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Sexology is the scientific study of human sexuality, including human sexual interests, behaviors, and functions. The term sexology does not generally refer to the non-scientific study of sexuality, such as social criticism.

Sexologists apply tools from several academic fields, such as biology, medicine, psychology, epidemiology, sociology, and criminology. Topics of study include sexual development (puberty), sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual relationships, sexual activities, paraphilias, and atypical sexual interests. It also includes the study of sexuality across the lifespan, including child sexuality, puberty, adolescent sexuality, and sexuality among the elderly. Sexology also spans sexuality among the mentally and/or physically disabled. The sexological study of sexual dysfunctions and disorders, including erectile dysfunction and anorgasmia, are also mainstays.

History

Early

Sexual manuals have existed since antiquity, such as Ovid’s Ars Amatoria, the Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana, the Ananga Ranga and The Perfumed Garden for the Soul’s Recreation. De la prostitution dans la ville de Paris (Prostitution in the City of Paris), an early 1830s study on 3,558 registered prostitutes in Paris, published by Alexander Jean Baptiste Parent-Duchatelet (and published in 1837, a year after he died), has been called the first work of modern sex research.

The scientific study of sexual behavior in human beings began in the 19th century with Heinrich Kaan, whose book Psychopathia Sexualis (1844) Michel Foucault describes as marking “the date of birth, or in any case the date of the emergence of sexuality and sexual aberrations in the psychiatric field.” The term “sexology” was coined for the first time in the United States by Elizabeth Osgood Goodrich Willard in 1867. Roughly simultaneously a group of homophile activists, not yet identifying themselves as sexologists, were responding to shifts in Europe’s national borders, a crisis that brought into conflict laws that were sexually liberal and laws that criminalized behaviors such as homosexual activity.

Victorian Era to WWII

Havelock Ellis, a pioneering figure in the movement towards sexual emancipation in the late 19th century.

Despite the prevailing social attitude of sexual repression in the Victorian era, the movement towards sexual emancipation began towards the end of the nineteenth century in England and Germany. In 1886, Richard Freiherr von Krafft-Ebing published Psychopathia Sexualis. That work is considered as having established sexology as a scientific discipline.

In England, the founding father of sexology was the doctor and sexologist Havelock Ellis who challenged the sexual taboos of his era regarding masturbation and homosexuality and revolutionized the conception of sex in his time. His seminal work was the 1897 Sexual Inversion, which describes the sexual relations of homosexual males, including men with boys. Ellis wrote the first objective study of homosexuality (the term was coined by Karl-Maria Kertbeny), as he did not characterize it as a disease, immoral, or a crime. The work assumes that same-sex love transcended age taboos as well as gender taboos. Seven of his twenty-one case studies are of inter-generational relationships. He also developed other important psychological concepts, such as autoerotism and narcissism, both of which were later developed further by Sigmund Freud.

Ellis pioneered transgender phenomena alongside the German Magnus Hirschfeld. He established it as new category that was separate and distinct from homosexuality. Aware of Hirschfeld’s studies of transvestism, but disagreeing with his terminology, in 1913 Ellis proposed the term sexo-aesthetic inversion to describe the phenomenon.

In 1908, the first scholarly journal of the field, Journal of Sexology (Zeitschrift für Sexualwissenschaft), began publication and was published monthly for one year. Those issues contained articles by Freud, Alfred Adler, and Wilhelm Stekel. In 1913, the first academic association was founded: the Society for Sexology.

Freud developed a theory of sexuality. These stages of development include: Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency and Genital. These stages run from infancy to puberty and onwards. based on his studies of his clients, between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Wilhelm Reich and Otto Gross, were disciples of Freud, but rejected by his theories because of their emphasis on the role of sexuality in the revolutionary struggle for the emancipation of mankind.Hirschfeld’s books were burned by the Nazis in Berlin for being “un-German”.

Pre-Nazi Germany, under the sexually liberal Napoleonic code, organized and resisted the anti-sexual, Victorian cultural influences. The momentum from those groups led them to coordinate sex research across traditional academic disciplines, bringing Germany to the leadership of sexology. Physician Magnus Hirschfeld was an outspoken advocate for sexual minorities, founding the Scientific Humanitarian Committee, the first advocacy for homosexual and transgender rights.

Hirschfeld also set up the first Institut für Sexualwissenschaft (Institute for Sexology) in Berlin in 1919. Its library housed over 20,000 volumes, 35,000 photographs, a large collection of art and other objects. People from around Europe visited the Institute to gain a clearer understanding of their sexuality and to be treated for their sexual concerns and dysfunctions.

Hirschfeld developed a system which identified numerous actual or hypothetical types of sexual intermediary between heterosexual male and female to represent the potential diversity of human sexuality, and is credited with identifying a group of people that today are referred to as transsexual or transgender as separate from the categories of homosexuality, he referred to these people as ‘transvestiten’ (transvestites).Germany’s dominance in sexual behavior research ended with the Nazi regime. The Institute and its library were destroyed by the Nazis less than three months after they took power, May 8, 1933. The institute was shut down and Hirschfeld’s books were burned.

Other sexologists in the early gay rights movement included Ernst Burchard and Benedict Friedlaender. Ernst Gräfenberg, after whom the G-spot is named, published the initial research developing the intrauterine device (IUD).

History

Early

Sexual manuals have existed since antiquity, such as Ovid’s Ars Amatoria, the Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana, the Ananga Ranga and The Perfumed Garden for the Soul’s Recreation. De la prostitution dans la ville de Paris (Prostitution in the City of Paris), an early 1830s study on 3,558 registered prostitutes in Paris, published by Alexander Jean Baptiste Parent-Duchatelet (and published in 1837, a year after he died), has been called the first work of modern sex research.

The scientific study of sexual behavior in human beings began in the 19th century with Heinrich Kaan, whose book Psychopathia Sexualis (1844) Michel Foucault describes as marking “the date of birth, or in any case the date of the emergence of sexuality and sexual aberrations in the psychiatric field.” The term “sexology” was coined for the first time in the United States by Elizabeth Osgood Goodrich Willard in 1867. Roughly simultaneously a group of homophile activists, not yet identifying themselves as sexologists, were responding to shifts in Europe’s national borders, a crisis that brought into conflict laws that were sexually liberal and laws that criminalized behaviors such as homosexual activity.

