STP: ICP - Sex Therapy Program

EXPLORE OUR
SEX THERAPY
PROGRAM
(STP)

Sexuality is a central aspect of human life and yet it is too often mired in shame, deflection and avoidance. Discussions of sex are often left out of the therapeutic frame in both individual and couples therapy and, consequently, therapists are often ill-equipped to address their patients’ sexual concerns. In order to give therapists the skills and clinical experience to confidently bring sexuality into their therapeutic alliances, ICP’s Sex Therapy Program (STP) offers a two-year certificate program in sex therapy.

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Sex Therapy Training:
Certificate in Sex Therapy

STP therapists use a biopsychosocial approach to explore sexual issues, integrating psychodynamic, relational/systems, and cognitive-behavioral perspectives. Incorporating the latest science-based research, STP therapists are trained to work with both individuals and couples on common sexual challenges such as:

Lack of sexual interest, low desire, sexual incompatibility
Early ejaculation, erectile unpredictability, delayed ejaculation
Painful sex, inhibited arousal, orgasm issues
Problematic sexual urges, thoughts and behaviors
Impulsive/compulsive use of porn
Sex after infidelity
Opening up a relationship, navigating ethical non-monogamy and polyamory
Integrating kink, bdsm, eroticized power play, and other forms of sexual adventure into one’s sex life
Understanding and Managing fetishes
Special issues related to LGBTQ+ sexualities
Sex therapy with trans and gender non-conforming patients
Working on relationship issues within which sexual problems are often embedded

Our certificate in sex therapy integrates didactic and clinical training and covers a wide range of topics that span assessment, case formulation and treatment planning. ICP's Sex Therapy Program is uniquely comprehensive in that it also provides sex therapy cases (individuals and couples) from the Institute's sliding-scale clinic, as well as, weekly group supervision of those cases.

Close attention is paid to the development and deepening of the therapeutic alliance with a particular focus on its intersectional dimensions. The processing of clinical material by patients happens both in the treatment room and via homework assignments completed in between sessions.

Our program is one of the only sex therapy programs in New York State that includes AASECT training CEs and also provides client hours that can directly count toward the AASECT clinical hours requirement (as long as those hours are being individually supervised by an AASECT certified Supervisor).

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Academic Calendar

STP’s sex therapy program meets on Fridays with didactic courses taking place between the hours of 9:30am to 4:30pm. Our didactic curriculum also includes our ‘Speaker Series’ on Wednesdays or Thursdays 7:00PM-9:00PM or on Saturdays, 10:00AM-12:30PM and our annual ‘Summer Sexuality Series,’ which meets on Wednesdays, 1:45PM-3:15PM every June.

All candidates are required to carry three sex therapy cases from ICP’s clinic and to have available hours to see patients that include daytime and evening hours. Candidates are expected to continue with patients through the summer on a limited basis when their supervision group is not meeting. Upon completion of the certificate program, graduates are invited to participate in an ongoing supervised STP Staff Therapy Group.

Certificate Eligibility/Requirements

While anyone is welcome to take our didactic offerings, to be eligible for our certificate program, you must have a graduate degree in a licensable mental health field.

Tuition and Expenses/Fees

Check back for 2024/25 Tuition and Fees
Tuition is subject to change annually.
Please note that expenses for training directly related to one’s profession may be considered a tax-deductible expense.

Graduation Requirements

Attendance:
- Group supervision: No more than 2 absences per semester are permitted. More than two absences will result in loss of credit towards completion of the clinical certificate program.
- Didactic courses: Attendance policy for any multi-day courses will be stated in the syllabus.
Case Requirements:
- Candidates are expected to maintain a minimum of three ICP cases to complete the program.
- Staff therapists must continue with ICP clients until clinically appropriate to terminate.
- Staff therapists are expected to maintain a minimum of one ICP case.
- If you are a candidate in your second year and you are not planning to stay on as a staff therapists, please discuss with your supervisor to determine a cut-off date for receiving new cases.
Summer Recess:
- All candidates and staff therapists are expected to continue seeing ICP clients over the summer, with the exception of vacations for client/therapist.
- If you are unlicensed (LMSW or on a limited permit), supervision will be provided over the summer.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

STP offers a yearly Joycelyn Elders Honorary Scholarship to encourage and nurture diversity within our Sex Therapy Program as well as the field of sex therapy. It provides full tuition coverage to complete the certificate program.

