If you are a future sex therapist, the University of Michigan has a fabulous program and I am honored to teach there.
The University of Michigan Sexual Health Certificate Program (UMSHCP) provides comprehensive education and training to professionals interested in the field of sexual health in three tracks. Participants will gain assessment, intervention, and consultation skills; will learn strategies to apply these skills in the workplace; and will link with a peer learning community to practice new skills and discuss applied learning.
Website: http://ssw.umich.edu/programs/ce/UMSHC
Sexuality Education (for educators) Sexuality Counseling (for health professionals) and Sex Therapy (for mental health professionals)
¨ Location:
Sexuality Counselor /Sex Therapist: 4 campus based courses at University of Michigan Campus, Ann Arbor MI and 5 weekends offered in live distance learning
Sexuality Educators: 4 campus based courses at University of Michigan Campus and 5 weekends offered in live distance learning
Blended track of both Educator and Therapist/Counselor: 5 campus based weekends at University of Michigan and 5 weekends offered in live distance learning
Program Format
Following a cohort-style ‘cohort’ learning model, participants enter together as a class and remain together throughout the training in their track (see calendar at UMSHCP website). Total program lasts one year–March to March.
The new cohort commences in late March of each year. Throughout the program, participants participate in a total of seven two-day minicourses (minicourses=15 hours) if pursuing sexuality educator training, or nine two-day minicourses if pursuing sexuality counselor or sex therapist training. The weekends are arranged so that a participant can take both a counselor or therapist track and the educator track should they wish to do so.
All participants in all three tracks share 90 hours of educational minicourses together (six weekend classes). All are together for the first four-day weekend including SAR and educational minicourse. The participants also pursue advanced training in their ‘track’ of Sexuality Education (30 hours =a two-day Mon/Tues and two-day Sat/Sun), Sexuality Counseling (60 hours = 2 two-day weekends and one four-day Sat-Tuesday), and Sex Therapy (60 hours = 2 two-day weekends and one four-day Sat-Tuesday).
Live Distance Learning. 75 hours of sexuality education can be attended through simultaneous live distance learning (see calendar at website). The remaining courses are campus-based learning because they involve training (role plays, case discussions, curriculum design and other elements) better suited to on-campus learning.
Faculty. Program faculty are AASECT certified sex therapists, sexuality counselors, and sexuality educators, as well as certified supervisors and consultants. They are skilled teachers as well as sexologists who have conducted research, published articles and books, worked to change public policy in the field of sexual health, spoken at national and international conferences, and are frequently cited in the media. They maintain professional affiliation with AASECT as well as other major professional organizations in sex therapy and research, sexuality education, health and mental health.
Curriculum. An overview of course content is available at UMSHCP website.
Once admitted, participants receive detailed information about program participation, travel and hotel accommodations, website-based learning used in the program and detailed syllabi for the courses. Some reading and non-graded assignments are part of every class. All readings are electronic and are free to participants. Access to the website and articles continues indefinitely for all alums of the program.
Sexuality Educator, Sexuality Counselor and Sex Therapist Tracks.
The program is open to health and mental health professionals from all recognized disciplines. An applicant applies to the program by ‘track’:
–Sexuality educators are professionals with an undergraduate or master’s degree (or higher) who regularly provide information about sexual health in educational or health environments. This includes but is not limited to schools, residential treatment facilities, medical centers, and family planning centers.
–Sexuality counselors are primarily professionals providing health care, like nurses, doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, who assist in defining a client’s sexual issues and concerns, and provide both counseling.
–Sex therapists are mental health professionals who are licensed in their states or countries to provide mental health care. They have completed graduate school for clinical training in their professional area. This may be a PhD, MD, MSW, or MA.
–Multidisciplinary focus. Sexual health professionals consistently interact with other disciplines to promote the principles of sexual health for the clients and groups they serve. The cohort style learning encourages this multidisciplinary approach.
CEs: The program is approved for up to 195 AASECT CEs. It offers medical CMEs and social work/counseling ACE CEs as well.
Advisory Board: The program’s advisory board is composed of leaders in the fields of sexual health and reproductive justice and includes: Eli Coleman, PhD; Betsy Crane, PhD; Ed Goldman, JD; Debby Herbenick, PhD; Hilda Hutcherson, MD; Tim Johnson, MD; Beverly Whipple, PhD.
For further information contact:
Sallie Foley, LMSW, UMSHCP Director at smfoley@umich.edu, 734.764.4074