Victorian Era to WWII

Havelock Ellis, a pioneering figure in the movement towards sexual emancipation in the late 19th century.

Despite the prevailing social attitude of sexual repression in the Victorian era, the movement towards sexual emancipation began towards the end of the nineteenth century in England and Germany. In 1886, Richard Freiherr von Krafft-Ebing published Psychopathia Sexualis. That work is considered as having established sexology as a scientific discipline

In England, the founding father of sexology was the doctor and sexologist Havelock Ellis who challenged the sexual taboos of his era regarding masturbation and homosexuality and revolutionized the conception of sex in his time. His seminal work was the 1897 Sexual Inversion, which describes the sexual relations of homosexual males, including men with boys. Ellis wrote the first objective study of homosexuality (the term was coined by Karl-Maria Kertbeny), as he did not characterize it as a disease, immoral, or a crime. The work assumes that same-sex love transcended age taboo as well as gender taboos. Seven of his twenty-one case studies are of inter-generational relationships. He also developed other important psychological concepts, such as autoerotism and narcissism, both of which were later developed further by Sigmund Freud.

Ellis pioneered transgender phenomena alongside the German Magnus Hirschfeld. He established it as new category that was separate and distinct from homosexuality. Aware of Hirschfeld’s studies of transvestism, but disagreeing with his terminology, in 1913 Ellis proposed the term sexo-aesthetic inversion to describe the phenomenon.

In 1908, the first scholarly journal of the field, Journal of Sexology (Zeitschrift für Sexualwissenschaft), began publication and was published monthly for one year. Those issues contained articles by Freud, Alfred Adler, and Wilhelm Stekel. In 1913, the first academic association was founded: the Society for Sexology.

Freud developed a theory of sexuality. These stages of development include: Oral, Anal, Phallic, Latency and Genital. These stages run from infancy to puberty and onwards. based on his studies of his clients, between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Wilhelm Reich and Otto Gross, were disciples of Freud, but rejected by his theories because of their emphasis on the role of sexuality in the revolutionary struggle for the emancipation of mankind.Hirschfeld’s books were burned by the Nazis in Berlin for being “un-German”.

Pre-Nazi Germany, under the sexually liberal Napoleonic code, organized and resisted the anti-sexual, Victorian cultural influences. The momentum from those groups led them to coordinate sex research across traditional academic disciplines, bringing Germany to the leadership of sexology. Physician Magnus Hirschfeld was an outspoken advocate for sexual minorities, founding the Scientific Humanitarian Committee, the first advocacy for homosexual and transgender rights.

Hirschfeld also set up the first Institut für Sexualwissenschaft (Institute for Sexology) in Berlin in 1919. Its library housed over 20,000 volumes, 35,000 photographs, a large collection of art and other objects. People from around Europe visited the Institute to gain a clearer understanding of their sexuality and to be treated for their sexual concerns and dysfunctions.

Hirschfeld developed a system which identified numerous actual or hypothetical types of sexual intermediary between heterosexual male and female to represent the potential diversity of human sexuality, and is credited with identifying a group of people that today are referred to as transsexual or transgender as separate from the categories of homosexuality, he referred to these people as ‘transvestiten’ (transvestites). Germany’s dominance in sexual behavior research ended with the Nazi regime. The Institute and its library were destroyed by the Nazis less than three months after they took power, May 8, 1933. The institute was shut down and Hirschfeld’s books were burned.

Other sexologists in the early gay rights movement included Ernst Burchard and Benedict Friedlaender. Ernst Gräfenberg, after whom the G-spot is named, published the initial research developing the intrauterine device (IUD).

12 Tips Sexologists Share for Reigniting Better Midlife Sex

Think about sex beyond the P-and-V

A 2014 study published in Cortex (a journal dedicated to the brain and mental processes) identified the most sensitive spots on your body.

It’s not surprising that the clitoris and penis topped the list — but they’re not the only places that, when stimulated, can drive you crazy.

The other erotic zones for touch include the:

• nipples
• mouth and lips
• ears
• neck nape
• inner thigh
• lower back

The data also suggests that men and women can get turned on from the intimate touch on any of these erogenous zones too, so experimenting with touch wouldn’t be a bad idea.

MAKE A GAME OF EXPLORING

To make a game out of it, Liz Powell, PsyD, an LGBTQ-friendly sex educator, coach, and licensed psychologist suggests: “Take genitals out of the equation for a night, week, or month. How can you and your partner explore and experience sexual pleasure when what’s between the legs isn’t on the table? Find out!”

Turn off autopilot

When you’ve been with the same partner for a while, it’s easy to go into sexual-autopilot — which if you’ve been there, you know is about as unsexy as it sounds.

“If every sexual encounter you have with your partner involves the exact same two or three positions, you might be missing out on sex you didn’t know you could enjoy… and limiting how much pleasure you and your partner get to experience together,” says sex educator, Haylin Belay, program coordinator at Girls Inc. NYC.

Making a sex position bucket list:

• getting busy in every room in your house (hello, kitchen island)
• having sex at a different time of day
• adding in a toy
• dressing up for roleplay

“Some couples spend years having ‘okay’ sex only to discover that their partner secretly wanted all the same things they did, but didn’t feel comfortable talking about any of them,” she adds.

Talk about the sex after the sex

Subtly switching up your post-pomp ritual can help keep the two of you close, and in terms of PGA (post-game analysis), it can even help make your next romp even better, says clinical sexologist Megan Stubbs, EdD.

“Instead of rolling over to fall asleep after sex, next time have a chat about how your encounter went. Take this time to revel in your afterglow and discuss the things you liked and the things that you will skip (if any) for next time,” she says.

Of course, Stubbs says, it’s best to start with paying your partner-in-crime a compliment about the sex you just had — but being honest about what you didn’t totally love is important, too.

Suggestions and questions to use when requesting a change:

• “Can I show you how much pressure I like on…”
• “X feels so good, do you think you can do more of that next time?”
• “I feel vulnerable saying this, but…”
• “Can you try this motion instead?”
• “Let me show you how deep I like it.”
• “Give me your hand, I’ll show you.”
• “Watch how I touch myself.”

