Why Sex Therapy Training Matters | Certified Sex Therapist in Indianapolis
Most people are surprised to learn how little formal training therapists receive around sexuality.
In most graduate programs, therapists take one course related to sexuality...
The course is often embedded within a broader class like sex, gender, and culture. In my own training, roughly one-third of one semester focused on sexual topics. When you consider the wide range of concerns people bring into therapy—desire discrepancies, sexual pain, trauma, shame, identity, medical issues, relationship dynamics, pleasure, and communication—that amount of sex therapy training is simply not enough.
Any licensed therapist can legally say they do sex therapy, even if their only exposure to sexuality was one class in graduate school.
Most therapists are thoughtful and well-intentioned, but many do not have specialized education, supervision, or comfort talking openly about sex. This can leave clients feeling misunderstood, minimized, or hesitant to share fully.
This is why sex therapy credentials matter.
Becoming a certified sex therapist requires extensive post-graduate education, clinical training, and supervision.
Certification through AASECT involves a minimum of 90 hours of academic coursework in sexuality
These are the topics certified sex therapists have training in:
- ethics
- developmental sexuality across the lifespan
- cultural and religious influences
- sexual orientation and gender identity
- intimacy and relationship dynamics
- diverse relationship structures and sexual communities
- sexual anatomy and physiology
- medical and mental health factors
- sexual functioning concerns,
- trauma and exploitation
- technology and sexuality
- substance use
- pleasure enhancement
Additionally, Sex Therapy Certification requires at least 60 hours of clinical sex therapy training and 50 hours of supervision with an AASECT-certified supervisor.
This level of post-graduate sex therapy training takes significant time, financial investment, and personal commitment, which is one reason certified sex therapists are relatively rare.
In Indianapolis, there are currently only 9 AASECT-certified sex therapists.
For couples, I’ve found that this post-graduate certification is especially important.
Sexual concerns rarely exist in isolation—they are shaped by many variables such as:
- attachment patterns
- trauma histories
- communication styles
- cultural and religious messaging
- power dynamics
- emotional safety within the relationship.
Without adequate training, therapists may unintentionally pathologize normal variations in desire, overlook trauma responses, or avoid sexual topics altogether.
Sex-positive therapy is not simply being “open-minded” about sex. It requires education, ethical grounding, and the ability to talk about sex clearly, comfortably, and without judgment. Clients deserve therapists who are not only willing to have these conversations, but who are also qualified to guide them.
I completed my post-graduate sex therapy training through University of Wisconsin | MSTI & hold a graduate certification in sex therapy.
Beyond certification, I have pursued additional specialized training, including certification in the 4-D Wheel Network, a comprehensive model that integrates emotional, physical, relational, and spiritual dimensions of sexual health.
All of this matters because sexuality is not a niche issue—it is a core part of human experience and relational wellbeing.
If you are seeking therapy for sexual or intimacy concerns, it is reasonable—and encouraged—to ask about a therapist’s sex therapy training, credentials, and supervision. Sexual health deserves the same level of expertise and care as any other area of mental health.
Are you ready to take the next step in your counseling journey?
Free free to contact me directly if you have questions or to schedule a brief call to see if I might be able to support you and your family.
Jill