Sexology Careers

General Skills & Knowledge

Training in sexological or psychosexual topics is the point which distinguishes a sexologist from other counsellors, therapists, educators, and healthcare professionals. Sexology is a specialisation, so the first step in the journey is to establish what kind of sexology professional you would like to be and what areas, issues, or populations most interest you. This information will help you decide what undergraduate and/or postgraduate options might be the most suitable for your longer term career goals.

Topics to be covered in speciality training to become a sexologist include:

• Overview of the discipline of sexology (including historical and contemporary approaches to psychosexual therapy and sexuality research)
  
• Socio-cultural aspects of sex, sexuality, and gender (including sexual and gender diversity/identity, spirituality/religion, ethnicity/race, ability, sexual subcultures)
  
• Sexual function and dysfunction (including diagnosis, testing/assessment, intervention)
  
• Sexual and reproductive anatomy and physiology (including models of sexual response cycles)
  
• Developmental sexuality across the lifespan
  
• Knowledge of sexually transmitted infections and safer sex practices
  
• Knowledge of atypical sexual behaviours (including rape and sexual assault, paraphilias, and fetishes)
  
• Familiarity of current research in psychosexual therapeutic and sexuality-related (broad) research
  

Training is an essential part of the process to become a sexologist. It is possible to receive training in these areas through workshops and professional development activities that help to bring together your existing skills and knowledge with more specific sexuality learning areas. The University of Sydney and Curtin University postgraduate courses also cover these topics.