“I recommend five loving observations to every one request for change,” adds Sari Cooper, founder and director of the Center for Love and Sex in NYC.

Read sex “self-help” books together

We read self-help books for our finances, weight loss, pregnancy, and even break-ups. So why not use them to help with our sex lives?

Whether your focus is revitalizing your sex life, learning more about the female orgasm, learning where the heck the G-spot is, getting turned on by page-porn, or learning new positions — there’s a book for it.

And guess what?

According to a 2016 study from the journal Sexual and Relationship Therapy, women who read self-help books and read erotic fiction both made statistically significant gains over the course of six weeks when it came to:

• sexual desire
• sexual arousal
• lubrication
• satisfaction
• orgasms
• pain reduction
• overall sexual functioning

Powell also recommends starting with “Come as You Are” by Emily Nagoski, which tackles juicy subjects like how each woman has her own unique type of sexuality, and how a woman’s most powerful sex organ is actually her brain.

“She Comes First” by Ian Kerner is also nothing short of a modern sex classic.

But Powell says that most sex-positive sex stores will have a few bookshelves of potential turn-on material as well.

Add toys!

One way Stubbs helps couples explore the unknown is suggesting them to shop for and try new products together.

“Sex toys are great accessories to add to your sexual bag of tricks, and with the wide variety available, you’re sure to find something that works with you and your partner,” says Stubbs. That could mean anything from a vibrator or a butt plug, massage oils, or body paint.

“Don’t go by what’s popular, go by what’s intuitively exciting to you. Reviews can be helpful, but listen to you,” reminds Molly Adler, LCSW, ACS, director of Sex Therapy NM and co-founder of Self Serve, a sexuality resource center.

On reviving a “dead” sexual relationship

Talk about it (but not in the bedroom)

“When a relationship is sexually ‘dead,’ there could be multiple simultaneous factors at play. But one of the most surprising actually has to do lack of communication,” says Baley.

“For example, someone might assume their partner is perfectly satisfied with the sex they have. But in reality, their partner leaves each sexual encounter feeling dissatisfied and frustrated.”

“Regardless of a person’s sex drive or libido, they probably aren’t going to be wanting sex that doesn’t bring them pleasure. Opening up the lines about the communication can help address the root cause of a ‘dead bedroom,’ whether it’s a lack of excitement, high relationship stress, a craving for other forms of intimacy, or lack of libido.”

Advice from Shadeen Francis, MFT, a sex, marriage, and family therapist:

• To get the conversation going, start with the positives, if you can find it.
• What about the relationship still has life in it?
• How can you grow and build on what works?
• If you’re stuck, make an appointment with a sex therapist who can help you find your relationship’s lifeline.

Talking about the fact that you’re not having sex in the bedroom can add a layer of unnecessary pressure to both partners, which is why Baley suggests having the conversation outside of the bedroom.

Masturbate on your own

“Masturbation is great for both your physical and mental health and is one of the best ways to learn about your own sexuality,” says Cooper. “I also encourage those who complain of lower libido to experiment with self-pleasure, which keeps sex on their mind and helps them strengthen their connection to their sexual self.”

Cooper adds that there’s no right or wrong way to masturbate. Whether you use your hands, pillows, running water, vibrators, or other toys, you’re doing it right.

But even if you have your favorite tried-and-true masturbation method, spicing up your solo time can lead to enhanced partnered sex.

Sari Cooper’s masturbation tips:

• If you always use your hands, try a toy.
• If you always masturbate at night, try a morning session.
• If you’re always on your back, try flipping over.

Lube up

“I joke that you can measure sex life as pre- and post-lube, but I mean it. Lube can be a serious game changer for a lot of couples,” says Adler.

There are many reasons that a woman may experience vaginal dryness. The truth is that even if you’re insanely turned on and can only think about sex with this person forever and ever (or even just one night) lube can make the encounter more enjoyable.

In fact, one study looked at 2,451 women and their perceptions around lubricant. The women concluded that lube made it easier for them to orgasm, and preferred sex when it was more wet.

REASONS FOR VAGINAL DRYNESS

Adler lists birth control pills, stress, age, and dehydration as possible causes. Vaginal dryness can also occur as you age or enter menopause.

If you’re a first-time lube buyer, Adler suggests the following:

• Stay away from oil-based lubes. Unless you’re in a monogamous and trying-to-get-pregnant or otherwise-protected relationship, avoid oil-based lubes as the oil can break down the latex in condoms.
• Remember that silicone-based lubes may not be compatible with silicone-based toys. So save the silicone lube for non-silicone toys, or use a silicone-water hybrid lube.
• Look for products that are glycerin and sugar-free. Both of these ingredients can alter the pH of your vagina and lead to things like yeast infections.
• Remember that most household products aren’t great lube substitutes. Avoid shampoo, conditioner, butter, olive oil, petroleum jelly, and coconut oil, even if they are slippery.

Put it in your calendar

Sure, scheduling sex usually earns a resounding ugh. But hear Stubbs out:

“I know that many people think that it’s late or ruins the mood, but chances are that if you are always the instigator and your partner always shuts you down… there could be some resentment brewing.”

“Save yourself from rejection and your partner for feeling bad for always saying no by making a schedule,” says Stubbs. “Agree on a frequency that will work for both of you and go from there. With the schedule in place, you’ll take the worry of an impending rejection off the table. This is a win-win situation.”

Plus, knowing you’re going to have sex later will put you in the sex-mindset all day long.

But have more spontaneous sex, too

“While scheduling and making time for sex is healthy, some couples don’t give themselves the freedom to have sex when the mood strikes due to things like incomplete to-do lists, or the mindset that they’re too busy to do things they enjoy,” says Adler.

That’s why psychologist and relationship expert Danielle Forshee, PsyD, also recommends to be spontaneous with when, how, and where you have sex.

“Spontaneous sex generates a newness to the relationship that structured sex will not,” explains Forshee. “Start by engaging in regular nonsexual touch to naturally help create that spur-of-the-moment spark. And maybe on-the-whim sex will follow.”

