{"id":12264,"date":"2016-09-17T17:44:00","date_gmt":"2009-09-17T17:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.accessrx.com\/blog\/?p=60"},"modified":"2009-09-17T17:44:00","modified_gmt":"2009-09-17T17:44:00","slug":"sex-whisperers-how-to-select-the-right-sex-therapist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edrugstore.com\/blog\/expert-interviews-and-podcasts\/sex-whisperers-how-to-select-the-right-sex-therapist\/","title":{"rendered":"Sex Whisperers: How to Select the Right Sex Therapist"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Dr. Neil Cannon, certified sex therapist<\/strong>
\nA dear friend called me yesterday and asked for help with a complex sexual concern.\u00a0 I told him I couldn\u2019t see him professionally since we are personal friends; however I stressed the importance of selecting the right counselor. Decisions made in therapy can affect the rest of your life. \u201cWell then,\u201d he said, \u201cHelp me find The Sex Whisperer.\u201d\u00a0Yikes, how\u2019s that for pressure?<\/p>\n

The first thing we discussed was his big picture needs. There are five main categories of mental health professionals. Most can potentially be a good choice as your sex therapist.<\/p>\n

PSYCHIATRISTS<\/strong>: Not many psychiatrists are sex therapists; however, they are medical doctors and can therefore prescribe medication. I encourage my clients who are candidates to be treated with medication to see a psychiatrist rather than their family physician. I have nothing against general practitioners; however, this is a world of specialization. Remember \u2013 the person who allegedly administered that lethal dose of anesthesia to Michael Jackson was a cardiologist. Whoops!<\/p>\n

LICENSED PSYCHOLOGISTS (PhDs)<\/strong>: Psychologists cannot prescribe medicine but are highly educated mental health professionals who can be particularly effective working with people who have complex mental health issues. Many leading sex therapists are psychologists.<\/p>\n

LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKERS (LCSW)<\/strong>:\u00a0 Despite the connotation that often goes with that of a \u201csocial worker,\u201d many brilliant sex therapists come up through the ranks of social work, so don\u2019t let that label scare you.<\/p>\n

LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS (LPC)<\/strong>: As you might surmise from their title, some of the best sex therapists in the business are LPCs.<\/p>\n

LICENSED MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPISTS (LMFT)<\/strong>: All things being equal, an LMFT can be an excellent choice. In most states, marriage and family therapists take at least two additional years to obtain post-graduate certification after they obtain their master\u2019s degree. Perhaps most importantly, the training LMFTs receive focuses on helping people with relationship issues.<\/p>\n

Now for the specific criteria to consider as you drill down….<\/p>\n