Sex Therapy Certification | CCST Designation | Transcend Training Institute

Transcend Training Institute

The sex therapy certification program that closes the gap.

A 12-module sex therapy certification for registered mental health professionals in Canada. Evidence-based, trauma-informed, and built around what clinical practice actually demands. Graduates are eligible for the Canadian Certified Sex Therapist (CCST™) designation.

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12
Sequentially structured modules across two sections, culminating in a consultation-based competency evaluation
15+
Years of specialized clinical practice in sexual health informing every module in this program
CE
Continuing education short courses available post-certification across 20+ specialized clinical topics

What this program is

The clinical education your
graduate program skipped.

"This is not a continuing education workshop or a certificate of participation."

Most graduate programs in counselling and psychology touch on human sexuality briefly, if at all. This program addresses that gap directly. Across 12 sequentially structured modules, it delivers the theoretical grounding, diagnostic fluency, clinical skill development, and applied clinical consultation that post-graduate education in sex therapy requires.

It is a structured, post-graduate, competency-based certification that requires demonstrated knowledge across ethical foundations, psychosexual development, neurobiological models, diagnostic reasoning, clinical assessment, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based intervention. The depth of content is calibrated to match what the field actually requires of a competent sex therapist.

It is designed for clinicians who already hold a master's degree or above in a counselling-related field. You do not need prior training in sexual health. You need the willingness to engage with difficult material and the professional commitment to do it properly.

1
Diagnostic confidence
Fluency in DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 sexual dysfunction classifications across AFAB and AMAB presentations, with primary/secondary and generalized/situational specifiers applied correctly.
2
Clinical language
The vocabulary, psychoeducational tools, and clinical framing to open and sustain a sexual health conversation in any clinical context, without avoidance or ambiguity.
3
Applied intervention
Evidence-based techniques including sensate focus, CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based approaches, with a clear framework for when each is and is not indicated.
4
Interdisciplinary competency
A working understanding of where psychological treatment intersects with pelvic floor physiotherapy, pharmacological management, and surgical referral, and how to communicate across those boundaries effectively.
5
Ethical and attitudinal foundation
Through the SAR process and foundational ethics training, clinicians examine personal values, biases, and countertransference before engaging clinical content. This is where the program begins because it is where clinical competency actually starts.

Program structure

Three components.
One complete certification.

Section 1
Foundations in ethics and professional identity
Five modules establishing the ethical, attitudinal, and cultural foundation required before clinical content is introduced. Includes the Sexual Attitude Reassessment (SAR) process. Not optional, not abbreviated.
01–05
Section 2
Clinical foundations
Seven modules building the neurobiological, diagnostic, and applied clinical knowledge base required to practise sex therapy competently. Includes interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based intervention.
06–12
Component 3
Consultation and competency evaluation
Cohort-based consultation, applied case analysis across dysfunction categories, and a final competency evaluation. Certification is awarded on the basis of demonstrated knowledge, not completion.
✓
Twelve-module certification curriculum roadmap
Abstract navy and grey divider representing clinical learning pathways

Section 1

Foundations in ethics
and professional identity.

Clinicians who move directly into clinical content without this foundation carry unexamined values, biases, and countertransference into the most sensitive work they will ever do. These five modules exist to prevent that. They are sequenced deliberately and completed before any diagnostic or intervention content is introduced.