On exploring your sexuality later in life

Don’t let a label keep you from exploring

“Cisgender women display more sexual orientation over their lifetime,” says Powell. In fact, findings published in 2016, in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, suggest that all women, to varying degrees, are aroused by other women in erotic videos.

Of course, not every woman who’s aroused will have a desire to act on those responses in real life.

But if you do, Powell says, “Be open to exploring those sexual urges. Don’t feel a need to take on and embrace a new sexual orientation or identity, if that doesn’t feel empowering to you.”

Worth mentioning is recent reports indicating that bisexuality is on the rise among everyone, including men. Researchers concluded that there are likely more bisexual men out there then was initially thought, but that they don’t talk about it due to fear of being rejected.

Jessica O’Reilly PhD, host of the @SexWithDrJess podcast, adds, “All people have a right to identify (or not identify) and experiment according to their own understandings of sexual orientation.”

Surround yourself with people who support your exploration

“Sexuality is fluid in terms of attraction, desire, libido, gender, interest, boundaries, fantasies, and more. It changes over the course of a lifetime and fluctuates according to life circumstances. Whatever you’re experiencing, you deserve to feel confident in your desires and be supported by friends, family, and other loved ones,” says O’Reilly.

That’s why she recommends seeking out community-based groups for support if your group of friends or family doesn’t know how to support your exploration.

Resources for finding support:

• Bisexual.org
• Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
• Bisexual Resource Center
• LGBTQ Student Resources & Support
• The Trevor Project
• Transgender American Veterans Association
• Veterans for Human Rights
• BIENESTAR
• National Resource Center on LGBT Aging
• SAGE Advocacy & Services for LGBT Elders
• Matthew Shepard Foundation
• PFLAG
• GLADD

Sexology. “So what is it that you actually do?”

Introduction

Human sexuality is a true complexity, as complex and multifacetedas human nature itself, there exists very few general similarities in human sexuality, rather a multitude of unique and diverse tendencies. Sexology is more than just the study of sexual intercourse. Psychological, cultural, spiritual, social, political and physical dimensions of sexuality play a role in Sexology. A Sexologist is a person who has advanced academic knowledge in sexual science and is committed to the objective, empirical study of sexuality and employs numerous academia’s, scientific disciplines and therapeutic practices that may be medical, psychotherapeutic or educational. The general population have minimal knowledge of the role of a Sexologist outside of sex therapy when in actual fact the profession is extremely multifaceted and maintains an extensive area of expert practices.

Discussion

In its historical origination, Sexology dates back to the ancient Greeks when physicians such as Hippocrates and the philosophers Plato and Aristotleconducted extensive observations and offered the first elaborate theories regarding sexual responses, dysfunctions, practicesand ethics. In the 1800’s, Richard Freiherr von Krafft-Ebing published Psychopathia Sexualis,considered to be the establishment of Sexology as a scientific discipline. Other important contributors of the eras to follow were Sigmund Freud, Magnus Hirschfield and Havelock Ellis who challenged the sexual taboos of his era by documenting that sex was not merely a method of procreation but also a source of pleasure.

Sexology took a more scientific influence throughout the 1940’s and 50’s through the works of scholars such as Alfred Kinsey who founded the Institute for Sex Research in 1947. Kinsey and his staff collected over 18,000 interviews, and published Sexual Behavior in the Human Male in 1948 and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female in 1953. In 1966 and 1970, Masters and Johnson released their works Human Sexual Response and Human Sexual Inadequacy, respectively. The Masters and Johnson Institute was founded in 1978. Their sometimes controversial methods have been appropriately revised and many are still applied to this day.

Today Sexology is the term to describe the multi-disciplinary scientific study of human sexuality. Initsapplication as an academia Sexologists study sexual functions, relationships, behaviors, gender roles, activities, development, sexual health andmany more. Sexuality is a vast array of actions, thoughts and attitudes most often influenced by our societal values and expectations, education, socioeconomic status, culture, religion, laws, politics as well as an individual’s personal values, morals and ethics. The study of sexuality is constantly changing and progressing along with societiesvalues regarding sexuality making it a very progressive and dynamic mode of study.

As profession, there are three generalized pathways that Sexologists most usually follow into; research, education and therapy.

Sexological research is essential to the continued expansion of knowledge of human sexuality, to the evaluation and improvement of sexuality programs. Research can cover many areas and generally involves studies on specific human sexual behaviors or dysfunctions through the collection of statistical datain order to create specialised treatment implementations, policy reviews and rationales for practices. Medical research is also a Sexological area, sexual health, STIs and BBV’s and sexual dysfunctions are the common fields of clinical research. Studies are vast and varied but lead to improved methods for the treatment of sexuality-related issues

Educationis a vital aspect of Sexology and consists of both education and promotion. Health education can be defined as learning experiences designed to facilitate actions conducive to health. Health promotion can be defined as educational, environmental, ecological and strategically adapted approaches to positively influence individuals and their environments, including families, social networks, organizations, and public policy frameworks. Sexuality educationcan range from programs for children, teens and adults, to specialised educationfor individuals with intellectual disabilities. Sex education and promotion is aimed at equipping individuals withinformation and behavioral skills to enable them to avoid sex-related problems and to achieve sexual well-being.

Sex therapy is a popular mode of treatment for those wishing to avoid medicalisation of their sexual issues. The public holds an interest in new ways toenhance sexual performance and relationships and cure common sexual dysfunctions.[11] Sexual dysfunctions are defined as problems that interfere with a person’s ability to engage in, enjoy, or achieve satisfaction from sexual interaction.[12] Most therapists practice a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapyand systemic interventions including, sexual education, communication training, assertiveness practices, physical awareness techniques and sensuality exercises. Sex Therapy may also focus on exploration of past trauma, sexual abuse or negative events that may be contributing to, or maintaining, current sexual problems.

A Sexologist must be highly adaptable, extremely open- minded and comfortable regarding the use of what may be considered graphic language, using words a client may more easily relate to such as wanking, fucking, cock and pussy as compared to masturbation, intercourse, penis and vagina. A Sexologist must be able to talk in detail about highly explicit sexual acts as there exists a very dark side to sexuality; sexual assault, abuse, paedophilia, incest, bestiality. The Sexologist must disengage from one’s own belief systems and personal opinions in order to treat certain clients which can be highly challenging. To fully engage with a client and gain trust as well as build strong rapport it is important to be able to adopt such techniques which requires determination and strength of character.

