I remember sitting in my Human Sexuality class at NYU as an undergrad and wondering how I might not be cut out for a career in field of sexuality. I grew up in an environment of sexual shaming, as unfortunately most of us do, and I didn’t think I could have any chance of dipping my toes into this industry. I was a little desperate, a little embarrassed, and a little more anxious. Then I met the Sexual Health Alliance and everything changed! From that day to now as I start my own Sex counselor certification journey, I can say with complete confidence that I am much more optimistic, much more excited, and much more curious to learn, make mistakes, and grow in this area.
WHY SEXUAL HEALTH ALLIANCE (SHA) for Sex Counselor Certification?
Having previously worked with the Sexual Health Alliance as an intern content writer, going in I knew I was placing huge trust in a community that is progressive and passionate about the work they do. My positive experience writing for SHA Nymphomedia’s blog gave me the initial confidence to consider putting a sexuality counselor in my vision for 2025. The respectful and engaging supervision and feedback I received during my internship was a true indicator of the kind of experience I hoped to find with this program.
I once remember feeling very concerned about the political outlook for one of my blog pieces. At the time, I felt unable to put politics into a sexual health article. To this, my editor replied, “To write about sex is to write about politics. Sex is politicized and the moment you talk about it, you talk about politics. You can’t escape it. You’ve done it up until now, and you might as well keep doing it.” This conversation opened up a whole new space for me to perceive sexuality as a career. It’s still one of the most radically important ideas I’ve ever come across and SHA is where it happened! So initially, as hard as it was for me to join the program, it immediately felt like one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
In addition to the incredible mentors that SHA offers, the inclusive and flexible nature of the courses also allows me to take on the workload as a full-time graduate student. I appreciate how well thought out the certification programs are in terms of understanding that students may come from different worlds with jobs already in their pockets. Not having a specific deadline to work on during the course is another desirable addition to this sex package.
WHAT DO I HOPE TO GAIN FROM THE SEX COUNSELOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM?
With the sex counselor certification programI hope not only to have a strong handle on different theories and topics in the field of sexuality, but also to get experiential learning through supervising and writing content. I plan to take advantage of the countless opportunities to network with experts like Dr. David Leigh, Midoriand Dr. Justin Lemillerand learn holistic approaches to sexuality counseling. I am inspired to help individuals and couples with their sexual discomfort which includes both physical and mental.
Given it unstable political climate As we live in today, it is also increasingly important to stay more informed about how human sexuality is under attack and what we can do to hold others accountable. As conservative capitalist ventures have taken over the world, a certification program like this—unconventional and radical—is an important step toward the larger goals of physical and sexual autonomy. I have learned so far that working in this field requires a modern educational experience that takes into account all aspects of the 21st century. Therefore, SHA’s certification program offers this and much more along with it sexually positive deal with different topics!
HOW WILL THE Sex Counselor Certification MODULES HELP MY OVERALL LEARNING?
Looking through Unit 1: Not So Basic Basics on my student portal, I was immediately hooked on the various syllabus topics including history of sexualityresearch and development. I also appreciate how each unit section has a “recap” section and a “lesson summary” section at the end. It’s a great way to stay familiar with the information I’ll be analyzing at my own pace. The sections also include a wide range of useful resources and here are some of my favourites:
The SHA bookstore is an up-to-date database of the newest, best sellers and books on special sale. It makes it very easy to choose books that are directly related to the topic of the unit I will be focusing on. For example, since the lesson starts with the history of sex, I found a great book called “Been there, Done that: A Rousing History of Sex” to go with it.
Each unit also consists of engaging tasks with questions such as “What is sex?” These subject-appropriate tasks will not only allow me to test my knowledge creatively, but also give me the space to reflect on my steady pace of learning.
Part of the fun is also getting discounted tickets for the intellectual Elective weekends and Online SAR events. These educational conferences are excellent learning experiences where students can discuss and reflect on sexuality issues with their instructors and peers. It further provides a sense of community and belonging!
Wondering how to start your journey? Depart SHA Certification Quiz to learn more about the different certification options available to you as a prospective student and which one is right for you. One size does not fit all, so take your pick and create your own certification program by selecting the weekend events you want to attend with SHA!
Send your questions and concerns to shacertifications@gmail.com.
Written by Shreya Tomar, SHA Sex Counselor Student Certification
