Introduction to core competencies for BESTCO certified sex therapists

Abstract

Since 2000 or so, the core competencies movement in psychotherapy has led to the identification of requirements for therapy and therapists across theoretical orientations and clinical domains. One conspicuous omission has been core competencies for the practice of sex therapy. The Board of Examiners in Sex Therapy and Counselling of Ontario (BESTCO), a training and certifying body first established in 1975, struck a committee in 2015 to deal with this gap. In this article, we review the history and mission of BESTCO, including the requirement of prior competence in relationship therapy; the background that led to the expansion of the organization; and the needs of supervisors for a document that would guide us and our growing cadre of apprentices/trainees in professional development. The growth in need for clinical services and changes in the regulation of psychotherapy in the province of Ontario, Canada in recent years converged. The expansion of the field without the underlying infrastructure to assist us in supervision created the need for greater clarity and delineation as to what exactly constitute the core competencies in sex therapy. The committee endeavored to create a cross-theoretical tool for assessment and clinical practice with implications for training, supervision and certification. We hope it will advance the field.