fascinating to see the research on subjects such as “how much masturbation is too much” and how it may support, but more often conflicts with teachings to abstain from such behaviors. This section will have you rethinking some things you may have been taught yourself growing up.
Some Things I Learned:
A new definition of sex addiction
Hypersexuality 101
Shame and self-compassion within men
An Introduction to The Sex Educator Certification Capstone Project
Although I have a good amount of coursework and have yet to do any of my scheduled conferences, it's time to start thinking about what I will do for my Capstone Project! On top of the educational content, you must work through a capstone project highlighting what you've learned, which will be required to receive your certification. It will consist of your project and an oral presentation of your project. Now, I hear you asking what the project requirements are, and it's pretty simple: It has to be something you can use within your practice in the real world! The rules are straightforward and loose enough that you can do anything!! As for what I will be doing for the capstone, I'll keep that a little secret until it's finished, but don't worry, I'll write about that journey in my article later! As an artist, I'm excited to get creative and explore my options!
Some Things to keep in mind
Did I finish the coursework?
Did I attend the required number of conferences?
Get Creative with my project!!!
What comes next in my sex educator certification?
As I wrap up Module 3 and start thinking about my Capstone Project, I feel more empowered and ready to tackle the complexities of sexuality education. The lessons on empowerment, relationship dynamics, and problematic sexual behavior have been super eye-opening.
I look forward to blending my creativity with everything I’ve learned for the Capstone. It’s been such an enlightening journey, and I hope to inspire others as we all try to understand sexuality better.
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to educate yourself and others, especially when education is being threatened and the world feels so divisive. Educating ourselves helps promote understanding, and understanding helps encourage kindness. The best thing we could do now is continue educating ourselves and others.
Thanks for following along with my progress. Watch for more updates as I dive deeper into this topic! Education is a game-changer when it comes to personal growth and healthier relationships. Until next time!
If you want to get certified, take the SHA Certification Quiz to see which certification is perfect for you. If you already know you want to join me in pursuing your Sexuality Educator Certification, apply here! If you have more questions, email shacertifications@gmail.com.
