Sexuality and Sexual Health is an integral part of being human and relating with others. A healthy sex life is the right of all persons irrespective of their age, gender or state of health.
All professionals dealing with people of any age, sex, health status or gender preference will at some time in their professional experience find themselves dealing with issues of sexuality in their work situation.
Do you plan to be a sex therapist or counselor?
Meeting the sexual health needs of clients is unique in that it requires that you:
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Be aware of personal and professional values and the likely impact on service provision. |
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Have a holistic as well as multidisciplinary knowledge base of sexuality and sexual health. |
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Have a good grasp of communication skills in sexual issues, sexual history taking and counseling techniques. |
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Be able to select the level of care appropriate for yourself, your client and the particular environment of interaction, constantly cognisant of the fact that you could refer clients for higher levels of care. |
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Do you plan to be a sex educator?
The emotive and sensitive nature of educating others (especially children) in sex and sexual health require that you:
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Be sensitized to your own values and attitudes and become aware of the range of values in sex present in the community you plan to work in. |
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Have a holistic as well as multidisciplinary knowledge base of sexuality and sexual health. |
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Have a knowledge of educational principles as they refer to sex and sexual health education as well as |
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Have a good grasp of communication skills in sexual issues and the ability to detect and refer issues for follow up and management |
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Do you plan to be a sex researcher?
Researching Sex, Sexuality and Sexual Health is a unique and exciting challenge. You will often be working in emotive and sensitive areas and have to discuss these issues with research participants.
You will also have to make public presentations on these topics at conferences and meetings. You will need to:
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Be sensitized to your own values and attitudes and become aware of the range of values in sex present in the research community you plan to work in. |
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Have a holistic as well as multidisciplinary knowledge base of sexuality and sexual health. |
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Have a good grasp of communication skills in sexual issues and the ability to detect and refer issues for follow up and management |
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Have a thorough knowledge of research methodology as it applies to sex research and the particular ethical isues to the particular situation you wish to work in. |
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