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For many years, I was a therapist who worked with individuals, couples, and even corporations, dealing with the myriad of problems that we humans face. Back then, I was what one might call a "generalist," although people with relationship and sexual issues somehow managed to make their way to my doorstep more often than not.

Maybe it was partly because I was already knowledgeable and interested in many facets of sexuality, and I was extremely non-judgmental. Perhaps it was also because I appeared frequently on talk-television where — surprise, surprise! — sex and love was a frequent focus. In any case, over time, and given the amount of attention I was paying to sex in my work, I decided that being comfortable with the topic and knowing a reasonable amount about it just wasn't good enough. 'Sex And The City' Helps Me Be A Better Therapist

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I sought additional training in sex therapy, and was eventually certified as a sex therapist by the "gold standard" of credentialing authorities, The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT). This was an important step for me, in no small part because I realized how much more I had needed to know all along. Consequently, I'm a bit of a cheerleader for advanced training in sex therapy for anyone working with couples, and certification for anyone who uses the term "sex therapist" as a description.

If you're considering counseling or therapy, you'll have a variety of professionals from which to choose, with a range of levels and types of training. If some aspect of your relationship is troubling you, or your sexual connection isn't quite what you'd like it to be, or you're feeling qualms about some of your own sexual desires, then it's important to know about the different types of sexuality and relationship experts available to help, and how they are similar or different from one another. 3 Simple Steps For Lasting Love

Let's start with the term "sex therapist," and what that means. In the very early days of the profession, sex therapists were primarily behavioral therapists who dealt with sexual problems by assigning clients exercises to bring about functional change. Those days of narrow focus and limited technique are long gone. 4 Things I've Learned From Being A Sex Therapist

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Today, a credentialed sex therapist is a full-fledged and licensed psychotherapist with an MA, MSW or Ph.D. degree, usually in psychology, counseling, or social work. She or he has additional advanced training in sexology and wide-ranging sex therapy methods. It's this additional training — as well as a continuing education requirement — that really distinguishes a certified sex therapist from other therapists.

Yet, vestiges of those early days linger, and even some mental health professionals hold the mistaken notion that sex therapy addresses merely the functional part of sex — i.e., getting or keeping an erection, having an orgasm, lack of desire, pain with sex, etc.