How to become a sexologist

How to Become a Sexologist in Australia

I get this question all the time: how do I become a sexologist? Now, this is only relevant for people in Australia.

First things first, the title sexologist is actually unregulated. That means technically anyone can call themselves a sexologist. The important thing, though is to get a membership with the Society of Australian Sexologists. You can only get a membership if you meet certain criteria. For example, because I completed the Graduate Diploma of Sexology at Curtin University, I am a member of the society.

Different Types of Sexologists

There are lots of different titles in this space. Some of them are:

• Clinical sexologists

• Psychosexual therapists

• Sex therapists

• Sex educators

• Sex coaches

• Somatic sexologists

• Relationship therapists

• Relationship or intimacy coaches

A clinical sexologist is generally someone who has done postgraduate studies in sexology. A sex therapist usually has counselling, psychology, or mental health social work training alongside sexual health or sexology training. A psychosexual therapist may have completed the Masters of psychosexual therapy at Sydney University OR have the same experience as a sex therapist but applied for accreditation with SAS OR some people just call themselves that but do not actually meet the requirements. Once again, it's unregulated. A sex educator has training in both education and sexual health. A sex coach may have done a sex coaching course or just be passionate about sex. Somatic sexology is the meeting of somatics, which focuses on awareness through the body, with sexology. Somatic sexologists incorporate body work and sexology. No, that doesn’t mean they necessarily touching your body.

A side note from my experience: if you are a member of the Society of Australian Sexologists and later train in somatic sexology and start practising it, you may no longer be eligible for membership. This was the case last year. One popular place to study somatic sexology is the Institute of Somatic Sexology.

Relationship therapy focuses more on relationships, but often includes sex, because romantic relationships usually involve sex. Some relationship therapists will refer their clients to a sexologist if they feel it necessary.

Courses to Become a Clinical Sexologist

To become a clinical sexologist like me, there are two postgraduate courses available in Australia:

1. Postgraduate Sexology at Curtin University, Perth

2. Postgraduate Psychosexual Therapy at the University of Sydney, or their postgraduate courses in sexual health.

   
   

The first major difference is that the University of Sydney now only accepts those who have completed a Master's in Counselling or Psychology if they want to pursue the psychotherapy pathway to become a sex therapist. At Curtin University, you can come from almost any bachelor’s degree background. I had a Bachelor of Psychology, but there were also occupational therapists, nurses, finance graduates, and counsellors.

If I could do it again, I would do a Bachelor of Social Work. There are lots of community jobs for social workers that cross over with sexology, LGBTIQA+ communities, and sexual assault support. Social work also gives you counselling skills that are useful in sexology. You can even do a mental health accreditation, which allows subsidised sessions through Medicare, something standard sexologists or counsellors currently cannot access.

Getting Work and Experience

After finishing sexology, finding work can feel difficult. This is partly why I started a podcast: I could start my own business right away, make connections, and learn as much as possible. If you are young entering the field, it can feel like people don’t take you seriously (clients, not employers). They assume you need to be older and have lived experience to be a good sex therapist. They think, "What could you possibly know about sex and relationships?" It’s frustrating, especially when clients often trust, let's say, someone, like a doctor, straight away, but they have only generally received a day or two in sexual health training.

A lot of sexologists who want to practice sex therapy or clinical sexology often have to start their own businesses, as there are currently limited permanent sex therapy roles. Another option is to work for a general counselling or psychology company and offer this as your specialty.

I can only speak from my experience with Curtin University. It gave me the qualification I needed, but honestly, it felt outdated and didn’t go deep enough into topics. Many units felt repetitive and surface-level. It’s therefore really important to read widely, find a good supervisor, listen to podcasts from qualified people, attend personal development workshops, and keep learning. The course is a good start, but it is not enough. For example, I did a lot of training with Sexual Health and Intimacy Psychological Services Training to further develop in topics like sexual assault, narcissism and sex, non-monogamy, and more.

Networking and Volunteering

To get a head start, volunteer, attend as many events as possible, and connect with people in the field. This is a niche career, so networking is crucial. If you’re not in a city like Perth, Melbourne, or Sydney, it will be harder to find work. I’m in Geelong, and jobs for sexologists are RARE here. If you want to be an educator, a teaching degree or a TAFE vocational training and assessment course will help. If you want to be a therapist, get qualifications in psychology, counselling, psychotherapy, or social work.

Final Thoughts

Being a sexologist is an amazing and rewarding career, but it can be hard, isolating, and difficult to navigate. Many people in your personal life may not understand your work or training. Unlike becoming a doctor, there isn’t a clear, linear path.

If you want personalised advice or coaching about becoming a sexologist, you can reach out to me via email at admin@emilyduncansexology.com. I also offer one-on-one coaching sessions to guide you through your journey, help you navigate the training, and give practical tips on building your career in sexology.