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What Does A Board Certified Sexologist Actually Do To Help Me?

By: Dr. Arlene Krieger, PHD Common questions most often posed to me are, "Do we need to see a relationship counselor? I think we have sexual problems? How do we find the right specialist? A sex therapist, in the world do you do? Just mentioning sex and human sexuality continue to disturb and cause a state of unrest for most, when thrown into the mix of conversations of our modern culture.

I was at a Japanese restaurant yesterday, waiting for my order when a nice looking man waiting outside the front door beckons for me to join him while waiting for our lunch orders. He asked if I live in the neighborhood and what I do for a living. Before I could respond, I notice a woman just a few feet away, observing the conversation. She seemed interested in the charming man and his social tactics (pick-up lines). I open my mouth to respond and my mind is already whirling with a comeback which is usually a bit predictable.

"My title is as a Board Certified Clinical Sexologist, a Marriage and Family Therapist with a PhD in Clinical Sexology..." I pause, watching him watching me a bit closer. The woman at the table nearby, also has looked up from her half-eaten meal and stared a bit. I have their absolute attentions at this point. You do what, he exclaims? I again define my profession, and add, "You know,a bit like Dr. Ruth, America's Favorite Sexologist, a bit younger albeit but the same type work."

"This is an interesting subject," says the woman still sitting and eating at the nearby table. This is the response I receive almost one hundred percent of the time from persons, once they've asked what my profession is. Even upon explanation, there still seems to be that stunned look on their faces. So then, why the shock effect from stating that one works in the field of Human Sexuality? First off, `I'm not sure that people fully understand hat it means to be a sex therapist, sexologist or clinical sexologist. It often can mean different things to different people, since the field of sex therapy is very specific to its requirements and regulations. I will get to that in my next article, of more specifically what we do and when, or if, we might be able to provide a valuable service to you.