Everything You Wanted To Know About Sexology

Many people wrongly assume that sexology is a scandalous profession, yet the term stands for the scientific study of human sexuality and sexual behavior. People who are studying sexology are sexologists, and they differ significantly from sex therapists. Many sexologists might decide to pursue their career as sex therapists to work with their patients in a clinical setting. Others might explore other careers such as sex educator, sex researcher, or public policy activist.

The work of a sexologist is not very different from other researchers of human behavior or therapists. They study and communicate with people who might experience low sexual desire, feeling of disconnection, or inabilities to have an orgasm. Their profession doesn’t imply they love sex more than any other person. It just means they enjoy studying it, helping people, and contributing to their field of science.

As there is still a lot of misconceptions about sexology, we’ve decided to bring some clarity to this topic and find out what a sexologist does in their job.

Becoming a Sexologist

A person can become a sexologist in more than one way. With many universities offering degrees in sexology or human sexuality, students have more options to decide what will be the starting point of their career as a sexologist. Also, someone can become a sexologist if they have an educational background in sociology, psychology, biology, anthropology, or public health.

Typically, a sexologist will have a master’s or doctoral degree, yet it doesn’t necessarily have to be in sexology or human sexuality. There are also many training and certification programs for becoming a sexologist, and they are a personal choice rather than a field requirement.

Using Sexology Knowledge

As already said, a sexologist doesn’t necessarily have to become a sex therapist and work with patients in a clinical setting. Besides being a sex therapist, sex educator, sex researcher, or public policy activist, there are many ways to practice sexology. For instance, a sexologist can organize workshops about sex health, educate teenagers about sex, or participate in sex-related initiatives in their community.

Those who have decided to pursue their career as sex therapists will work directly with clients, with individuals or couples, to address problems they have in their sex lives and find solutions for these problems. The variety of such problems goes from mismatches libidos to sexless relationships. As most states don’t require certification to practice sex therapy, it’s crucial to check the previous experience of the sex therapist before starting therapy with them.

A well-recommended or experienced sex therapist will detect problems easier than someone without these two factors and will help the patient more efficiently. As much as it’s true that good sex therapists without certifications exist, this helps patients be at peace when undoing sex therapy and sharing their intimate details with someone who is a stranger to them.

Sex Therapists vs Sexologists

Both professions study human sexuality and sexual behavior, yet in different ways. Often, sexologists will study patients and do their research from afar, whereas sex therapists will work directly with their patients. During sessions, sex therapists will not have any physical contact with their patients. As many people think that clinical sexologists do hands-on work, it’s quite important to know that all work is being done through the conversation between the therapist and the patient.

Also, there is no nudity or any demonstration of sexual activity involved during sex therapy sessions. Future patients must understand that these sessions are just like regular therapy sessions with more focus on conversations related to sex. If there is a need to explain something graphic, a sex therapist or a patient will show it in on a puppet, diagram, or in a book.

After several sessions, when the patient has more trust in their therapist, they might be given more practical tasks to take them home. This is often the case with couples or if a person is struggling to achieve an orgasm. Where a therapist might suggest exploring and doing research when at home alone or with a partner.

Benefits of Sexology

Whether it’s sexologists or sex therapists, they both have incredible value in how we feel about sex, what we know about it, and how we behave in actions related to sex in any way. The more these topics are discussed. People will have more healthy sex lives that improve how they see themselves. And also how they connect with their partners.

All of the achievements that were made in the field of sexology, regardless of the branch, have had a positive impact on society as a whole and us as individuals. Due to sexology, we today know that having sex without protection can lead to a range of sexually transmitted infections. We’ve also learned there is nothing wrong with masturbation. Most achievements in sexology were focused on unlearning what we’ve been taught about sex to finally enjoy that aspect of our lives. After all, we’re sexual beings and we deserve to feel excited in more ways than just one!

In Final Words

Whether you’re currently seeking a sex therapist or considering pursuing a career as a sexologist. Hopefully, this article motivated you to do your share. As much as the sexual revolution helped us realize how significant sex health, sex education. And sex activities are in one’s life, there is still much more to learn and unlearn. We need to look at it as sexual evolution.

As human beings, we’re constantly evolving and learning new things about ourselves and everything around us. There is no reason for it to be different with human sexuality and sexual behaviors. Whether it’s an open conversation with a friend, scheduling your first sex therapy session. Or enrolling in an undergraduate sexology program, each of these steps will contribute to a healthier and happier society that doesn’t ignore its sexuality. Instead, it celebrates it and seeks more ways to enjoy it!

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What Is Sexology and What Is It For?

Sexology is the science that studies sex, that simple! To be more specific, it is the science that studies the sexuality of the human being, sexual behavior and its different manifestations. All of these from the psychological and physiological point of view.

A sexologist is a professional who performs various tasks: sexual education, guidance, couples’ counseling and intervention, and research.

The professional will treat the patient from the psychological and therapeutic point of view since there is a diversity of problems which can be extended to both fields. Including everything that has to do with the relationship between men and women, not only about sexual perfomance; but what happens to their lives too.

Communication’s problems, affective needs, maternity-paternity issues, and mediation in separation and divorces are also issues that a sexologist can deal with.

Since we have a sex negative and pleasure negative culture, the field of clinical sexology is imperative. – Amanda Pasciucco

Sexology also serves as a post-traumatic tool in situations where the sexual integrity of a person has been violated. When sexual abuse occurs, the victim is so affected that psychological therapy is necessary to overcome the trauma. Also, sexual therapy helps to regain his/her sexual life.

The governing body for sex therapist is American Association of Sexuality Educators Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) mentions as its vision of sexual health to be one where, all individuals are entitled to enjoy:

Respect of their sexual thoughts, feelings and fantasies
The right to engage in healthy modes of sexual activity,
Freedom to exercise behavioral, emotional, economic, and social responsibility for their bodily functioning
The power to chose their mode of loving, working, and playing

AASECT believes that these rights pertain to all peoples whatever their age, family structure, backgrounds, beliefs, and circumstances”

How do I know if I should go to the sexologist or another professional?

It is common for a person who encounters a difficulty in their sexual life to ask which specialist should go. To the gynecologist, the urologist, the general practitioner, the endocrinologist, the psychologist, the sexologist …? The answer varies depending on the specific problem, and whether it has a physical cause or not.

Just as the sexologist can refer you to another professional, other professional can refer you to the sexologist. This happens when they find that a certain sexual problem exceeds their field of work.

Conclusion

Sometimes we have problems in our sexual life and, instead of going to a specialist consultation to help us overcome this problem, we let it go by playing down the importance. However, in the same way that when you hurt your teeth you go to the dentist, if there is any dysfunction in your sex life you should go to the specialist: the sexologist.