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Course Description

Building upon a solid foundation of professional sexuality-based knowledge, this course offers advanced training focused on application of theory and research specifically related to sex therapy and counselling practices. Focus is on sexual health assessments, demonstrating an understanding of affirming practices, and clinical interventions for a range of common and complex sexuality-related individual and relational presenting problems. Facilitative learning will take place within small group discussions and deliberate practice sessions with participants simulating students, patients, and/or clients and consultation teams, along with guest speakers, lectures and videos.

This course provides intermediate to advanced levels of theoretical and scholarly information, theoretical models, and sex therapy and counselling practice intervention materials. This course is offered in an intensive format consisting of four full-day class days (online synchronous) within a multi-week period with 18-23 hours of asynchronous work (readings, discussions, opportunities to excel, assignments) between classes.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the learner should be able to:
  1. Identify and assess for a range of common presenting individual and relational sexual problems and their etiology.
  2. Analyze and reflect upon your “self-of-the-professional-sexuality-practitioner”, including your social location (e.g., class, gender, culture, sexual orientation, positionality, ethical self, etc.), and how it impacts your clinical work.
  3. Discuss the complexities of working with a variety of diverse clients/patients and articulate a rationale for the choices in their assessment, model, and/or intervention.
  4. Apply interdisciplinary and integrative assessment/s, diagnosis/es, and model/s for addressing clinical issues involving sexual, relational, and physiological components.
  5. Conduct and review a sexual health intake assessment (i.e., sex history assessment).
  6. Integrate gender, sexual, erotic, relational and relationally-diverse(GSERD)-affirming practices when working with a variety of clients/patients

Course Topics

  • Sexual Health Intake Assessment (i.e., sex history assessment)
  • Assessment of Sexual Problems and Difficulties
  • Models, Interventions, Techniques, and Treatments within Individual and/or Relational Contexts
  • Identifying Sexuality Difficulties/Problems/Disturbances/Dysfunctions
  • Consensual and Non-Consensual Non-Monogamy
  • Desire and Erotic Discrepancies
  • Sex-Worker Affirming Care
  • Problematizing Sexualized Behaviors (out-of-control sexual behaviors)
  • Trauma-Informed Sex Therapy Practices
  • Gender, Sexual, Erotic, and Relational Diversity-Affirming Therapy Practices
  • Digisexuality
  • Recognize “self-of-the-therapist”, your social location (e.g., class, gender, culture, sexual orientation, positionality, ethical self, etc.), and how it impacts your clinical work

Additional Requirements

Pre-requisite(s): 
This course provides advanced application of sex therapy practices. It is assumed that participants already have a solid foundation of professional sexual health and sexuality practices, including completion of either 200-9002: Foundations in Professional Sexuality Practices and/or 200-9001: Intensive Sex Therapy Training Program.
 

Application Process
There is an application process. Applicants will have at minimum a master's degree in related fields (e.g., psychology, medicine, social work, counselling, education, public health, nursing, or human development and family studies) and demonstration of the completion of a foundational level sexuality training and/or course, if they have not completed either of the pre-requisite Guelph courses (Foundations in Professional Sexuality Practices or the Intensive Sex Therapy Training Program course), with a final mark of at minimum 70% and a minimum of 30 CEUs completed in the course/s. In addition, applicants who have not completed one of these two Guelph pre-requisite courses will need to respond to brief questions about foundational areas in sexology including questions focused on basic anatomy, ender socialization, basic models of sexual arousal and response, and an overview of sexuality across the lifespan.

If you have not taken the required pre-requisite courses, you are invited submit an application for consideration. Please be sure to identify and discuss your level of experience and education around foundational areas in sexology including questions focused on basic anatomy, ender socialization, basic models of sexual arousal and response, and an overview of sexuality across the lifespan.

Upon registration, you will be required to submit a CV/resume outlining your therapy/clinical background/experience and/or associated educational background. You will be informed of your acceptance within two to four weeks from your registration date. Proficiency in English—written and verbal—is required. This course is delivered in English and assignment submissions will be submitted in English.
 

Assessment

Assessment Item Weight

Learning Outcomes

Self-of-the-Professional Sexuality Practitioner Pre-Course Assessment and Reflection 25% 1, 2, 4, 6
Synchronous Group Discussions 20% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Asynchronous Online Discussions and Activities 20% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Knowledge Checks (4) 10% 1, 3, 4
Self-of the Professional Sexuality Practitioner Post-Course Assessment and Reflection 25% 1, 2, 4, 6
Total 100% 1-6

 

Note:

Professional Accreditation
The outcomes have been intentionally designed to meet professional accreditation core competencies set by the following organizations:
•    American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT)
This program meets the requirements of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and is approved for 32  AASECT CE Credits. These CE Credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification.

Sponsoring Partner
•    Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition (FRAN), College of Social and Applied Human Sciences
 

Technical Requirements

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*Course details are subject to change.

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Enrol Now - Select a section to enrol in
Section Title
Applied Professional Sexuality Practices
Type
Online
Days
Sunday
Time
1:00PM to 3:00PM
Dates
September 28, 2025
Type
Remote Instruction
Days
Friday
Time
10:00AM to 6:00PM
Dates
October 03, 2025
Type
Remote Instruction
Days
Sunday
Time
10:00AM to 6:00PM
Dates
October 05, 2025
Type
Remote Instruction
Days
Friday
Time
10:00AM to 6:00PM
Dates
October 17, 2025
Type
Remote Instruction
Days
Sunday
Time
10:00AM to 6:00PM
Dates
October 19, 2025
Schedule and Location
Contact Hours
32.0
Location
  • Virtual
Delivery Options
Remote Instruction  
Course Fee(s)
Early Bird $1,595.00
Potential Discount(s)
Section Notes

This course has both asynchronous and synchronous components. Following the first two-hour synchronous session via Microsoft Teams video conferencing, you will complete activities and assessments on the CourseLink course website. You will then attend five full-day synchronous sessions. Between sessions, you will engage in discussions with your peers in the CourseLink discussion forums. The course ends with additional time to complete the final assessments.

Should any synchronous session need to be rescheduled the alternate date is Sunday, October 26, 2025.

Note: Due to the intensity of the synchronous sessions, it is advised that you do not schedule anything else on these dates.

Applications close two weeks before the course start date. Please review the application requirements before applying. You must pay the full tuition fee and submit a resume/CV when applying. A full refund will be processed if you are not accepted into the course.

Students are responsible for having the technical requirements to participate in this course. Including the following:

  • Access to Microsoft Teams Video Conferencing
  • Internet connection, wired or wireless
  • Webcam (Built in or USB plug-in)
  • Headset or a Microphone and Speaker (Built in, wireless or USB plug-in)
Section Materials
  • Text (Required) (Mandatory) Principles of Sex Therapy by Binik, Y. M., & Hall, K. S. K. © 2020 The Guilford Press 6th edition ISBN ISBN: 978-1462513673
  • Text (Required) (Mandatory) Handbook of LGBT Affirmative Couple and Family Therapy by Harvey, R., Murphy, M. J., Bigner, J. J., & Wetchler, J. L. © 2022 Routledge 2nd edition ISBN ISBN: 978-0415883597
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