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How to Start your Career in Sex & LGBTQIA+ Therapy

  • Sexual Health and Intimacy Psychological Services 169-171 Victoria Parade Fitzroy, VIC, 3065 Australia (map)

Think you might like to pursue a career in Sex Therapy AND LGBTQIA+ Therapy? Want to learn more about what it’s like to work in these fields?

Dr Sarah Ashton (Psychologist, Director & Founder of SHIPS), Dr Chris Cheers and Javiera Dastres are delighted to invite you to SHIPS' most popular annual event.

Think you might like to pursue a career in Sex Therapy and LGBTQIA+ Therapy? Want to learn more about what it is really like to work in these fields? Or just starting out and not sure what pathway to take? Then our 'How to start your career in Sex & LGBTQIA+ Therapy' event is for you!

The evening will feature a panel discussion with SHIPS psychologists Dr Chris Cheers, Dr Sarah Ashton and Javiera Dastres who will be able to answer your questions and share advice based on a wealth of individual and combined experience.

General topics to be covered by the panel:

  • Different education & experience pathway options

  • What skills SHIPS looks for when hiring

  • The complexities of working in the sexual health space (personal & professional)

  • What a day in the life of a sexual health psychologist looks like

We will provide a discount code for our SHIPS Training Community courses for those in attendance - view our course range here.

Spaces are limited so don't miss out!

About the panellists

Dr Sarah Ashton is the Founder and Director of SHIPS, and its partner company, Sexual Health and Intimacy Psychological Training, for which she is Lead Training Author. Sarah is a highly experienced registered psychologist (AHPRA) and board approved supervisor (AHPRA) as well as member of the Society of Australian Sexologists. Sarah is the Coordinator of the MHPN Sexual and Mental Health Primary Health Network. She is a lecturer and academic at RMIT and Deakin University and has recently co-authored Deakin's first Sex and Sexuality Unit.

Dr Chris Cheers is a registered psychologist, educator and author (The New Rulebook: notes from a psychologist to help redefine the way you live). He is a member of the Australian Professional Association for Transgender Health (AusPATH) and is passionate about providing respectful and affirming non-judgemental services to all members of the trans and gender-diverse community. By applying his lived experiences as a queerman and worker in the Arts, Chris is also proud to offer specialised care to members of the LGBTIQA+ and Arts communities.

Javiera Dastres is SHIPS’ Psychologist Manager, and is a registered psychologist (AHPRA) and board approved supervisor (AHPRA). Javiera has experience providing psychological services and supervision in correctional, community and private practice settings, and she has completed a Master of Science in Medicine (Sexual and Reproductive Health) in Psychosexual Therapy. Javiera has extensive experience working with members of LGBTQIA+ communities, as well as people in non-monogamous relationships. Her experience also includes developing a pilot program for pre-teens and adolescents on sexual education, consent and healthy relationships.

Earlier Event: June 26
Neurodivergence & Sexuality Webinar