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Certificate in Sex Therapy

Chicago

The Adler University Certificate in Sex Therapy meets the highest standards in the field and delivers advanced training in human sexuality and sexual health, with a strong focus on ethical practice and cultural competence.

  • 10 graduate credits
  • 164 continuing education credits
  • AASECT approved
  • Synchronous learning, one weekend residency per course
  • Experiential SAR training
  • Open to current and non-Adler students
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Admission Deadlines

Term Priority Final
Fall 2026 4/1/2026 8/1/2026

Program overview

This non-clinical certificate is designed to complement the clinical work and supervision required for American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) Certified Sex Therapist designation. Students build the foundational knowledge needed to pursue certification and receive guidance to help plan their path toward completing AASECT’s clinical and supervision requirements.

Adler University is approved by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) as an Organizational Provider II, authorizing the University to offer 164 AASECT continuing education credits. Completion does not guarantee certification; students must meet all additional clinical and supervision requirements as set by AASECT. For further information, email AASECT.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

Why choose the certificate in sex therapy program at Adler?

  • Aligned with leading professional standards: Adler is approved as an Organizational Provider II by AASECT, authorizing the University to offer continuing education (CE) credits.
  • Designed for all learners: Can be completed independently or alongside another degree, making it accessible to both current Adler students and external applicants. Individuals may also take select courses with approval from the certificate manager and as space is available.
  • Flexible learning structure: The majority of the coursework is delivered online through synchronous learning, with one weekend residence per course at Adler in Chicago.
  • Specialized courses: The certificate’s curriculum includes human sexuality education, sex therapy training, and the Sexual Attitude Reassessment (SAR).

Handbook

Couple and Family Therapy Department Handbook

The Couple and Family Therapy Department Handbook (“CFT Handbook”) is available for applicants and current students. This contains the most up-to-date information regarding the department and our degree and certificate offerings.

Your Professional Path in sex therapy

As a licensed therapist, you will be able to expand your practice into sex therapy.

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SEXUAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL

Promote healthy relationships and consent education, consult on inclusive policies, train staff in trauma-informed, LGBTQIA+-affirming practices, support students with counseling-informed guidance and referrals, and coordinate with families while safeguarding privacy.

Three people sit in a circle indoors, engaging in conversation. The woman smiles warmly, while the man in the middle listens intently—an inviting scene that captures the spirit of Art Therapy.

SEXUAL HEALTH Agencies

Advance sexual health agency services through trauma-informed psychoeducation, counseling-informed support, and coordinated referrals on sexual health, consent, and relationships. Sexual health professionals design and evaluate programs, consult on inclusive policies, train staff, and maintain precise documentation and confidentiality.

Two people sit indoors on a couch, smiling and having a conversation about art therapy. Shelves and framed pictures are visible in the background.

Private Practice SEX THERAPIST

Help individuals and couples address desire, arousal, pain, intimacy, and identity concerns through evidence-based sex therapy. Sex therapists take thorough psychosexual histories, develop treatment plans, coordinate with medical and mental health providers, and uphold consent, documentation, and ethics.

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hospitals

Collaborate with physicians, nurses, and behavioral health teams to address sexual functioning and intimacy concerns tied to illness or treatment, contributing to integrated care. Sexual health workers in hospital settings provide psychoeducation, brief counseling-informed support, coordinate referrals, and document carefully with privacy.

Admission requirements

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Eligibility | Non-Adler students

Students must meet one of the following criteria:

  • A clinical degree (couple/marriage and family therapy, medical family therapy, counseling, art therapy, psychology, social work, or other related mental health field that leads to clinical licensure);
  • Licensure or provisional licensure in one of these fields, or;
  • Be currently pursuing a clinical degree and are practicum eligible.
  • A grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all undergraduate coursework and/or a 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale of all graduate coursework.

Application Requirements

Applicants are required to submit the following items to be considered for admission:

  • Application fee.
  • Completed application submitted via the online portal.
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae.
  • A statement of intent
  • Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended (U.S and Canada). Officials required to remain enrolled.

Statement of Intent

Applicants are required to provide a statement of intent answering the following questions. They should be 2-3 pages, double-spaced.

  • Why are you interested in your chosen field and program?
  • Why is Adler University’s program a good fit for you?
  • Respond to Adler University’s mission statement as it relates to being a leader in your industry.
  • What are your career goals and interests?

Admission for Current Adler University Students

Some Adler graduate students may concurrently enroll in the certificate as they are working on their clinical master’s or doctoral degree. Prerequisites for students of this standing are that they must have completed the coursework in their own program that allows them to be practicum eligible or ready. These students will use the registration exception form and do not have to submit a statement of intent. Some program specific restrictions apply, and students must consult with their primary program department chair.

Students may not transfer coursework into the CST as it has been uniquely designed to meet AASECT requirements. Transferred coursework may not align with the design and structure of the certificate. Current students may consult with their primary program of study about utilizing CST courses as electives to meet their degree requirements.

