Every month I get a dozen--or two dozen, or three--emails from well-intended students and adults asking me how to become a sex therapist. It's a profession that seems to have gone from marginal to hubba hubba in fairly short order.
I guess if you see someone like Dr. Laura Berman on Oprah, you get the idea that sex therapy is a dynamite profession.
And it is--if you like being a psychology wonk and going to school for several dozen years, work for free in some very unglamorous settings (post suicide attempt care with dual diagnosis patients, anyone?), and study for and pass some exams. You need to be able to
work well with couples, which is certainly an art that takes even more study.
After that, you learn to do sex therapy. More hours of reading. More studying. More coursework. Etc.
When people come into my office, it's not as if they are there to learn how to kiss better or get into the wheelbarrow position.
No. They are sad, depressed, angry, and anxious.
Yes, it's great when they recover. Yes, I rejoice when someone lets me know that I've helped them.
But glamour? I don't think so!
To learn more about becoming a sex therapist, see my pdf handout.
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