How to Become a Sex Therapist in California

Our society doesn’t encourage open conversations about sex. People who want to become sex therapists work in a field that helps break these communication barriers and supports others with their intimate concerns.

Sex therapy is a specialized type of psychotherapy that licensed mental health professionals with advanced training in sexuality issues provide. People have become more open to discussions about sexual health and well-being, and qualified sex therapists are just needed more than ever. Sex therapy never involves touch, physical interaction, or sex with clients, despite what many people think. Sex therapists use evidence-based approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy to help with the psychological aspects of intimacy issues.

Becoming a sex therapist in California requires specific education and licensure steps. Sex therapist education programs take 1-2 years to finish, based on your chosen program. You can continue your clinical work while pursuing a sex therapy specialization in most programs. The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) certification is the gold standard in the United States to professionals seeking the highest credentials.

Would you like to know what it takes to become a qualified sex therapist in California? This detailed guide will show you each step of your professional path.

Understand the Role of a Sex Therapist

What sex therapists actually do

Sex therapists are licensed mental health professionals who have advanced training to address sexual concerns. Their training goes beyond the simple sexuality education needed for general therapy licensure. They create a safe space where clients can discuss intimate matters without judgment. These professionals help identify patterns in emotions and mental processes that cause sexual concerns. They use proven therapeutic approaches to help their clients.

Sex therapy involves only talking—therapists never have physical contact with clients. The International Society for Sexual Medicine states that “Sex therapists work with simple sexual concerns also, but in addition, where appropriate, are prepared to provide detailed and intensive psychotherapy over an extended period of time in more complex cases.”

These specialists use several therapeutic techniques:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to tackle negative thoughts about sexuality
• Mindfulness-based interventions to boost presence during intimacy
• Emotion-based therapy to work through feelings about sexuality
• Couples communication techniques to improve sexual dialog

Sex therapists also work together with physicians to treat both psychological and physical aspects of sexual concerns. This creates a comprehensive treatment approach.

Common issues they help with

Sex therapists help individuals and couples with many different concerns. The biggest problem they see is desire discrepancy, where partners don’t match in their sexual drives or interests. Sexual anxiety is another major focus area. This includes performance anxiety, body image concerns, and fears about intimacy.

They help with specific issues during all phases of sexual response (desire, arousal, orgasm, and resolution). These include:

• Low libido or lack of sexual desire
• Arousal difficulties including erectile dysfunction
• Orgasm concerns such as anorgasmia (difficulty reaching orgasm)
• Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia) or conditions like vaginismus

Sex therapists also address the psychological side of sexuality. This includes past trauma, gender identity exploration, and questions about sexual orientation. They help partners talk better about sex, deal with pornography-related issues, and manage hypersexual behaviors.

How sex therapy is different from other therapy types

Sex therapy stands out from general counseling or couples therapy because of its focused approach. One expert explains it this way: “Seeing a sex therapist is like going to a gynecologist for gynecological problems rather than to a family practice physician. Both have specialized particularly in that area.”

Many couples therapists don’t deal very well with sexual issues because they “find it difficult to talk about sex.” This often leaves intimate concerns unaddressed. Sex therapists, however, discuss sexuality openly and help clients feel comfortable with sensitive topics.

Sex therapy treats sexual issues as problems that need specific help. They don’t assume these issues will fix themselves when other relationship problems improve. Sex therapists know substantially more about how the human body works sexually than general therapists do.

The certification process also makes a difference. Both sex therapists and sex counselors need certification from the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT). Their approaches differ though. Sex therapists use psychotherapy for complex sexual concerns. Sex counselors focus more on education and action-based solutions for shorter-term problems.

Start with the Right Education Path

Your trip to become a sex therapist starts with a strong educational foundation. Sex therapy needs specialized post-graduate training, so your original academic path sets the stage for future success.

Choose a relevant bachelor’s degree

Your undergraduate education lays the groundwork for advanced studies in sex therapy. You don’t need a specific bachelor’s degree, but a people-focused major gives you valuable preparation. Good options include:

• Psychology
• Counseling or human services
• Social work
• Sexuality or gender studies
• Sociology
• Interdisciplinary studies

These disciplines teach you about human behavior, mental processes, and social systems that will help throughout your career. They create an excellent base for the specialized graduate work ahead.

Take human sexuality courses early

Whatever your undergraduate major, human sexuality coursework during your bachelor’s program helps you develop comfort and knowledge about sexuality topics. These early courses help foster the expertise you’ll need as a future counselor or sex therapist.