Curriculum

General Notes about STP’s Curriculum:

Most coursework meets on Fridays between 9:30AM-4:30PM
Annual Summer Sexuality Series meets on Wednesdays, 1:45PM-3:15PM every June
Speaker Series meets on Wednesdays or Thursdays 7:00PM-9:00PM or on Saturdays, 10:00AM-12:30PM
All course content includes an intersectional lens

1st Year Requirements

Fall 2023:

Principles & Practices of Sex Therapy (weekly for 10 weeks);
Fridays 9:30AM-11:30AM
Group Supervision (weekly for 15 weeks);
Fridays 12:00PM-2:00PM
Speaker Series Workshops (Topics TBA)
Countertransference & Sexuality (biweekly for 4 weeks);
Fridays 3:00PM-4:30PM

Spring 2024:

Group Supervision (weekly for 15 weeks);
Fridays 12:00PM-2:00PM
Speaker Series Workshops (Topics TBA)
Summer Sexuality Series (4 Wednesdays in June 1:45PM-3:15PM)

2nd Year Requirements

Fall 2024:

Group Supervision (weekly for 15 weeks);
Fridays 12:00PM-2:00PM
Speaker Series Workshops (Topics TBA)
Principles and Practices of Sex Therapy, Part III (10 weeks);
(Time TBA)
Special Topics (4 weeks, meets before or after group supervision)

Spring 2025:

Group Supervision (weekly for 15 weeks);
Fridays 12:00PM-2:00PM
Speaker Series Workshops (Topics TBA)
Principles and Practices of Sex Therapy, Part IV (10 weeks);
(Time TBA)
Summer Sexuality Series (4 Wednesdays in June 1:45PM-3:15PM)
Intersectionality & Sex Therapy (biweekly for 9 weeks);
Fridays 3:00PM-4:30PM

STP’s sex therapy program meets on Fridays with didactic courses taking place between the hours of 9:30am to 4:30pm. Our didactic curriculum also includes our ‘Speaker Series’ on Wednesdays or Thursdays 7:00PM-9:00PM or on Saturdays, 10:00AM-12:30PM and our annual ‘Summer Sexuality Series,’ which meets on Wednesdays, 1:45PM-3:15PM every June.

All candidates are required to carry three sex therapy cases from ICP’s clinic and to have available hours to see patients that include daytime and evening hours. Candidates are expected to continue with patients through the summer on a limited basis when their supervision group is not meeting. Upon completion of the certificate program, graduates are invited to participate in an ongoing supervised STP Staff Therapy Group.

DIDACTIC COURSES include (subject to change):

Principles and Practices of Sex Therapy
Integration of Couples & Sex Therapy
Culture & Sexuality
Clinical Applications in Sex Therapy with Queer Clients
Clinical Applications in Sex Therapy Across the Lifespan
Clinical Applications in Sex Therapy Mind & Body
Sex and Counter-transference
Summer Sex Series with Suzanne Iasenza (which meets for four weeks in June on Wednesday afternoons for ninety minutes)

SPEAKERS SERIES:

In addition to didactic courses, STP hosts a yearly Speakers Series for the broader community with three to four workshops per year. These workshops are usually 2-3 hours in length and candidates are required to attend all workshops. Workshops are usually scheduled on Wednesday or Thursday evenings 7-9pm, or on Saturday mornings.

Most of STP’s didactic sex therapy courses offer AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists) CE credits that can be used toward AASECT certification or renewal of AASECT certification, and the client hours can count toward your AASECT clinical hours requirement as long as the candidate is also seeing an AASECT Certified Supervisor or Supervisor-in-Training and has submitted a contract to AASECT. Participation in STP group supervision does NOT meet the supervision requirements for AASECT certification.

Please note that ICP’s sex therapy program is currently offered using Zoom in its entirety, but is also subject to state mandates regarding telehealth and shifts in policy from insurance companies. Candidates must be licensed in NYS, and/or able to see patients in-person and remotely.

Application Process

To apply to our certificate program, we require the following:

A graduate degree in a licensable mental health field
A CV
Download complete the questionnaire
A personal statement of interest
Two letters of recommendation
A completed application with a $75 application fee (pay it online here)

Upon submission of all application materials potential candidates will be interviewed by one of our faculty. Admission decisions are made each Spring for the following Fall.

Download an Application

Pay Application Fee

Application Deadline:
Rolling, with new applications accepted for the 2024-2025 academic year in April 2024.

2024-2025 Information Sessions
Details will be announced in early 2024.

Ready to apply?
Access the application and pay the application fee using the buttons above.

For more information about our program, the application process, or scholarships/financial aid: Contact our Program Manager at stp@icpnyc.org.