In contrast to the darkness, there is also light in Sexology. Educating people how to lead satisfying, safe and fulfilling sex lives, teaching people to become orgasmic for the first time in their lives, resolving sexual dysfunctions, introducing sensuality, restoring intimacy in relationships and increasing sexual enhancement are all highly positive and rewarding aspects of the profession.

Diploma in Clinical Sexology

The CICS two-year Diploma in Clinical Sexology comprises Years 2 and 3 of Qualification Pathway 1 and Years 1 and 2 of Qualification Pathway 2.

The course covers the combined bio-psycho-social dimensions of sexual and relationship health and wellbeing. It has been designed to ensure that by the end of the programme our graduates have a solid foundation of comprehensive knowledge and skills for confident therapeutic practice with psychosexual and relationship problems.

Gender, sexual, relationship and cultural diversity are fully integrated into all aspects of the course.

Our course is accredited by the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists, meaning that it meets the stringent requirements of the UK’s largest accrediting body for sex and relationship therapists.

The therapeutic theoretical orientation of the course is “pluralism”. Pluralism is an emerging way of thinking about therapy, based on the fundamental assumption that no one therapeutic approach has the monopoly on understanding the causes of distress or on the most helpful therapeutic responses. Instead, it suggests that different clients are likely to want, and benefit from, different things in therapy.  We teach a range of contemporary approaches to therapy, to best serve each unique client, whilst maintaining the centrality of the client, relational working and research based practice.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must have a foundation certificate training in counselling, equivalent to 150 hours of learning, and be able to demonstrate that they have sufficient counselling and academic competencies to enable them to meet the demands of the course.

Applicants without a foundation training in counselling are invited to apply for the CICS Foundation Certificate in Counselling Skills and Practice.

Applicants without a diploma in counselling will be required to complete a supplementary section to the Evidence of Learning Portfolio to demonstrate counselling, boundary and risk management skills.

• All students must become student members of the COSRT.
• All students must have an Enhanced DBS check which CICS can facilitate at a cost of £65.
• All students must complete 50 hours of personal therapy, prior to or during the course.

Course Assessment

Assessment is continuous and comprises of both written and observed assessment protocols.

1. Evidence of Learning Portfolio
   Throughout the course students complete Evidence of Learning and Reflection submissions to demonstrate their understanding of each of the course modules.
2. Case Study
   Students are required to complete a comprehensive, 4000-word case study to demonstrate the integration of their learning into safe, supervised clinical practice.
3. Assessment
   The final two days of the course comprise of a series of live assessments to confirm successful assimilation of learning and appropriate application to clinical practice.
4. Clinical Practice
   To be awarded the CICS Diploma in Clinical Sexology, students must complete 150 hours of clinical practice supervised at a ratio of 1:6, covering the full range of sexual and relationship presentations, including  sufficient couple work to satisfy the course director and supervisor of their competencies to practise.

Fees

The course fee is £7,200 including VAT for the full two year programme and all home study materials. A non-refundable deposit of £450 is payable on acceptance of a place. The balance is then paid in 24 equal monthly installments.

Sexology Online via distance learning

Specialist, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctor – Sexology.

This module is applicable to Specialist, Expert, Bachelor’s, Master’s & Ph.D. (Doctor) Degree Programs. This academic program is designed at the postgraduate level (Master’s or Doctoral). This module may also be adapted to complete the course requirements of Specialist, Expert Diploma or Bachelor’s Degree. A further option is the enrollment into each of the courses listed within this specialization module. This module may be combined or completed with other modules from this faculty. For example: Addictive Behavior – Clinical Psychology – Cognitive Psychology – Counseling Psychology – Educational Psychology – Forensic Psychology – General Psychology – Gestalt Therapy – NLP Neuro Linguistic Programming – Organizational Psychology – Performance Psychology – Psychoanalysis – Psychotherapy – Social Psychology – Transpersonal Psychology .

Specialist – Expert Diploma – Sexology Online
Tuition Fee: 1.050 Euros (1.350 US$) … 1.470 Euros (1.890 US$).
Specialist – Expert Diploma Online: 15 … 21 Academic credits required for this distance learning degree program. 
Composition: Sexology via distance learning = 21 Academic credits – Select 5 courses for the online diploma of Specialist or 7 courses for the Expert Diploma from the total of courses from the specialization module.

Bachelor’s Degree – Sexology Online
Tuition Fee: Min. 3.510 Euros (4.420 US$) … Max. 6.800 Euros (8.700 US$).
Bachelor’s Degree Online: 130 Academic credits required for this distance learning degree program. 
Composition: Sexology via distance learning = 21 Academic credits + 60 credits in General Education (may be transferred from previous education and professional experience) + Additional courses may be selected from other modules in the Faculty of Psychology from Bircham International University if required. This selection must be approved by the Distance Learning University Education Board. For example: Psychoanalysis.

Master’s Degree – Sexology Online
Tuition Fee: Min. 4.680 Euros (6.120 US$) … Max. 7.020 Euros (9.180 US$).
Master’s Degree Online: 36 … 54 Academic credits required for this distance learning degree program.
Composition: Sexology via distance learning = 21 Academic credits + Additional courses may be selected from other modules in the Faculty of Psychology from Bircham International University if required. This selection must be approved by the Distance Learning University Education Board. For example: Psychoanalysis. + 13 Academic credits (Research methodology and final project or thesis. 

Doctor Ph.D. Degree – Sexology Online
Tuition Fee: Min. 5.850 Euros (7.650 US$) … Max. 9.360 Euros (12.240 US$).
Doctor Ph.D. Degree Online: 45 … 72 Academic credits required for this distance learning degree program.
Composition: Sexology via distance learning = 21 Academic credits + Additional courses may be selected from other modules in the Faculty of Psychology from Bircham International University if required. This selection must be approved by the Distance Learning University Education Board. For example: Psychoanalysis. + 18 Academic credits (Research methodology and final project or thesis. 

