Why Are Couples and Sex Therapy Taught Separately?
Couples therapy and sex therapy are taught separately for one reason—they were developed separately. There is no scientific or clinical reason for clinicians not to learn both modalities. In fact, therapists would benefit from knowing both because couples coming to therapy often need help navigating many aspects of their relationship, including communication and sex.
When working with couples, they will undoubtedly face issues related to intimacy, both emotional and physical. Indeed, these two types of intimacy are closely tied. For many, an emotional connection is a necessary ingredient for a sexual connection, and physical intimacy leads to a sense of emotional closeness. Why, then, is there not a more integrative approach to learning how to foster both emotional and sexual intimacy?
The best that most therapists can do is choose to pursue training in both fields so they are as educated and qualified as possible to do this type of work. This puts the burden on therapists to decide which types of training or modalities to pursue, financially invest in multiple programs, and integrate the knowledge on their own.
Perhaps a better approach would be teaching these two specializations side-by-side, allowing students and early career therapists to learn foundational knowledge and skills for treating couples. This approach would also allow therapists to get a sense of their interest in becoming certified in one path over the other, or if they’d like to continue pursuing both specializations.
It’s time for an approach that integrates couples therapy and sex therapy together—the way they are in real life.
In Navigating Intimacy, you’ll find the tools you need to help couples strengthen their emotional connection and resolve recurring conflicts while also helping them talk about and navigate sexual challenges.
Whether you’re a seasoned couples therapist or are just starting on your path to specialization, let this book be your guide to navigating the nuance, complexity, and art of couples and sex therapy.
Isabelle Morley, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist and an EFT (emotionally focused therapy) certified couples therapist. She is a contributing author to Psychology Today in her blog Love Them or Leave Them. She is frequently sought out by journalists for expert commentary on topics such as relationships, couples therapy and reality television, and has been featured in The New Yorker, The Boston Globe, Business Insider, Vox, and Verywell Mind, among others.
In philanthropic work, Dr. Morley is a founding board member of the Unscripted Cast Advocacy Network (UCAN) Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports reality TV cast members in accessing mental health and legal support and advocates for industry change. She has a private practice providing couples therapy and intensives in the Boston area.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Isabelle Morley maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with Tufts University. She receives a speaking honorarium from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Isabelle Morley has no relevant non-financial relationships.
