265. Selecting a Sex Therapist
Some sexual problems aren’t easy to solve, and a professional therapist may be of help. When considering a sex therapist, use the same type of criteria you’d use when selecting any other health professional. Here are some useful guidelines.
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•Ask your gynecologist or urologist to recommend someone he or she feels is competent and trustworthy.
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•Ask to see the therapist’s credentials. The therapist should be certified by the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), which requires extensive training.
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•Be sure that the therapist has expertise in the problem you’re experiencing. Some therapists specialize in treating people with particular problems like low sexual desire, impotence, incest, or sexual abuse.
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•If you don’t feel a therapist is helping you, don’t hesitate to discontinue therapy and consult someone else.
Be aware of unethical practices. A sex therapist should:
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•Never show shock or surprise with the client’s problem or the subject matter being discussed.
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•Never give a physical exam to a client unless the therapist is also a physician. Sex therapists who don’t have a medical degree are not trained to diagnose and treat physical problems.
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•Never ask their clients to engage in any form of sex with the therapist or in the therapist’s presence.