01
Ethics, professional identity, and regulatory frameworks
Scope of practice in sexual health; professional boundaries and dual relationships; mandatory reporting obligations; informed consent; confidentiality; documentation standards; Canadian regulatory college requirements; the distinct roles of regulatory bodies versus credentialing organizations. Establishes the professional identity of the sex therapist before clinical content is introduced.
Scope of practiceRegulatory complianceCanadian credentialingDocumentation
Foundation
02
Cultural influences on sexuality
How religion, ethnicity, and cultural context shape sexual beliefs, behaviour, and help-seeking. Implicit bias in clinical assessment and treatment planning. Intersectionality and its effects on diagnostic reasoning. Indigenous perspectives on sexuality. Culturally responsive clinical communication across diverse populations.
IntersectionalityImplicit biasCultural humilityIndigenous perspectives
Foundation
03
GSERD: Gender, sexuality, eroticism, and relational diversity
Gender identity and expression across the full spectrum; sexual orientation; erotic diversity; relational structures including consensual non-monogamy; minority stress theory; affirmative clinical practice; inclusive terminology. GSERD competency is integrated throughout the program rather than siloed. This module provides the clinical framework; application continues across all subsequent content.
Gender identitySexual orientationMinority stressAffirmative practiceRelational diversity
Foundation
04
Trauma-informed sexual health practice
ACE framework; complex and sexual trauma; somatic awareness and nervous system regulation; the window of tolerance in clinical practice; creating safety in sexual health encounters; recognizing trauma presentations within sexual dysfunction; avoiding re-traumatization. This module is a prerequisite for all clinical content in Section 2 and is treated as such within the program sequence.
ACE frameworkComplex traumaSomatic awarenessNervous system regulation
Prerequisite
05
Sexual Attitude Reassessment (SAR)
A structured experiential process for examining personal values, assumptions, and countertransference in relation to human sexuality. Exposure to diverse sexual expression across populations. Facilitated reflective practice. The SAR is a recognized component of sex therapy training internationally, and it is included here because self-awareness is a clinical skill, not a personal preference.
Values clarificationCountertransferenceReflective practiceClinical self-awareness
Experiential
Abstract navy and grey divider representing clinical learning pathways

Section 2

Clinical foundations.

Seven modules that build the knowledge base, diagnostic fluency, and applied clinical skill required to practise sex therapy at a competent level. Content is sequenced to mirror clinical reasoning: from how sexuality develops, to how the sexual body works, to how we classify and assess dysfunction, to how we treat it. Every module is grounded in current peer-reviewed literature and framed around what clinicians actually encounter in session.

06
Sexual development, socialization, and lifespan sexuality
Psychosexual development across the lifespan; puberty and hormonal changes; sexual scripting theory; family-of-origin messaging; religious and cultural influences on sexual meaning-making; adolescent identity development; shame development and its clinical relevance; lifespan transitions and their effects on sexual function and identity.
Psychosexual developmentSexual scriptingLifespan sexualityShame
Clinical
07
Sexual anatomy, physiology, and neurobiology
AFAB and AMAB sexual anatomy in clinical detail; pelvic floor anatomy; neurobiological models of sexual response; hormonal regulation and endocrinology; neurotransmitter function; orgasm physiology; the critical clinical distinction between arousal and desire; impact of health conditions, medications, and aging on sexual function.
AFAB/AMAB anatomyEndocrinologyNeurobiologyArousal vs. desire
Clinical
08
Theories of sexual response and contemporary sexual science
Masters and Johnson (1966) linear model; Kaplan (1979) triphasic model; Basson (2000) circular model; the dual control model of excitation and inhibition (Bancroft & Janssen, 2000); responsive versus spontaneous desire; arousal non-concordance; incentive motivation theory. Theoretical models are taught critically, including their sample biases and heteronormative assumptions.
Masters & JohnsonBasson modelDual control modelCritical appraisal
Clinical
09
Sexual dysfunctions: diagnosis and clinical foundations
DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 classifications in full; AFAB dysfunctions including FSIAD, FOD, and GPPPD; AMAB dysfunctions including ED, DE, PE, and male hypoactive desire disorder; substance and medication-induced sexual dysfunction; primary versus secondary presentations; generalized versus situational specifiers; distress criteria and their clinical significance.
DSM-5-TRICD-11FSIAD / FOD / GPPPDED / PE / DE
Clinical
10
Sexual assessment and case formulation
Biopsychosocial case conceptualization; sexual history taking in clinical practice; validated assessment instruments including the FSFI, IIEF, and SFQ; screening for trauma, abuse, and intimate partner violence; medication and medical history review; partner and relational context; structuring an initial sexual health session.
Sexual history takingBiopsychosocial modelValidated measuresCase formulation
Clinical
11
Medical and interdisciplinary foundations
Interdisciplinary referral pathways; pelvic floor physiotherapy, what it offers and when to refer; pharmacological treatments including PDE5 inhibitors, hormonal therapy, SSRIs, and topical agents; iatrogenic sexual dysfunction; surgical interventions; menopause and perinatal sexual health medicine; communicating across disciplines; collaborative documentation.
Pelvic floor physioPharmacologyIatrogenic dysfunctionInterdisciplinary referral
Clinical
12
Evidence-based sex therapy interventions
Sensate focus, theory and clinical application; cognitive-behavioural therapy for sexual dysfunction; acceptance and commitment therapy; mindfulness-based interventions; psychoeducation frameworks; directed masturbation; couples modalities and systemic approaches; motivational interviewing in sexual health; relapse prevention planning. Each modality is taught with its evidence base, clinical indications, and contraindications.
Sensate focusCBT / ACTMindfulnessCouples modalities
Applied
Transcend Training Institute curriculum materials including reader, video lesson, worksheet, and clinical tools

