Mapping Sex Therapy Across the United States: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to determine what someone who was interested in obtaining a provider for sex therapy would find if they simply searched for sex therapy using the Google search engine. The goal was to ascertain how someone might access providers in each state, what types of information someone seeking treatment for sexuality issues might find on provider websites, who is providing the services, what types of services are being provided, and whose services might appeal to given the content of the website. Once all of the data was compiled, the resulting data would include a listing of sex therapist providers in all 50 states. The researchers engaged in an online search for all 50 states and a target of a maximum of 10 providers were compiled from each state, however 28 states did not have the minimum of 10 providers. There were 1,007 clinicians identified in total. Of the identified clinicians, there were an almost equal number of social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed counselors. Of the sites identified, there were 264 private practices, 100 group practices, 6 clinics, 1 entirely telehealth practice, 2 training institutes, and 1 other. Only providers who had websites were included in the study. The study has implications for both educators and providers on several levels, including access to sex therapy, professional competence and expertise in sexually related issues, questions related to sexual addiction, utilization of websites and technology, expansion of sex therapy to be more inclusive of sexual minorities and kink communities.