Sexual Health Alliance is dedicated to furthering positive sex practices and accurate sexual education. For any professional looking to expand their practice, sexual business, or education, the Sexual Health Alliance has a certificate program for you. Our Sex Therapist Certificate Program, which consists of four online modules and three two-day conferences, is for students earning a degree in psychology, already-practicing therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists; if you do not have a license to practice, please check out our other certificate programs here.
Community is pivotal to the Sexual Health Alliance, and we boast a vast and global group. Though the majority of us reside in the United States, some of our staff and students are from England, parts of Australia, and elsewhere! Our community consists of every walk of life; we are mothers and fathers, professors and students, doctors and healthcare professionals, all here with one goal: To create a more sex-positive world.
SHA is committed to cultivating and sustaining our community’s important conversations, which is why we regularly offer opportunities for online interaction and in-person events. The variety of programs SHA offers allows everyone to join the community in the ways they see fit. We are better together, as a collective group that can learn, share, and grow together.
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE SEX THERAPIST CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
The Sex Therapist Certification Program at the Sexual Health Alliance includes three conferences with professionals and four rigorous online modules, each detailing the equally important branches for discussing sex and sexuality with your patients. Our program is rich with sex-positive historical and educational texts, video interviews with professionals and experts in the field, and exercises to help retain and interpret this vibrant knowledge. Current faculty members of the Sexual Health Alliance who assist in your journey to certification include:
Midori
Chris Donaghue, PhD, CST
David Ley, PhD CST, CST-S
Dr. Elizabeth Sheff
Dr. Justin Lehmiller
Mitchell Tepper, PhD, MPH
Charlie Glickman, PhD
N. Jasmine Johnson, LCSW, AKA Jet Setting Jasmine
Stephen Snyder, MD
Your journey through the program is self-paced with suggested milestones and deadlines marked along the way. On average, students take 12 months to complete the program, though some have finished in as little as six months. When you’ve finished your certification, your education does not need to end--SHA has additional certificate programs to enhance specific areas of knowledge and regular, two-day conferences, which, as a student, you can attend at a discounted rate.
Besides the explorative and reflected coursework, as a student you can expect:
Discussion sessions with experts in the field
Included SAR
Future training and conferences at a discount
A global community of professionals in all fields
“Do It For Me” AASECT application process -- saving you OVER 30 HOURS OF WORK!
TUITION COSTS OF SEX THERAPIST CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
At the Sexual Health Alliance, we believe education should be accessible to everyone. We understand that furthering your education is an investment, which is why we’ve done our best to keep costs as low as possible. All of our students have the option to pay their tuition in full or spread out the payments over 12 or 18 months. As a student in any of our certificate programs, you receive discounts on future experiences like two-day online conferences and Sexual Attitude Reassessments.
WHAT CAN I DO WITH A CERTIFICATE IN SEX THERAPY?
Our Sex Therapist Certificate Program, which consists of four online modules and three two-day conferences, is for students earning a degree in psychology, already-practicing therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists; if you do not have a license to practice, please check out our other certificate programs here. Sex Therapists are trained in treating clients with sexual issues and concerns and, in addition, where appropriate, are prepared to provide comprehensive and intensive psychotherapy over an extended period of time in more complex cases.
If you are already practicing, a certificate in sex therapy allows you to offer specialized treatment to clients, boosting your business significantly. On average, a therapist with a certificate in sex therapy earns three times what a therapist without this in-depth training does.
WHAT IS AN AASECT CERTIFIED SEX THERAPIST?
AASECT Certified Sex Therapists are licensed mental health professionals, trained to assess, diagnose, and provide in-depth psychotherapy, who have specialized in treating clients with sexual issues and concerns. In the absence of available licensure, they are certified, registered, or clinical members of a national psychotherapy organization. Sex therapists work with sexual concerns, including, but not limited to: sexual function and dysfunction; sexual pleasure; sexual variation; sexuality and disability; sexuality and chronic illness; sexual development across the lifespan; sexual abuse, assault, and coercion; and sexuality across cultures, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues. In addition, where appropriate, are prepared to provide comprehensive and intensive psychotherapy over an extended period of time in more complex cases.
