Searching for a certified sex therapist can feel different from searching for any other kind of support.
The topic itself is more private, and it’s not always clear how to tell a genuinely qualified therapist apart from someone who simply lists “sex therapy” among their services.
That distinction matters more than people realize.
Sex therapy touches on some of the most sensitive parts of a person’s life, so working with someone who has real, verified training makes a meaningful difference in how safe and supported that process feels.
This guide walks through what a sex therapist actually is, what certification means, and what to look for before you book that first session.
What Is a Sex Therapist, Exactly?
At its core, a sex therapist is a mental health professional who specializes in the emotional, relational, and psychological sides of sexuality.
This isn’t a separate profession from counselling or psychology. It’s an added specialization, built on top of existing clinical training.
Sex therapists are specifically trained to help with:
- Mismatched desire between partners
- Sexual anxiety or performance concerns
- The impact of past trauma on intimacy
- The sexual side effects of health conditions, medications, or major life transitions like childbirth or menopause
Sex therapy, in practice, usually looks like regular talk therapy. There’s no physical examination or hands-on component involved.
Here’s where things get tricky, though. In Alberta, “psychologist” is a legally protected title, and only those licensed by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) can use it.
“Sex therapist,” on the other hand, isn’t a protected title here or anywhere else in Canada. That means someone can call themselves a sex therapist without holding any recognized credentials in the field, as long as they don’t also misuse a protected title like “psychologist” alongside it.
This is exactly why understanding a sex therapist’s role, and how that role is verified, matters so much.
A genuinely qualified sex therapist has pursued specific training beyond their general clinical license. The clearest way to confirm that training is a credential like AASECT certification, which we’ll break down next.
What Does AASECT Certification Actually Mean?
If “sex therapist” isn’t a protected title, how do you actually know someone is qualified? That’s where AASECT certification comes in.
The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) is the leading credentialing body for sex therapy in North America. This certification is a rigorous, voluntary credential built on top of a therapist’s existing clinical license, not a replacement for one.
To become an AASECT certified sex therapist, a clinician must already be a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychologist, counsellor, or social worker. From there, sex therapist education requirements, including:
- Specific coursework in human sexuality
- Supervised clinical hours working directly with sexual concerns
- Ongoing consultation with an approved supervisor throughout the process
AASECT isn’t a weekend course or an online certificate; this sex therapy training typically takes years to complete.
That distinction matters. A therapist who has gone through this process has demonstrated real, verified competence in an area that general clinical training often only touches on briefly.
When you see the AASECT certified sex therapist credential listed, it’s a signal that someone has met a recognized, external standard, not just a self-assigned specialty.
Is AASECT Certification Recognized in Canada?
Although AASECT is a U.S.-based organization, the credential is recognized by therapists practicing in Canada.
In Alberta, a therapist’s legal right to practice comes from provincial licensing through bodies like the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), not from AASECT.
AASECT certification sits alongside that licence, as an additional, specialized credential focused specifically on sex therapy competence. Think of it less like a licence to practice and more like a verified specialization within an already-licensed profession, similar to how a family physician might also become board-certified in a specific area of medicine.
Questions to Ask Before Booking
Once you’ve found a few therapists who seem like a good fit, it helps to have a short list of questions to ask a sex therapist before committing to a first session. A confident, qualified therapist should be comfortable answering all of these directly.
- Are you AASECT certified, or working toward certification under supervision? Either answer can be legitimate, but it tells you where they are in the credentialing process.
- What’s your approach to sex therapy? Look for a clear, specific answer rather than a vague reference to “being open-minded” or “non-judgmental.” Those things matter, but they aren’t a methodology.
- Do you work with individuals, couples, or both? Some therapists specialize in one or the other, and it’s worth confirming before you book.
- How do you handle topics that feel embarrassing or difficult to bring up? This isn’t about getting a rehearsed answer. It’s about noticing whether their response actually puts you at ease.
- What can I expect in a typical session? A therapist who can walk you through this clearly is one who’s done it many times before.
There’s no single right answer to any of these questions.
What matters is whether the therapist’s answers feel honest, specific, and grounded in real experience, rather than rehearsed or evasive.
Booking with Loving Choices
Once you’ve got your questions ready, here’s what to expect when you bring them to Loving Choices:
- A typical first session includes a sex history as part of the assessment, guided by evidence-based models of sexual health.
- Every therapist on the team works with both couples and individuals.
- Our team discusses sexuality without judgment, a skill built through dedicated bias-awareness training required for AASECT certification.
“I wish more people knew that there was a difference in training, education, and supervision among professionals,” says Dr. Jason Jones, Director and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist Supervisor.
“And felt comfortable asking psychologists or therapists for proof, evidence, or professional verification that they can competently help clients with their specific concerns.”
When you ask about a therapist’s approach, listen for specifics: real models and names, not just a general philosophy.
Look for a Clinic That Trains Other Therapists, Too
An AASECT Certified Sex Therapist Supervisor has gone a step beyond certification itself. They’re approved to train and consult with other clinicians who are working toward their own AASECT certification.
At Loving Choices, this work happens through supervision and consultation for other professionals pursuing the credential, not as a service offered to clients directly.
Why does this matter if you’re not the one being supervised?
Because a therapist who is approved to teach and evaluate other clinicians in this specialty has demonstrated a deeper level of expertise than certification alone requires. It’s the difference between having passed a standard and being trusted to help set it for others.
What Sex Therapy Looks Like at Loving Choices
Jason, Director at Loving Choices Psychology, is an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and Supervisor, alongside his registration as a psychologist through the College of Alberta Psychologists.
“I pursued AASECT certification to ensure that I was able to competently and effectively practice in this area,” says Jason.
“Since it is such a vulnerable topic for clients, and our society has so much sex negativity, I wanted to make sure I could help people seeking to improve aspects of their sexual experiences.”
Other members of the Loving Choices team either hold AASECT certification or are currently in supervision working toward it, reflecting the same standard across the clinic.
Ready to Book?
Finding the right sex therapist starts with knowing what to actually look for:
- A licensed mental health professional
- Verified training like AASECT certification
- Honest answers to the questions that matter most to you
If you’re ready to take that step, sex therapy at Loving Choices is a good place to start.
Not quite ready to book? Explore our sex therapy resources to learn more first.