Component 3

Consultation-based. Evaluated.
Certified.

Completion of 12 modules does not constitute certification. Certification is earned through demonstrated clinical knowledge, applied diagnostic reasoning, and structured case review under consultation. That process happens here.

Consultation
Cohort-based clinical consultation
Group consultation on clinical cases, ethical dilemmas, differential diagnosis, and treatment planning. Participants bring cases from their own practice and work through them collectively under instructor facilitation. This is where theoretical knowledge meets clinical reality.
Case studies
Applied clinical scenarios
Written and discussed case scenarios spanning all dysfunction categories and populations covered in the curriculum. Differential diagnosis, biopsychosocial conceptualization, and treatment planning are evaluated, not assumed.
Final evaluation
Competency assessment
A final evaluation across the core competency domains of the program. Knowledge, clinical reasoning, and applied judgment. Clinicians who complete all three components are eligible for the Canadian Certified Sex Therapist (CCST™) designation.

How certification works

Completion of the modules
is the beginning, not
the credential.

This program awards certification on the basis of demonstrated clinical knowledge and applied reasoning, evaluated through consultation and a structured competency assessment. The four steps below are sequential and all required.

1
Modules 1–12
Complete the structured online curriculum
Twelve sequentially structured modules across two sections. Each module includes reading, video, applied activities, and a knowledge check with a required passing score.
2
Component 3 · Consultation
Participate in cohort-based consultation
Group consultation on real clinical cases, ethical dilemmas, differential diagnosis, and treatment planning. Facilitated by program instructors. Not optional.
3
Component 3 · Evaluation
Demonstrate applied clinical competency
Applied case studies and a final competency assessment across the core domains of the program. Knowledge, diagnostic reasoning, and clinical judgment are all evaluated.
4
Credential awarded
Canadian Certified Sex Therapist (CCST™)
The designation is awarded upon successful completion of all three prior components. It reflects demonstrated competency, not hours logged on a learning platform.
✓

This is not a certificate of completion. Many continuing education programs award credentials on the basis of participation. This program does not. The credential reflects demonstrated clinical competency across all twelve modules, cohort consultation, and a structured evaluation. The distinction matters.

The credential

CCST™ Canadian Certified Sex Therapist

The designation this
program leads to.

Clinicians who complete the twelve modules, the cohort consultation, and the final competency evaluation are eligible for the Canadian Certified Sex Therapist (CCST™) designation. It is a post-nominal credential that signals demonstrated clinical competency in the assessment and treatment of sexual health concerns.

Canada has no national credentialing body for sex therapists, and sex therapy is a practice area rather than a regulated profession. The Canadian College of Sex Therapy is being established as an independent, non-profit professional organization to provide that national standard.

Transcend Training Institute Inc. has applied for the CCST™ certification mark and issues the credential in the interim. The mark will be transferred to the College once the College is formally established, at which point the College assumes responsibility for the designation, its registry, and its continuing education standards.

