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The process of going from your typical 9-5 occupational therapy job to building a sex and intimacy clinic where you work or having your own private practice does not happen over night. But, tiny steps accumulate into big changes! As you embark on the journey you might hit resistance but don’t get discouraged. Just because no one is doing it does not mean you shouldn’t. Identifying a gap in care is exactly why you should fight to fill it. If we can provide the solution, that’s fabulous!

Read on for my top 6 tips for starting a sex and intimacy clinic or private practice!

1. Build your competency

How would you build your competency for any other topic?  You'd seek out training and CEUs.  When I first started there wasn't much out there (like none) so I dedicated my efforts to developing CEUs specifically for OTs based on research, my own experience, and the training I took to become an AASECT certified sex counselor.   You can take what...

Many times we have lamented and noted that patient educational handouts rarely show variety in race, gender expression, bodies, and sexual orientation and that they tend to be white, cisgender and heteronormative.  This becomes even more problematic for sexuality handouts as these occupations involve our bodies, other bodies, and those we love and care most about, as well as, the need to navigate body image and stigma.

But the trailblazer, Jennifer Hutchinson (they/them), had an answer. 

Jennifer combined their occupational therapy skills and mission to promote social justice with the talent of a self-identified Queer artist to develop an inclusive handout and infographic for sexual positioning post-joint replacement. The soon-to-be Dr. Hutchinson is also a graduate of The Institute for Sex, Intimacy, & Occupational Therapy's Program Development Group Coaching Summer 2019 Cohort, so I am particularly tickled pink at the work they are already...