Sexuality Counseling Versus Sex Therapy
Introduction
Most likely, sex is a topic that you have considered throughout different stages of your life, and you have probably also formulated many strong opinions about sexuality-related topics, such as abortion, sexual orientation, infidelity, sex education, and sexual abuse. What does it mean, though, to consider the topic of sexuality from a professional perspective as a counselor-in-training? How is this different from and influenced by your own sexuality-related opinions and experiences from your personal life?
This week, you explore three foundational issues that are critical to the competent and ethical practice of sexuality counseling. First, you consider how past and current historical trends contextualize current thinking about sexuality within the counseling profession. Second, you learn about professional issues and opportunities in sexuality counseling, including credentialing options. Third, you begin to consider relevant ethical issues that are unique to sexuality counseling. Each of these three issues will provide an important framework for understanding the other topics that will be discussed in later weeks in this course.
Objectives
By the end of this week, you should be able to:
• Analyze ethical implications of historical trends for sexuality counseling
• Analyze credentialing requirements related to sexuality counseling and sex therapy

APPLICATION
Sexuality Counseling Versus Sex Therapy
What does it mean to be competent as a counselor who works with sexuality-related issues? Which clinical issues require specialized training for counselors to be equipped to treat effectively? To address these questions, the AASECT established two levels of credentialing options relevant to mental health professionals who work with clients facing sexuality-related issues: sexuality counseling and sex therapy.
To prepare for this week’s Assignment, consider the implications of the two levels for conducting competent counseling practice addressing sexuality-related issues. Focus on the AASECT’s guidelines on credentialing to inform your response.
The Assignment (2- to 3-page paper):
• Explain three differences between sexuality counseling and sex therapy credentials that you identified in the AASECT guidelines.
• Explain the need for two different levels of sexuality-related counseling.
• Explain why the credentialing requirements for sex therapists make them more qualified to provide intensive therapy.
Support your Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are to provide a reference list for all resources, including those in the Learning Resources for this course.
This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of this week’s assigned Learning Resources.
Required Resources
Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your syllabus.
Readings
• Course Text: Long, L. L., Burnett, J. A., & Thomas, R. V. (2006). Sexuality counseling: An integrative approach. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
o Chapter 1, "Introduction to Sexuality Counseling"
• Article: American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. (2008). Code of ethics. Retrieved from https://www.aasect.org/codeofethics.asp
• Article: American Counseling Association. (2005). ACA code of ethics. Retrieved fromhttps://www.counseling.org/Resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf
• Article: Goodwach, R. (2005). Sex therapy: Historical evolution, current practice. Part I. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 26(3), 155–164. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Academic Search Complete database.
• Article: Southern, S., & Cade, R. (2011). Sexuality counseling: A professional specialization comes of age. The Family Journal, 19(3), 246–262. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the SAGE database.