Protect and support the sexual health of communities

This course builds on the knowledge and skills you gained in the graduate certificate and progresses to the biological, psychological and social aspects of human sexuality and various research methods.

You’ll have access to the same range of units as the graduate certificate, allowing you to review different attitudes and values, and learn about sexual and reproductive public health issues, forensic sexology, and sexology from various cultural perspectives. However, since you’ll be required to study more units, you will gain a more comprehensive understanding of human sexuality.

You will also learn about health research methods, to build your capabilities in data analysis, reporting techniques and ethical considerations when researching.

After successfully completing this course, you may enrol in the master degree.

Note: media material of a sexually graphic nature is utilised in this course.

Please refer to the handbook for additional course information.

Why study

• Take your understanding of sexology to the next level: learn how to generate strategies and creative solutions to promote positive healthy sexuality in the community.
• This course maintains excellent professional affiliations. It attracts a variety of guest speakers who are locally, nationally and internationally renowned for their work in sexology.
• In addition to teaching, all Curtin staff perform other professional duties, including health promotion, psychotherapy, community education, research and advocacy, which complements their instruction.

Professional recognition

 Graduates may be eligible for membership of the Society of Australian Sexologists (SAS), which is a member of the World Association for Sexual Health. You may obtain a specialist title as a psychosexual therapist or sexuality educator from SAS after completing the supervision requirements. The requirements to use these titles in other countries may differ.

Note: This course is not accredited by a counselling or psychology body. Students who are interested in working in these areas should complete a course recognised by peak bodies such as the Australian Counselling Association or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia.

Career information

Industries

• Sex therapy
• Human rights
• Disability
• Health promotion
• Youth work
• Education
• Nursing
• Allied health

What you’ll learn

• Apply sexological and relevant public health knowledge to protect, maintain and restore the health of communities
• Interpret and critically analyse topics and issues relevant to sexology; think creatively to generate innovative solutions to promote healthy human sexuality
• Access, evaluate and synthesise relevant information to the practice of sexology; demonstrate skills in ethical reasoning
• Communicate with professionals and community members to promote sexology using effective written and oral communication, and disseminate sexological research to academic and professional audiences
• Effectively use new and existing technologies to gather information, analyse data and communicate; collect and manage information ethically and effectively
• Demonstrate ability in interdependent and self-directed learning and professional development in the field of sexology
• Recognise and apply international perspectives and principles to sexology
• Demonstrate understanding and respect for individual human rights and cultural diversity
• Work professionally and ethically across a range of settings; demonstrate an advanced level of independence and leadership

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Admission criteria

A recognised degree in one of the health professions, social work or welfare studies, psychology, theology, education, behavioural sciences, including sociology, anthropology or biological sciences or related areas.

You will also be required to provide supplementary information with your application.

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)
Writing	6.0
Speaking	6.0
Reading	6.0
Listening	6.0
Overall band score	6.5

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

Other requirements and notes for this course

The mid-year intake is part-time study only. This will extend the course duration. Mid-year intake is not available to international students.

In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

Advanced standing

At Curtin, we understand that everyone’s study journey has been different.

You may have already studied some of the units (subjects) listed in your Curtin course, or you may have work experience that matches the degree requirements.

If this applies to you, you can apply for credit for recognised learning (CRL), which means your previous study is recognised and matched against a similar unit in your intended Curtin course.

A successful CRL application exempts you from having to complete certain units within your course and means you could finish your degree in a shorter amount of time.

CRL is also known as recognition of prior learning, advanced standing and credit transfer.

How to Become a Sex Therapist

A sex therapist is a person who assists other people in diagnosing and treating sexual disorders and problems. A therapist of this type will use a number of skills and resources to help his or her patients. To become a sex therapist, an interested party must receive specialized training, obtain licensing, and perform a certain amount of hours in the field to obtain the proper credentials. The following is the process that one would use to become a practicing sex therapist:

Education

The first step in becoming a sex therapist is gaining education and obtaining a degree in a counseling or therapy related field. Obtaining a Master’s degree in fields of psychology, therapy, healthcare, social work, or counseling are ways to get started. Studying in these fields will give the person the knowledge of how the human brain works and the skills necessary to assist people with uncovering root causes for maladaptive behaviors. This type of training will also give the prospective sex therapist the ability to help people develop the coping skills necessary to control certain behaviors. With these skills, the prospective sex therapist can then broaden his or her scope of education to include sex therapy education and training.

Sex Therapy Training

An individual wishing to become a sex therapist will need at least 150 hours of specific sex therapy related training. He or she must study the history of sexology, medical problems that affect sexuality, consultation techniques, interpersonal relationship elements, how to conduct sexual research, and more. These courses will supply the individual with the information needed to assess, counsel, treat and advise a person who comes to him or her with a sexual problem. The education that the person receives should come from an accredited university or have approval from the American Association of Sexuality Educators Counselors and Therapists.

Practicing Sex Therapy

After obtaining a Master’s degree in a related field and gaining additional sex therapy training, an interested party can apply for internships or other programs that will allow him or her to obtain 200 hours of supervised treatment of clients with sexual problems. He or she will also need to obtain at least 50 hours of supervision. These two items are required for certification, which is the final step before becoming a sex therapist.

Applying for Certification

The last step in becoming a sex therapist is applying for certification. To obtain sex therapy certification, the individual must have a Master’s degree in a related field, certification in that field, approximately 150 hours of human sexuality education, 200 hours of clinical experience, and 50 hours of supervised experience. Once the person meets the criteria for certification, he or she must complete a formal application and wait to gain approval.

The application fee is approximately $300, and the individual must accompany it with transcripts, endorsements from supervisors, license copies and signatures. Once the individual receives his or her certification to become a sex therapist, that person can enjoy a fruitful life that involves helping people and making a substantial salary by doing such.

15 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Became a Sexologist

First of all, you will likely need a professional certification to practice and dispensing sex tips to the public on the reg. And, like any wellness field, you can take a variety of directions with sexology. Some sexologists work directly with clients, like a sex and relationship therapist, while others do more speaking engagements or sexuality education in group settings. Others may work with sexual health brands or focus their time on academic work, podcasts, or writing.