*Students in the Couple and Family Therapy Department may add the certificate program during their degree program in consultation with their faculty advisor. They are also pre-approved to utilize CST courses to meet the elective requirements in either the MCFT or CFTD programs.

Student-at-large

Students who are neither in a current graduate program nor enrolled in the certificate may take select courses with approval from the Certificate Manager and as space is available.

How to Apply + Submit Transcripts
  1. Visit Adler University’s online application portal, create an account, and submit your application, fee, Statement of Intent, resume/CV, and and references’ details.
  2. Have official transcripts sent directly from each issuing institution or approved service to the Office of Admissions prior to the application deadline. Do not upload official copies to the portal.

    Official electronic transcripts should be sent to admissions@adler.edu.

    Physical transcripts should be sent to:
    Adler University – Office of Admissions
    17 N. Dearborn Street
    Chicago, IL 60602

Curriculum

This 10-credit hour certificate blends synchronous online learning with in-person weekend residencies at Adler’s campus in Chicago.

ADLER UNIVERSITY COURSE CATALOG (opens in a new tab)

CORE COURSES

All four courses will also have one weekend residency following this schedule for a total of 14 hours each weekend.

A Biopsychosocial Approach to Sexuality Across the Lifespan

This course will explore developmental sexuality across the lifespan including sexual and reproductive anatomy and physiology, human sexual response cycles, and the normative developmental tasks and challenges related to sex and sexuality from a biopsychosocial perspective.

Competency understanding, assessing, and conceptualizing sexuality in a sex-positive way at various life stages including clinical interventions and improved communication skills addressing common challenges will be introduced. Students will explore the impact of gender as it pertains to the development of gender identity, gender expression and gender roles across the lifespan. In addition, students will develop a thorough understanding of unique considerations in working within LGBTQIIA+ populations, including Queer Affirmative clinical approaches and interventions.

This course meets the requirements for the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and is approved for 50 CE credits.

Diversity in Sexuality: Socio-cultural, Medical, Technological, and Ethical Influences

This course will examine the socio-cultural, medical, technological, and ethical factors impacting the current landscape of sex and sexuality. Students will explore the impact of race, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender and ability on sexual values, attitudes, and behaviors, including an understanding of the impact of a range of pervasive social justice issues on sexual functioning and satisfaction. Diversity in sexual expression and lifestyles, as well as the unique considerations for these populations and lifestyles will be reviewed. From a sex-positive, culturally competent place, students will further explore the impact of changing technology used for both pleasure enhancement and the risks of maladaptive use. Students will also gain competency in ethical decision-making and best practice in sex therapy becoming knowledgeable about the history of sex therapy research. Primary to this course is the expectation that students will engage in personal reflections around their own sexuality including learning to complete a thorough sexual history.

This course meets the requirements for the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and is approved for 50 CE credits.

Sex Therapy in Action: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Psychosexual Issues and Dysfunction

This course will cover the practice of sex therapy through the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychosexual disorders in the DSM-V including sexual issues arising from trauma, medical or mental health factors, relational factors, or environmental factors. Students can expect to learn several models and theories from both an individual and relational perspective to effectively diagnose and treat sexual functioning issues, as well as out-of-control sexual behaviors and paraphilic disorders. Students will explore the short and long-term impact of sexual abuse and trauma on sexual functioning including clinical skills in application with survivors through a trauma-informed lens. This course will also cover professional communication, collaboration, and supervision skills in order to offer an integrated treatment model and to gain knowledge in appropriate referral practices to other healthcare providers.

This course meets the requirements for the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and is approved for 50 CE credits.

Sexual Attitudes Reassessment (SAR)

This course is an intensive in-person and experiential workshop designed to allow participants to examine and process their sexual attitudes, values, and beliefs through exposure to various sexual themes. Highly experiential in nature, the SAR involves exposure to films, documentaries, lectures, guest speakers and workshop activities with a focus on processing in both large and small groups. At the end of the course, participants are tasked with writing a paper sharing the impact of the SAR on their sexual attitudes and professional philosophy in sex therapy.

This course meets the requirements for the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and is approved for 14 CE credits.

This course is offered as a 14-hour workshop held over the weekend. It is not available as a stand-alone course; students must also be enrolled in a degree program or another certificate course.

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“Providing education is a bit like therapy. People come in with different levels of information, a different motivation, a different relationship to the materials they will engage with over the course of their education. To facilitate an adult’s education, I need to meet them where they are starting from. This starts with creating a safe space for all folx to express themselves in conversation, an invitation to lean in, and permission to be curious and not-knowing.”

– Karen Caffee, M.Ed.
Adjunct Faculty
Couple + Family Therapy Department
Meet Dr. Caffee

Faculty

Meet the faculty leading Adler’s Certificate in Sex Therapy program in Chicago.

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‘How is your sex life?’: Certificate program addresses need for sex therapy training

The Certificate in Sex Therapy program includes courses that challenge students’ perspectives around people’s identities and sex and, using provocative content, facilitate students’ understanding of their biases, prejudices, and beliefs.

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