Certification Programs

¨      AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SEXUALITY EDUCATORS, COUNSELORS, AND THERAPISTS

Washington, DC 

CONTACT PERSON:

¨       AMERICAN BOARD OF SEXOLOGISTS

Winter Park, FL 

CONTACT PERSON:

¨       COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM IN HUMAN SEXUALITY AND SEX THERAPY

New York, NY 

CONTACT PERSON:

¨       FLORIDA SEX THERAPY INSTITUTE – State Certification Program

Palm Beach, FL 

CONTACT PERSON:

¨       University of Michigan Sexual Health Certificate Program (UMSHCP

CONTACT PERSON:

The University of Michigan Sexual Health Certificate Program (UMSHCP) provides comprehensive education and training to professionals interested in the field of sexual health in three tracks

·         Sexuality Education (for educators) Sexuality Counseling (for health professionals) and Sex Therapy (for mental health professionals)

·         Location:

5 weekends at University of Michigan Campus, Ann Arbor MI and 4 weekends offered in ‘blended’ distance/campus learning.

·      Presenters: 8 AASECT Certified Sex Therapists & Sexuality Educators

The three tracks of the program (counselor, therapist and educator) include six courses (90 hours) in sexuality education for all, a specialized values training called the Sexual Attitude Reassessment (SAR—15 hours) for all, and additional hours of training specific to sexuality educator (30 hours), sexuality counselor and sex therapist (60 hours).

Program Format

Following a cohort-style ‘cohort’ learning model, participants enter together as a class and remain together throughout the training in their track (see calendar at UMSHCP website).  The new cohort commences in July of each year. Throughout the program, participants participate in a total of seven two-day minicourses (minicourses=15 hours) if pursuing sexuality educator training, or nine two-day minicourses if pursuing sexuality counselor or sex therapist training. The weekends are arranged so that a participant can take both a counselor or therapist track and the educator track should they wish to do so.

All participants in all three tracks share 90 hours of educational minicourses together (six weekend classes). The participants also pursue advanced training in their ‘track’ of Sexuality Education (30 hours = two weekends), Sexuality Counseling (60 hours = 4 weekends), and Sex Therapy (60 hours = 4 weekends).

Distance Learning. 60 hours of sexuality education can be attended through simultaneous distance learning (two weekends in October, one weekend each in January and February). The remaining weekend courses are campus-based learning because they involve training (role plays, case discussions, curriculum design and other elements) better suited to on-campus learning.

Faculty. Program faculty are AASECT certified sex therapists, sexuality educators, and certified supervisors. They are skilled teachers as well as sexologists who have conducted research, published articles and books, worked to change public policy in the field of sexual health, spoken at national and international conferences, and are frequently cited in the media. They maintain professional affiliation with AASECT as well as other major professional organizations in sex therapy and research, sexuality education, health and mental health.

Curriculum. An overview of course content is available at UMSHCP website.

Once admitted, participants receive detailed information about program participation, travel and hotel accommodations, website-based learning used in the program and detailed syllabi for the courses. Some reading and non-graded assignments are part of every class.

Sexuality Educator, Sexuality Counselor and Sex Therapist Tracks. The program is open to health and mental health professionals from all recognized disciplines. An applicant applies to the program by ‘track’:

--Sexuality educators are professionals with an undergraduate or master’s degree (or higher) who regularly provide information about sexual health in educational or health environments. This includes but is not limited to schools, residential treatment facilities, medical centers, and family planning centers.

--Sexuality counselors are primarily professionals providing health care, like nurses, doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, who assist in defining a client’s sexual issues and concerns, and provide both counseling.

--Sex therapists are mental health professionals who are licensed in their states or countries to provide mental health care. They have completed graduate school for clinical training in their professional area. This may be a PhD, MD, MSW, or MA.

--Multidisciplinary focus. Sexual health professionals consistently interact with other disciplines to promote the principles of sexual health for the clients and groups they serve. The cohort style learning encourages this multidisciplinary approach.

CEs: The program is approved for up to 195 AASECT CEs. It offers ACE CEs as well.

Advisory Board: Eli Coleman, PhD; Ed Goldman, JD;  Hilda Hutcherson, MD; Beverly Whipple, PhD

For further information contact:

Sallie Foley, LMSW, UMSHCP Director at smfoley@umich.edu, 734.764.4074