What is Sexology?
Sexology is the study of human sexuality in
its many aspects. There are presently three fields of professional practice in
sexology: research, sexual education and clinical practice.
Sexology is studied at the university level,
but the modalities within which it is studied vary depending upon the countries.
In some European countries, it is necessary to be a physician doctor first in
order to be a sexologist. In United States, a professional (for ex a
psychiatrist, a psychologist, an anthropologist) who is specialized in the field
of human sexuality can be recognized as a sexologist.
It is important to highlight the fact that
the only university in the word to offer a bachelor’s degree and a master’s
degree in sexology is found in the province of Quebec. This university is l’Université du Québec à Montréal. Thus, to be recognized as a sexologist in this
province, it is necessary to possess a bachelor’s degree in sexology.
With this bachelor’s degree, a
person can work in the field of sexual education, either in creating programs
that are adapted to the needs of people who will receive the formation or in
intervening individually with people served by public or community organisms.
Moreover, a certain number of sexologists educators will also get a master's
degree in sexual education in order to deepen the knowledge acquired in their
undergraduate studies.
However, to be a clinical sexologist, it is
necessary to get a master's degree in sexology counseling. Being specialized in
the field of sexual difficulties, clinical sexologists are the professionals
that are the most qualified to help people with their sexual problems. Most
often, clinical sexologists receive people individually or in couple. In some
cases, group therapies can also be offered for people who encounter a similar
type of difficulty. There exist different sex
therapy approaches and, quite often, each clinical sexologist specializes
himself or herself within one or a few of these approaches.