The Importance of Training Marital, Couple, and Family Therapists in Sexual Health

Abstract

Sexual health has been declared a sexual right and part of human rights on health and freedom from discrimination. Over 40 years ago the World Health Organization, and other international organisations since, have called for marital, couple, and family therapists to be trained in working with sexuality in a respectful, positive manner that affirms sexual health and sexual expression. Despite this, there have not been significant strides in helping therapists understand a view of sexual health focused on freedom of expression and pleasure, nor significant advances in requirements for professional training in a broad conceptualisation of sexuality. There is also evidence that practitioner comfort with the topic has not significantly changed over time. In this paper, ethical issues impeding the advancement of sexual health services within mental health professions are explored and recommendations for training curriculums are provided.

Development of the Comfort with Sexual Behaviors Scale

“…Counselors justified not discussing sexuality because they believed it was not practical to address sexuality, addressing sexuality was outside of clinicians' roles and/or skill set, and clients rarely brought it up (Urry et al, 2019). This is consistent with other literature that pointed to a lack of training on sexuality, deficits in clinicians' skills in addressing sexuality, a lack of clinician confidence in addressing client sexuality, and clinician discomfort with the topic of sexuality (Dermer & Bachenberg, 2015;Hanzlik & Gaubatz, 2012;S. Miller & Byers, 2008;S.…”

LGBTQ+ cultural‐competence training effectiveness: Mental health organization and therapist survey outcome results from a pilot randomized controlled trial

“…More attention has been given recently to how systems of oppression across multiple, intersecting marginalized identities can undermine mental health (Anders & Kivlighan, 2023;Arora et al, 2022). While sexual health conversations are considered integral to overall therapist competency with clients, past LGBTQ+ competency trainings typically do not address this topical area (Dermer & Bachenberg, 2015;Russell, 2012). This is unfortunate given that…”

“…More attention has been given recently to how systems of oppression across multiple, intersecting marginalized identities can undermine mental health (Anders & Kivlighan, 2023; Arora et al, 2022). While sexual health conversations are considered integral to overall therapist competency with clients, past LGBTQ+ competency trainings typically do not address this topical area (Dermer & Bachenberg, 2015; Russell, 2012). This is unfortunate given that LGBTQ+ individuals experience higher rates of sexually transmitted infections, hypersexualized cultures, sexual objectification, concerns related to sexual health and lack of access to adequate sexual health services, and therapists are often undertrained and uncomfortable discussing sexual health, particularly with sexual and gender minorities (Knight et al, 2014; Mollen & Abbott, 2022).…”

Influence of a Group Supervision Program in Sex Therapy on Therapists’ Self-Efficacy and Attitudes toward Sexuality

“…This study was designed to investigate the claim that counselors need specific training in sex counseling to discuss sexual issues. Most of the research on training psychotherapists in sex counseling was performed on marriage and family therapy programs (Dermer & Bachenberg, 2015;Harris & Hays, 2008;Humphrey, 2000;Mutcher & Anderson, 2010;Timm, 2009;Zamboni & Zaid, 2017). This shows that research is limited and should be expanded.…”