But what actual sexologists want you to know is that their work has nothing to do with their own sex lives (so stop making assumptions about them!), and that they’re here to help other people better understand their sexuality. Here, four real-life sexologists bust all the myths about the field of sexology.

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1. If you’re an expert in ~chemistry~ but not actual chemistry, you could totally pursue sexology.

Though she didn’t realize being a sexologist was a career growing up, Megan Stubbs, EdD, board-certified sexologist and author of Playing Without a Partner was definitely meant to pursue it. “I was always that friend you could go to growing up to ask about ‘sex stuff,'” she says. “I was always very good at sciences, biology in particular, so that led me to pursue a pre-med path during undergrad, but chemistry was my nemesis,” Stubbs says. She decided instead to pursue a biology degree, and then upon discovering in a magazine that sexology was a career path, went to a graduate program to study Human Sexuality

2. You don’t need an advanced degree, but it’s a good idea to get one.

“I have a master’s in psychology, a PhD in clinical sexology, and I am certified by two professional organizations: the American College of Sexologists and the American Board of Sexology. But you don’t need these certifications in order to call yourself a sex therapist,” explains Claudia Six, a clinical sexologist and author of Erotic Integrity: How To Be True To Yourself Sexually. “You don’t even need to get licensed by the state, like other types of therapists do, so it’s on you to get adequate training in the field,” she says.

3. Sessions are more about emotions than sex positions.

“Clinical sexology might sound like I know every sex position under the sun, but what I do is actually pretty similar to couples’ therapy,” Six says. It’s less about technique specifically (though some sexologists do get more into that, depending on the client’s situation), and more about the individual’s relationship to their sexuality or their partner, much like talk therapy. “You have to know the fundamentals of psychology and counseling in addition to knowing about sexuality,” she says.

4. Solo and couple sessions have different dynamics.

Shamyra Howard, LCSW, a sexologist and sex and relationship therapist works with clients looking to resolve sex or relationship concerns, or both. “The difference between individual clients and couples is that I like to make sure couples know who the client is,” she says. When the client is flying solo, there’s obviously a focus on that person’s relationship to their own sexuality. “With couples, and people who are in multi-partner relationships, I remind them that their relationship is the client,” says Howard. “This means that I do not take sides, and I will always keep the focus on what works best for the relationship,” she adds.

5. Usually, clients are there for totally relatable reasons.

“Most of the time, the reasons people are coming to see me aren’t nearly as salacious as you’d imagine,” Six says. “Half of my practice is couples with young children who come to see me to work sex back into their lives,” she says. Other common scenarios are couples who are dealing with infidelity issues, or simply where one partner wants sex more frequently than the other. There’s not much you could say that would truly shock a sexologist. “I’ve only been shocked a few times in my career—and those were cases of horrendous sexual abuse or sexual violence, never by details of someone’s sexual preferences or their kinks,” Six says.

6. Insurance probably won’t cover your sessions.

You have to be realistic about pricing because many clients are going to be paying for sessions out of pocket. “If you’re a mental health therapist and you’re licensed by the state, you can usually bill insurance companies for your sessions. But sex therapy doesn’t work like that,” Six says. Most of the time, clients can only get reimbursed if they have a health spending account or a flex account. Otherwise, they’ll have to pay, explains Six.

7. The general public actually knows very little about sexual health and healthy sex.

“A huge part of my work happens outside my office,” Howard says. “It is my goal to work to remove the stigma and shame associated with sex, and motivate people to have necessary conversations about sexuality in any setting.” Howard first started researching sex education during her undergraduate years at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she volunteered as a Peer Health Educator for the Red Cross, teaching other students about HIV prevention. That motivated her to continue to study sexuality to share her wealth of knowledge with others. “I travel the world doing various educational, informative, and entertaining sexuality training and workshops. I know that sexuality education can and does save lives, and I’m out here performing CPR,”

8. It’s a challenge to dismantle stigma about sex in certain cultures.

In Rebecca Alvarez Story, sexologist and co-founder of Bloomi’s Latinx upbringing, it was uncommon to discuss anything about sexuality with relatives, so feeling confused about sex was the norm. “The lack of sex-positive resources and companies out there give me the urge to educate my community and family and to break the cultural taboo in Latinx communities that discourages open conversations about sex, periods, and intimacy,” Alvarez Story says. But more recently, she’s seeing that the tides are turning when more people, especially young people, are educated about their own sexuality. “While we still have a long way to go, I’ve noticed a new wave of sexual openness and ‘teaching up’ with Latinx millennials and GenZ, who are educating their mothers, aunts, etc. on intimacy, sexual wellness, and clean standards in the industry,” she says.

9. College students today have much more of an openness to learning about sexuality.

Stubbs spends a majority of her time doing university education and is always impressed by the thoughtful questions college students have. “They (as well as most of the general population) have a thirst for knowledge that doesn’t come from a movie or pornography,” Stubbs says. Plus, they’re more open-minded to exploring their sexuality in general. “I love that more and more of them feel good about taking ownership of their sexuality and relationship styles instead of going along with the heteronormative narrative that is frequently celebrated while others are pushed to the wayside,” she says.

10. Your work as a sexologist has to be inclusive toward LGBTQ+ people.

Working with solely heterosexual couples, or people who only have one partner, is not the norm anymore. So, as a sexologist, whether you’re taking private clients or working in education, your language and practices need to include people of all gender identities, sexual identities, and types of relationships. “I’m happy to see how queer identities and LGBTQ+ identities have evolved; however, there is still a lot of work to do in the therapy world as it relates to therapists being more affirming, knowledgeable, and accessible to LGBTQ+ folks,” Howard says.

11. You might get some interesting DMs.

“I rarely go into my DM requests since its rife with a lot of dick pics and sex videos,” Stubbs says. She focuses her energy on Instagram, hosting IG Lives or doing Q&A polls so that people can ask questions. She’s also been featured in plenty of podcasts and articles that are widely available. “My specialty is education, and that is how I make my living. Answering questions via DM doesn’t pay the bills,” she says. Also, she’s not your doctor. “I also feel like I need to state that I do not provide an examination, diagnosis, care, services, or treatment of medical or health conditions,” she adds. “If you’d like a more in-depth, personalized response, book me.”

