# American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists

The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) is a professional organization for sexuality educators, sexuality counselors and sex therapists.

## History and overview

AASECT (/ˈeɪsɛkt/ AY-sekt) was founded by Patricia Schiller in 1967. AASECT publishes the peer-reviewed journals American Journal of Sexuality Education and the Journal of Sex Education and Therapy. They have also published a directory of sex therapists since 1976 and have initiated therapeutic options via phone and online. AASECT is the largest organization that certifies sexual health practitioners. AASECT offers certification of sexual health practitioners in four categories: sexuality educator, sex counselor, sex therapist (CST) and supervisor (CST-S).

## Notable people

* Kristin Hodson, therapist and prominent voice on the topic of sexual health in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints community
* Patricia Schiller, American lawyer, clinical psychologist, sex educator and founder of AASECT
* Denise Stapley, winner of Survivor: Philippines

## Awards
### General Audience Book Award

* (2024) With Sprinkles On Top: Everything Vanilla People and Their Kinky Partners Need to Know to Communicate, Explore, and Connect by Stefani Goerlich
* (2023) Whole Body Sex by Melissa Walker
* (2022) Fat and Queer: An Anthology of Queer and Trans Bodies and Lives Edited by Bruce Owen Grimm, Miguel M. Morales, and Tiff Joshua TJ Ferentini
* (2021) The Consent Guidebook by Erin Tillman

### Sexuality Book Award

* (2023) Refusing Compulsory Sexuality: A Black Asexual Lens on our Sex-Obsessed Culture! by Sherronda J. Brown
* (2022) Trans Sex by Lucie Fielding
* (2021) The Leather Couch: Clinical Practice with Kinky Clients by Stefani Goerlich

### Book Award for Sexuality Professionals

* (2023) Gender Trauma by Alex Iantaffi
* (2022) Queering Your Practice by Julie Tilsen
* (2021) Principles and Practice of Sex Therapy by Kathryn Hall & Irv Binik

### Book Award for Children Under 18 Years Old

* (2023) Vaginas and Periods 101: A Pop-Up Book by Kristen Lilla and Christian Hoeger You Know, Sex by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth
* (2022) Your Whole Body: From Your Head to Your Toes, and Everything in Between! By Lizzie DeYoung Charbenneau and Misha Iver (illustator)
* (2021) The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids About Sex, Gender, Bodies & Families by Rachel Simon
* (2020) Trans+: Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You
* (2019) The Art of Sex Therapy Supervision
* (2018) The Wiley Handbook for Sex Therapy
* (2017) A Clinician's Guide to Systemic Sex Therapy
* (2016) The Teaching Transgender Toolkit: A Facilitator's Guide to Increasing Knowledge, Decreasing Prejudice and Building Skills
* (2016) A Guide to Transgender and Genger Non-Conforming Youth, Their Parents and Everyone Else
* (2015) Secrets of the Sex Masters
* (2015) Mirror of Intimacy: Daily Reflections on Emotional and Erotic Intelligence
* (2014) Expanding the Practice of Sex Therapy: An Integrative Model for Exploring Desire and Intimacy
* (2013) New Directions in Sex Therapy: Innovations and Alternatives, 2nd Edition
* (2013) Teaching Safer Sex, 3rd edition
* (2011) Enduring Desire: Your Guide to Lifelong Intimacy
* (2010) The Orgasm Answer Guide

### Professional Standard of Excellence Award

The winners of the award are:
* (2021) Sara Nasserzadeh
* (2020) Debby Herbenick
* (2019) Laura A. Jacobs
* (2018) Ruby Bouie Johnson
* (2017) Sallie Foley
* (2016) Jose Pando
* (2013) Gina Ogden
* (2012) Michael A. Perelman
* (2011) Sandra Cole
* (2010) Mark Schoen
* (2009) David Schnarch, James W. Maddock, Gorm Wagner, Sandra Leiblum, Ray Rosen, Eli Coleman, Beverly Whipple, William Yarber, Douglas Kirby, William Stayton, Laird Sutton, Carey Bayer

## Controversies

In response to the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, Jewish members of the American issued an open letter to express frustration at the organization’s lack of response, contrasting it with previous statements on other social justice issues. The appointment of an anti-Zionist DEI board member in 2024 further fueled their discontent. Jewish members felt their concerns were dismissed or censored, leading to accusations of antisemitism and a mass resignation of Jewish and Israeli members.