Early sexuality courses give you two big advantages: they help you decide if this field interests you, and they prepare you for AASECT certification requirements later. These requirements need a complete understanding of human sexuality issues. Starting this specialized education early positions you better for certification.

Pursue a master’s degree with clinical training

After your bachelor’s degree, you need an advanced clinical degree that has psychotherapy training from an accredited institution. Good master’s programs for future sex therapists include:

• Psychology
• Clinical social work (MSW)
• Marriage and family therapy (MFT)
• Counseling
• Nursing (with mental health focus)

Pick a program that includes clinical hours and psychotherapy training. You’ll need either a master’s degree plus two years of post-degree clinical experience or a doctoral degree plus one year of post-degree clinical experience to get AASECT certification.

Think about programs with sex therapy concentrations

Look for graduate programs that offer specialized sex therapy concentrations. To name just one example, some universities offer master’s degrees in marriage and family therapy with specific tracks in systemic sex therapy. These specialized programs have:

• Historical and theoretical foundations of sex therapy
• Cultural and religious influences on sexuality
• Sexual disorder diagnosis and treatment models
• Therapeutic alliance building for sexual concerns
• Ethical considerations specific to sex therapy

A specialization at the master’s level helps you become a subject matter expert in your field. Some universities even offer complete sexual health master’s programs created with respected institutes like the Eli Coleman Institute for Sexual and Gender Health.

Note that educational qualifications are just one part of becoming a certified sex therapist in California. Still, the right educational path saves time and builds the strongest possible foundation for your career.

Meet California’s Licensure Requirements

Getting your mental health professional license is a significant step to become a certified sex therapist in California. Sex therapists must get a standard mental health license before they can pursue specialized training.

Apply for associate licensure after graduation

Your master’s degree completion opens the door to associate-level registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). This status lets you practice under supervision while you build hours toward full licensure.

The application process has these requirements:

• Submitting official transcripts
• Completing a Live Scan fingerprint background check
• Paying the registration fee
• Providing verification of your degree

You must find a qualified supervisor and register your supervisory relationship with the BBS to start counting clinical hours. The associate registration stays valid for six years. During this time, you need to complete all requirements for full licensure.

Complete supervised clinical hours

Supervised experience is key to your professional development. California sets different hour requirements based on your license path:

For Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) candidates: 3,000 total hours with at least 1,500 direct clinical experience hours.

For Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) candidates: 3,000 supervised hours with at least 2,000 hours in clinical psychosocial diagnosis, assessment, treatment, and counseling.

For Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) candidates: 3,000 supervised hours, with 1,750 direct counseling hours.

Weekly supervision is required – either one hour of individual supervision or two hours of group supervision. California requires supervisors to hold their license for at least two years and complete supervision training.

Pass California’s law and ethics exam

You must pass the California Law and Ethics Exam specific to your license type during your associate period. This test checks your knowledge of legal obligations and ethical guidelines for California practice.

You need to study these topics:

• Confidentiality and privilege
• Mandated reporting requirements
• Scope of practice limitations
• Professional boundaries
• Telehealth regulations

The exam can be retaken after 90 days if needed. You must pass this exam before taking the clinical licensing exam.

Obtain full licensure (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, etc.)

After completing your supervised hours, you can apply for the clinical exam. Passing it leads to full licensure. Each path has its own clinical exam:

For LMFT candidates: The Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Clinical Examination

For LCSW candidates: The Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical Exam

For LPCC candidates: The National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE)

Each license needs renewal every two years, plus continuing education – usually 36 hours for most license types in California.

Your mental health license is just one step toward becoming a sex therapist. The next phase involves specialized sex therapy training and certification, covered in later sections. This California license creates the legal foundation for your sex therapy specialization.

Pursue Specialized Sex Therapy Training

Getting your California mental health license is just the beginning. Your next step to become a certified sex therapist needs specialized training. This training will turn your general therapeutic skills into expertise for handling sexual concerns.

Enroll in AASECT-approved programs

The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) represents the gold standard in sex therapy education. Your specialized training should include sixty (60) clock hours of sex therapy techniques. You need to complete thirty of these hours through an academic program or AASECT-approved training.

Key content areas include:

• Theory and methods of sex-related psychotherapy
• Assessment techniques for psychosexual disorders
• Intervention approaches for relationship systems
• Medical aspects of treating sexual disorders
• Consultation and referral principles
• Ethical decision-making in sex therapy

Complete SAR (Sexual Attitude Reassessment)

Sexual Attitude Reassessment (SAR) helps you understand your own attitudes toward sexuality. AASECT requires fourteen (14) hours minimum in this structured group process.