PREVIOUS CONFERENCES AND GUEST SPEAKERS
We are passionate about sharing and spreading current, sex-positive knowledge, which is why the Sexual Health Alliance is committed to offering regular, two-day conferences on a wide variety of topics and with many expert presenters. Some of our recent conferences include BodySex expert, Carlin Ross, teaching us the basics of Betty Dodson’s revolutionary exercises, Michael Vigorito leading a conversation on problem sexual behavior, and even the first student-run and student-led conference. Like the topics themselves, our guest speakers range in professions, ensuring all perspectives are represented in our curriculum.
We are lucky to have some of the top professors and lecturers in the world! Many of our presenters have lectured at prestigious Universities, including USC, UCLA, Princeton, The Kinsey Institute, Harvard University, the University of Texas at Austin, Texas State University, and more. Many of them have been featured on Anderson Cooper, Dr. Phil, The Doctors, LoveLine, WE tv’s “Sex Box” and Logo tv’s “Bad Sex,” The Today Show, VICE, CNN, HLN, OWN, Nightline, Katie Couric, Dr. Drew and in Newsweek, New York Times, Daily Beast, Men's Health, Cosmo, National Geographic, LA Times, The London Telegraph, Playboy, and Hustler magazines.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCEPTANCE TO SEX THERAPIST CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
You need at least a Master’s degree to become AASECT Certified. In order to be certified as a sex therapist, you need to either be an already-established therapist or a student (with at least a Master’s) planning to become licensed in your region. You must be licensed before graduation from SHA and before you can apply to AASECT.
Please include in your application your resume or CV, a recent photo of you, your transcript (unofficially is perfectly acceptable), and your license (if applicable). We ask for any kind of photo so we can identify you at in-person and online conferences. Since we award continuing education credits, we also want to make sure you are who you say you are (i.e. someone is not pretending to be you and completing required conferences and educational work on your behalf). Your picture has zero basis in the admissions decision.
Additionally, the application asks for a Personal Statement of 500 words minimum. Use this space to tell us in your own words why you are applying to the SHA Sex Therapist Certificate Program. Be creative and informative! We want to get to know you and determine if you are a good fit for our program.
We review all applications in the order received and try our very hardest to get back to you within a few days. As long as you’ve included all requested materials, you should hear back from us within the week. Please note that we don’t typically work weekends or holidays, so an application submitted on those days will not be seen until we’re back in the office.
SEX THERAPY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM PREPARES YOU FOR YOUR FUTURE
If your goal is to become an AASECT-certified sexuality therapist, educator, or counselor, the Sexual Health Alliance helps streamline this process. The American Association of Sexual Educators, Counselors, and Therapists, or AASECT, is one pathway to certification, and SHA is one of the few approved institutions. This ensures that all your credits count towards what is required for your certificate. On top of this, SHA offers a “Do It For Me” option for AASECT application, saving you 30 hours of work! There is no other program in the industry that does this for you.
WHY SHA’S SEX THERAPIST PROGRAM?
Streamlined path to AASECT Certification
We know more than anyone that becoming an AASECT certified professional is a lengthy and taxing process, which is why our programs offer all the necessary hours and CEs to apply for your AASECT Certification. From online courses and modules to conferences and community gatherings, the Sexual Health Alliance’s certification training program makes becoming a sex therapist easy.
Train with the experts
The Sexual Health Alliance is comprised of many experts from diverse personal and professional backgrounds. Some of our modules are taught by doctors, therapists, and/or professors, while other courses are taught by professional sex workers, fetish and BDSM experts, and other marginalized voices from the community, making SHA a place for all perspectives.
