Sex Therapist

Description and Responsibilities

Sex therapists help identify, understand and interpret all aspects of sexuality. They listen and seek to clarify people’s needs and expectations, and help find ways to meet them that are fulfilling and in line with individuality and dignity, as well as personal and social responsibility.

Sex therapists engage in the design, actualization, consultation, analysis and assessment of human sexuality. They determine and implement sexology plans for educational, preventive and counseling purposes aimed at the improvement, maintenance and restoration of sexual health.

Education and Training Requirements

An undergraduate degree program in sexology is offered at Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) .

Required Interests, Skills and Personality Type

• Must be a good communicator and listener
• Must be able to adapt to all environments and clienteles
• Must be imaginative and creative
• Must be open-minded
• Must know how to observe and analyze situations and people
• Must love contact with the public

Personality Type (RIASEC)

SEI

• S - Prefers to be in contact with people and to help them
• E - Prefers supervising, making decisions and managing, influencing and persuading others
• I - Prefers studying, understanding and solving problems

Work Environment

Sex therapists mainly work in: 

• Hospitals (in French only)
• Rehabilitation centres (in French only)
• Residential and long-term care centres (CHSLDs) (in French only)
• Local community services centres (CLSCs) (in French only)

Useful Links

• Association des sexologues du Québec  (in French only)
• Marriage and Family Therapists – Emploi-Québec 
• Ordre professionnel des sexologues du Québec  (in French only)