SAR goes beyond academic learning or personal therapy. This internal exploration uses:

• Lecture and media presentations
• Experiential methods and activities
• Small group discussions
• Analysis of sexually explicit materials

The process builds “a sexological worldview that is appropriately self-aware, informed and flexible enough to encourage practice excellence”. AASECT requires that the SAR must be AASECT-sponsored or approved.

Gain supervised sex therapy experience

Clinical supervision is usually the most demanding requirement. You must complete:

• Fifty (50) hours of supervision with an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist Supervisor
• At least 25 of these hours must be individual supervision
• Supervision must occur over a minimum of 18 months

You’ll need to provide 300 hours of clinical treatment to clients with sexual concerns. Therapists with over 10 years of experience need only 25 supervision hours, but the 18-month minimum supervision period stays the same.

Earn a post-graduate certificate or PhD (optional)

Post-graduate certificates or doctoral programs can boost your credentials. Several universities offer sex therapy certificates that meet AASECT requirements. These programs give you:

• AASECT-approved continuing education credits
• Specialized coursework in human sexuality
• Faculty-supervised field experiences

Some schools offer PhD programs in human sexuality studies that prepare you for AASECT certification. These advanced degrees could lead to careers in research, education, or specialized clinical work.

Your AASECT membership must stay active throughout this process. All supervision contracts need active membership from start to finish.

Get Certified and Build Your Career

You’re ready to take the final step in your professional development—AASECT certification and career growth. This comes after you complete all educational and supervised clinical requirements.

Apply for AASECT certification

Getting AASECT certified involves several steps. You’ll need to submit your completed application form with your supervisor’s signature to verify all supervision hours. The application fee is $300 when you submit. AASECT sends your application to the Sex Therapist Certification Committee for a full review.

Remember that AASECT keeps all application documents, so you should make copies for your records. The committee might ask for more details during the review. You’ll receive your official certification as an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist once approved.

Renew certification every 3 years

Your certification needs regular upkeep. The renewal happens every three years. Here’s what you need to do:

• Earn at least twenty AASECT Continuing Education (CE) credits in each three-year period
• Keep your AASECT membership active—your certification expires if your membership does
• Submit your renewal papers and fees before they expire

Modern Sex Therapy Institutes, an approved AASECT provider, offers workshops, courses, and conferences for continuing education.

Explore work settings: private practice, clinics, hospitals

AASECT-certified sex therapists have many career paths. Some start private practices or join group practices to help clients with sexual concerns. Others become part of healthcare teams in hospitals or outpatient clinics.

Teaching at universities, conducting research, or supervising students are options in academia. Some therapists work as consultants for sexual health websites or write for professional journals and popular publications.

Join professional associations for support

Professional associations are a great way to get networking opportunities, resources, and continuing education. Besides AASECT, you might want to join:

• Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR)
• International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM)
• Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS)
• Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH)

These groups host conferences, publish materials, and maintain member directories to boost your professional visibility. AASECT members can access their listserv where people share ideas, recommendations, and industry news.

AASECT certification “is a vital step in one’s professional advancement, demonstrating that stringent requirements for training and experience have been met”.

Start Your Path Today

The path to becoming a sex therapist in California demands dedication, specialized training, and continuous growth. You’ll evolve from a licensed mental health professional into a specialist who can address intimate concerns with confidence and expertise.

This career path might look daunting initially. Each step helps you build the skills needed to help people deal with complex sexual issues. Your educational background, clinical practice, and specialized training blend together to prepare you for this fulfilling career. The AASECT certification shows your commitment to maintaining the highest professional standards.

Sex therapy fills a critical healthcare gap by creating safe spaces where clients can discuss concerns they find hard to address elsewhere. Your role focuses on evidence-based therapeutic approaches rather than physical interventions, contrary to common misconceptions.

After certification, career paths branch out widely – from private practice to hospitals, academic roles to consulting positions. Your specialized skills will help you create meaningful changes in your clients’ lives by addressing issues that substantially affect their relationships and well-being.

The field expands as society becomes more receptive to sexual health discussions. Qualified sex therapists are valued more than ever for their unique expertise. While this path requires substantial investment, helping clients overcome intimate challenges brings professional satisfaction that makes every step count.