Gain a Competitive Advantage
The Sex Therapist Certification Program increases your value as a professional through our groundbreaking and progressive modules, filled with scientific information and varying perspectives to gain a holistic and accurate understanding of sexuality. The modules are frequently updated with the newest and industry-confirmed, unbiased information in the field.
Grow your practice
Members of the Sex Therapist Certification Program continue to be at the forefront of an expanding field. Specializations that the Sexual Health Alliance offers set you apart from the crowd. Additionally, our program boasts a global community founded on establishing professional relationships and extending our reach of sex-positive education.
Join a positive community
Not only do you gain access to stellar workshops and courses, but joining any of the Sexual Health Alliance’s Certificate Training programs welcomes you to a global, sex-positive community. As a group, we create open spaces to share stories, ideas, and knowledge on one’s Sex Therapist journey. We are here to grow together.
Learn from anywhere, anytime
All of our modules and coursework are available 100% online and are accessible from any web browser, simplifying your therapist certification process. Skip the constant travel and boring conferences, saving time and money, with our Sex Therapist Certificate Program.
Self-guided and self-paced
While most programs have set schedules and firm deadlines, flexibility is a core component of SHA’s certificate training. We are proud to have a diverse group of students, many with full-time jobs, careers, college, and children. Our Sex Therapist Certificate is designed to go at your own pace, allowing you all the time you might need. On average, the program takes 12 months to complete.
Simplified AASECT application process
Some students choose to become certified through AASECT (American Association of Sexual Educators, Counselors, and Therapists) in addition to their global SHA certification. Through our certificate training, you gain a complete package to turn into AASECT for your Sex Therapist Certification. This streamlined process saves you time and money!
WHAT MAKES SHA best in class?
The Sexual Health Alliance (SHA) stands out as a leader in sexuality training because we connect you with the leading experts in the world. We build the most inclusive communities and offer support throughout the program with our Facebook group, in-person events, sexceptional weekend conferences, study abroad programs all over the world, and Advanced SARs in Mexico and Jamaica. Finally, our latest specialized programs are accelerated and self-paced.
Our programs are at the forefront of the field because we focus on progressive and comprehensive content presented through multiple channels so that no matter what kind of learner you are, you will become sexceptional at graduation.
SHA consists of professionals from every walk of life who go on to change the field and make a huge difference in their clients’ lives. We support and encourage our students throughout the program and provide a wealth of opportunities to network. We love offering collaboration with our presenters and through our conferences as well—we want your education to be about you!
Since 2015, SHA has hosted over 7,800 people at our events while certifying sex therapists, counselors, educators, and coaches. We have been lucky enough to collaborate with many of the leading experts in sexuality and relationships. Throughout the year, SHA facilitates communication among sexual health providers through our signature workshops and conferences, special events, and social media. Our events and programming are intended to build community, spark dialogue, and encourage collaboration.
We build communities that are well-informed and all-inclusive. We're dedicated to bringing the brightest minds and biggest game changers in sexual health to every area of the world. Join a program that’s more than watching videos and answering questions, join SHA, and transform your career and make lifelong friends.
SHA’S STANCE ON “SEX ADDICTION”
SHA believes that we, as therapists, counselors, educators, and coaches, need to challenge the concept of sexual addiction and explore a different model of sexuality. We do not support CSAT (Certified Sex Addiction Therapist) programs or agree that compulsive sexual behavior or problematic sexual behavior is empirically supported, and do not promote the language we deem to be shaming.
SHA also supports the American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT)’s stance on this topic.
OTHER SHA PROGRAMS
Not interested or not qualified to get your Sex Therapist Certificate? Sexual Health Alliance offers a variety of programs:
We make it easy to become a certified SHA and AASECT sexuality professional. All programs are AASECT approved and provide 200+ AASECT CEs*. Start your dream career in sexuality today and finish your program(s) at your own pace, online, from anywhere!
*This program meets the requirements of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and is approved for AASECT CE credits. These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification. Completion of this program does not ensure or guarantee AASECT certification. For further information please contact ce@aasect.org.