12. Many sexual wellness products are not as regulated as they should be.

“In college, where I was on the medical path with goals of becoming an Ob-Gyn, I was overwhelmed by the lack of holistic methods available in the sexual wellness and intimacy landscape,” says Alvarez Story. Once she started practicing sexology, before starting Bloomi, Alvarez Story researched ingredient regulation and transparency in the industry. “I would deep dive into formulations and materials used in intimate care products and be horrified that there were no clean alternatives and no trusted multi-brand marketplace that existed,” she says. So she decided to start a brand that would curate clean sexual wellness products and also be an educational resource for all things intimacy.

13. People will assume things about your own sexual preferences.

“Call it an occupational hazard, but when you have a PhD in clinical sexuality, people make assumptions about your sex life,” Six says. It can actually be damaging if you’re single and in the dating scene. “When I was single, men assumed I had no boundaries, that I was totally uninhibited, or that I did it all the time,” she says. Others were completely intimidated by her knowledge. “Now I’m happily married to someone who is very supportive of — and isn’t intimidated by — my work,” Six says.

14. When it’s your own dating life, things can get a little weird.

“Meeting partners in the wild has shown me that many people have a lot of growing to do when it comes to sexuality and sex education,” Stubbs says. It brings to light the inadequate sexual education system we have as a society. “I really hoped that we would be more progressed as a society when it comes to sex education,” she adds. “There is a marked education gap with many of our youth and it feels like fighting an uphill battle in 2020 to even allow access to education beyond abstinence-only training,” says Stubbs.

15. Acceptance of others is the most important thing.

“Everyone is vulnerable, especially when it comes to sex,” says Six. Whether a client has never had an orgasm, is exploring a queer identity, or has multiple partners. “They all want the same thing: to be accepted,” she says. “As a sexologist, it’s my job to give that acceptance and help people accept themselves as sexual beings.”

Who is a sexologist?

A sexologist is a specialist in the field of sexology,  usually a psychiatrist , who  as part of  his training is  well versed in various aspects  of human sexuality, from normal sexual development to sexual orientation, the dynamics of sexual relationships  and  sexual dysfunctions and disorders, like  erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation , sexual desire problems and anorgasmia.

What types of sexual problems/concerns can a  sexologist help with?

The following are common concerns that a  sexologist helps individuals and couples, address:

• Erectile difficulty(erectile dysdunction/impotence)
• Ejaculatory control difficulties including premature ejaculation.
• Lack of or reduced desire or arousal
• Difficulty maintaining arousal.
• Difficulty reaching orgasm.
• Fear of or aversion to touch, intimacy, penetration or pain
• Feeling abnormal (in terms of sexual behavior, fantasy, capability, physique, etc.)
• Feeling inexperienced, uninformed or misinformed, & unskilled in sexual matters.
• Feeling ashamed of sexuality or sexual desires
• Not finding satisfying sexual activities or maintaining intimacy after surgery, a health crisis, ongoing health challenges or during pregnancy and parenthoood.
• Difficulty identifying satisfying activities for both partners
• Difficulty communicating sexual needs and desires
• Lack of Intimacy
• Sexual trauma or sexual abuse history
• Sexual orientation identity (straight, gay, bisexual, etc.)
• Sexual compulsion.

How do I know that I am with a doctor qualified in sexology ?

Most of the time patients do not know whom to consult for their sex problems and are often cheated by unqualified quacks.

A sexologist is a specialist in the field of sexology,  usually a psychiatrist , who  as part of  his training is  well versed in various aspects of sexology  including handling sexual dysfunctions , myths and relationship problems.

In India,sexology is currently an unregulated field, which means that people can call themselves sexologists without  earning credentials in the field. When searching for a sexologist, it is important to know what kind of formal education and training  does a practitioner have in the area of human sexuality.

Certified Clinical Sexologist

For those individuals who are not therapists or psychologist but want a better understanding of human sexuality and all that encompasses, STTI training can provide you with valuable knowledge and resources to enhance your skills, no matter your area of expertise.

Some of the following individuals take the program:

• Educators who want to include human sexuality in their programs
• Business entrepreneurs who want to include sex education in their provision of goods and services
• Coaches who want to help encompass sex coaching in their practices
• Healthcare providers who want to enhance their knowledge of sexual behavior

Academic and Credentialing Requirements

Applicants shall have earned one of the following:

1. Master’s degree or higher in a human service field, including, but not limited to,

• Psychology
• Mental Health Counseling
• Marriage and Family Counseling
• Nursing
• Nutrition and Dietetics
• Midwifery
• Education
• Theology
• Pastoral Counseling
• Addictions Counseling
• Medicine or Osteopathy

 2. Certification or license in a human service related area, including, but not limited to:

• Nursing
• Addictions
• Behavioral Management
• Education
• Transgender Care
• Life Coaching
• Pastoral Care

Education credits may be accepted from other institutions and will be reviewed upon application to the STTI program.

Education and Supervision Requirements

Students will be eligible for Board Certification upon completing 150 hours of education, as well as 10 hours of individual and 10 hours of group supervision/case consultation. The 150 education hours may be taken continuously and completed in less than a year or the student may take up to two years to complete the program.

Supervision may be taken concurrently with the education program.

Clinical, Field Work, or Practicum Training

Competence in an applicant’s area of interest and specialty will be gained and demonstrated through actual work experience. The applicant will complete eighty hours (80) of work under the guidance and supervision of a Board approved supervisor. The work will take place in a setting appropriate for the particular specialty area in which the applicant intends to practice.

Work experience may encompass the following:

• Supportive counseling in an agency setting
• Supportive counseling to individuals and their families dealing with such concerns as transgender or orientation.
• Counseling in a religious or pastoral setting
• Education in a professional setting
• Workshop or seminar presentations

Cost of Program

The cost of 150 hours is $7,000.00. A $700 deposit is required at the time of enrollment.

Supervision/case consultation is required at a fee of $750. This fee is in addition to the cost of the 150-hours of education. Students may choose a supervisor on their own who is approved by STTI and therefore not pay STTI the fee.