If you’ve been keeping up with my exploration of sexual wellness, it’s great to have you back! If you’re new here, let me introduce myself. I’m Emily Kane, a 25-year-old animator committed to enhancing my life through education. Throughout my journey into sexual wellness, I’ve realized the significance of self-love and personal empowerment. This path has brought me to SHA and its Sexuality Educator Certification program.
I am now halfway through my coursework with module 3! How crazy is that? But don't worry—I still have many more requirements to meet before we’re done with this journey. I have many conferences to attend and a capstone project to complete, and I plan to write about it all. I hope my readers will stick with me to see what I've got cooking with my final presentation!
Some things I learned in Module 2, part 2 of my Sex Educator Certification
Sexuality and people of color
Sex and religions
And lots of bonus content
My Sex Educator Certification at the Sexual Health Alliance: Module 3 Part 1
Module 3: Sex and Power is all about understanding the ethics of sexuality professions. It's essential for building trust and keeping clients safe and happy. Organizations like AASECT offer valuable guidelines that help educators and clients learn better together. We'll also talk about ethics in other sexual professions, such as pornography, which focuses on things like consent and responsible production, providing a healthier option compared to what you usually find out there. Plus, we're diving into the serious topics of abuse and coercion, which impact a lot of people. If there is a moral ground on the subject, it is covered in this unit. As therapists, counselors, and educators, maintaining a safe environment for our clients is vital as we don't want to be part of the harm they could be experiencing.
Ethics in Sexuality Professions
Keeping and maintaining strict professional ethical standards in your practice is vital to gaining clients' trust and promoting a healthy learning environment. There are many ethical guidelines you can adhere to, from ASSECT to the World Association of Sexual Health. However, if you want to become AASECT certified, you will have to adhere to their specific ethical guidelines. Although this section wasn't entirely needed to receive the sexuality educator certification as much as the Sex Therapists and Sex counselors certifications, I found that it was still essential to understand the code of ethics, possible areas of harm, and ways to discuss sensitive topics better. As an educator, it is imperative to me to handle anything with a sensitive and understanding hand to create a safe environment to learn and unlearn harmful misinformation!
Some Things I Learned
Psychological treatments that cause harm
How to handle sensitive topics such as religion, abortions, and sexual addictions
Ethical Porn in the Sex Educator Certification Program
First and foremost what is ethical porn and how is it different? The defining difference is the focus on consent. Ethical porn is different in a variety of ways. The production is gone bout in a much more strict and consent-focused manner. Often, it is made with real couples and shows consent taking place within the content to show a more realistic approach to sex. This is great for many people who enjoy porn but don't want to contribute to any possible harm or cooperation. You will learn this and much, much more in this unit of Module 3! This is a topic I have been interested in for many years. It is a feminist twist on the industry that I enjoy seeing influence the content we see and enjoy.
Some Things I Learned
Ethical porn 101, What is it and how to identify it
Pornography use and its association with sexual dysfunction
Ease of access to violent and sexual content and its effects on children
Abuse and Coercion in Sex and Relationships
Unfortunately, most of us have either experienced or know someone who has. For this reason, it is a complex subject to discuss. About 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experience some kind of unwanted sexual contact, and about 25% of the population experiences some form of domestic abuse. If you have experienced abuse, there are many resources you can reach out to for help in every part of the world. In this unit, we tackle this complex topic as it's so prevalent that we must prepare to discuss it properly with our clients.
Some Things I Learned
Treatments for sexual abusers and sexual addictions
Discussing childhood sexual trauma
The effects of witnessing intimate partner violence (IPV) in low-income or African American youth
Sex Educator Certification Program: The Importance of Sex and Ethics
“This knowledge isn’t just about personal growth; it’s also about keeping our clients safe.”
After wrapping up the first half of Module 3, it’s clear that understanding sex and its ethics is super important. This knowledge isn’t just about personal growth; it’s also about keeping our clients safe. I’ve covered a lot in this module so far, like the impact of pornography and serious issues around abuse and coercion, all of which are vital in this field.
These conversations matter, despite how heavy and uncomfortable they might be. As future sexuality educators, we must ensure our clients feel safe and supported. Adhering to ethical guidelines and being aware of sensitive topics can build trust and help shape healthier views on sexuality. This was the first step in my journey of self-acceptance and freeing myself of shame and fear. My goal as a sexuality educator is to bring this freedom to others!
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.