Now
Issued by Transcend Training Institute

Transcend Training Institute Inc. is authorized to issue the CCST™ credential to clinicians who complete the full certification program and its consultation requirements. The designation is held and administered by the Institute until the College is established.

Transition
Transferred to the College

Once the Canadian College of Sex Therapy is formally established as a non-profit professional organization, ownership of the CCST™ mark transfers to it. The College then governs the designation, maintains the public registry, and sets continuing education requirements.

Afterward
Grandfathered recognition

Clinicians who earn the CCST™ through the Institute may apply to have the designation recognized by the College and be grandfathered in. Your training will be accepted as meeting the College's competency standards. You will not be required to repeat any part of the certification process.

What grandfathering requires, and what happens if you do not apply

Grandfathered members will be required to pay the College's annual membership fee and to maintain the continuing education requirements the College establishes. This is consistent with how professional colleges operate across other health disciplines in Canada, and the CE short course library below is designed to meet those requirements.

Clinicians who choose not to apply for College membership, or who do not maintain it, will no longer be authorized to use the CCST™ designation once the College assumes ownership of the mark. A certification mark belongs to the credentialing body rather than to the individual in perpetuity, and use of the post-nominal requires a current credential in good standing.

CCST™ is a certification mark applied for by Transcend Training Institute Inc., pending registration with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. The Canadian College of Sex Therapy is in development and is not yet an incorporated body. The terms of the transfer, membership, and continuing education requirements will be confirmed in writing to all certified clinicians before any transition takes effect.

Continuing education

After certification,
keep going.

The CE short course library allows certified clinicians to deepen competency in specialized areas at their own pace. Courses are available individually and are designed to count toward professional development requirements. New topics are added on an ongoing basis.

This program is designed in alignment with the proposed competency standards of the Canadian College of Sex Therapy, currently in development as a national credentialing body for sex therapists in Canada.

Dysfunction and clinical presentations
  • Premature and delayed ejaculation
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Sexual pain
  • Low desire
  • Orgasmic disorders
  • AFAB-specific genital conditions
  • Iatrogenic dysfunction
Relational and contextual
  • Couples and intimacy
  • Infidelity
  • Consensual non-monogamy and kink
  • Heteroromantic identity and bisexuality
  • Advanced consent frameworks
Trauma and special populations
  • Trauma and sexual abuse
  • Perinatal and postpartum sexuality
  • Sexuality across the lifespan
  • Disability and sexuality
  • Culturally specific sexual harm
Health, medical, and emerging topics
  • STIs in clinical practice
  • Reproductive health
  • Compulsive sexual behaviour
  • Technology, sex, and digisexuality
  • Telehealth ethics in sex therapy
  • Pleasure enhancement and adjunct tools

Who this is for

This program has prerequisites.

This is post-graduate clinical training. It presupposes foundational knowledge in psychopathology, counselling theory, ethics, and professional practice. It is built for registered clinicians who are already working with clients and want to extend their competency into sexual health.

This program is for you if…
  • You hold or are completing a minimum of a master's degree in a field that qualifies you for registration as a regulated mental health professional
  • You are a registered psychologist, social worker, counsellor, or marriage and family therapist
  • You are currently seeing clients and want to integrate sexual health competency into your existing practice
  • You want structured, sequenced, competency-based training rather than a fragmented collection of CE workshops
  • You are a psychiatrist or physician seeking rigorous psychological framing for sexual health presentations
  • You are a registered graduate student or practicum student working toward registration as a regulated health professional
This program is not for you if…
  • You do not hold or are not actively completing a graduate-level degree in a counselling-related field
  • You are looking for personal development or self-help content rather than clinical training
  • You are not registered or working toward registration as a regulated health professional
  • You are seeking a certificate of attendance or completion rather than a competency-based credential

Ready to build real
clinical competency?

Join the waitlist for launch notification, founding member pricing, and early access to the clinical resource library. The first cohort is small by design. Waitlist members receive priority access and founding member rates.

Enrollment is limited. Cohort size is deliberately restricted to support meaningful consultation and peer review.

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