Got a Question? We’ve Got You.

Below you’ll find answers to the questions we hear most often. If something isn’t covered here, you’re always welcome to reach out directly.

About Northern Lights

  • Our programs are designed for registered counsellors, psychotherapists, social workers, and allied health professionals who want to integrate sexuality more confidently and competently into their clinical practice. You must already hold certification or licensure with a professional governing body, or be currently enrolled in a recognised training program for a helping profession. You do not need to specialise exclusively in sex therapy to benefit – sexuality comes up across all areas of mental health work, and our training helps you meet those moments with skill.

  • Yes – our programs are accessible to mental health and healthcare practitioners from around the world through our online platform. All programs are currently offered in English. Please note that CE eligibility and certification pathways vary by country – check with your relevant regulatory body to confirm what applies to you.

  • Our sex therapy education is designed specifically for the Canadian clinical context – our regulatory systems, our professional culture, and how therapists actually practise here. You won’t be navigating foreign exchange rates or adapting content shaped by a different professional landscape. Everything is grounded in the realities of Canadian mental health practice.

Becoming a Sex Therapist in Canada

  • In Canada, ″sex therapist″ is not a protected title and is not regulated by any professional body. This means there is no single, standardised pathway – and technically, anyone can use the title regardless of their training.

    In practice, most clinicians who work as sex therapists are already registered mental health professionals – counsellors, psychotherapists, social workers – who have pursued additional training in sexuality and sex therapy. Some choose to formalise this through AASECT certification (see below).

    Northern Lights programs are designed to give you the knowledge, frameworks, and applied skills to work confidently and ethically with sexual concerns – whatever title you hold or path you’re on.

  • Completing our programs will give you a certificate of completion and, in most cases, CE credits applicable toward AASECT certification. They will not, on their own, grant you a sex therapist certification or qualify you to use that title in any regulated sense.

    What they will do is meaningfully develop your clinical competence to work with sexual concerns – which is ultimately what matters most for your clients.

  • Sex therapy is a clinical practice conducted by a regulated mental health professional – a counsellor, psychotherapist, or social worker – who applies therapeutic frameworks to help clients address sexual concerns, often in the context of trauma, relationships, mental health, or medical conditions.

    Sex coaching is not a clinical practice and is not regulated. Sex coaches typically work with clients on sexual goals, communication, and personal development – but without the clinical scope or ethical framework of a regulated professional.

    Northern Lights programs are designed for regulated clinicians and are grounded in clinical sex therapy practice. They are not sex coaching programs.

Certification & CE Credits

  • AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists) is the leading professional body for sex therapy certification in North America. AASECT certification is a voluntary credential that signals advanced training and competence in sex therapy. It is widely recognised and respected, including in Canada.

  • Northern Lights is an approved AASECT CE Provider (# 22-103-AST). CE credits earned through our programs may be applied toward AASECT certification or renewal of certification. Completion of our programs does not ensure or guarantee AASECT certification. For specific certification requirements, please contact AASECT directly at info@aasect.org

  • Yes. All of our programs issue a CE certificate of completion. For self-paced courses, you’ll need to complete a quiz with a grade of 80% or higher, along with a course evaluation, to receive your certificate. Details for TSCT Foundations are outlined on that program’s page.

Programs & Enrolment

  • The simplest guide is to think about what’s showing up most in your practice right now. If you’re regularly working with trauma survivors, Sex & Trauma is a natural fit. If you’re seeing clients with sexual pain, start with Painful Sex. If erectile dysfunction or ejaculation concerns are coming up, either of the Penis Problems courses will give you a strong clinical framework. And if you want a grounding in the fundamentals of consent and communication, The Basics is a quick, practical starting point.

  • No prior sex therapy training is required for most of our programs. You do need to already be a registered or enrolled mental health or healthcare professional – our programs are designed to build on existing clinical training, not replace it. See individual program pages for any specific prerequisites.

  • Our self-paced programs are available on demand – you can enrol and start at any time. TSCT Foundations combines self-paced modules with live Integration Days, which run on a fixed cohort schedule. Upcoming cohort dates are listed on the TSCT Foundations page.

  • Once enrolled, you have lifelong access to your course materials – including any future updates.

  • No. Our self-paced programs are each designed as standalone courses and can be taken in any order. If you’re looking for a comprehensive foundation before exploring specific topics, TSCT Foundations is the natural starting point – but it’s not a prerequisite for self-paced programs.

  • All programs are delivered virtually. Self-paced courses are fully on-demand – work through them at your own pace via our online learning portal. TSCT Foundations combines self-paced modules with live, interactive Integration Days on Zoom. Live workshops are delivered via Zoom or in person, as noted on each event listing.

  • Yes – there’s no restriction on enrolling in multiple programs simultaneously. That said, these courses are designed to be absorbed and applied, not just completed. We’d encourage you to give yourself enough space to genuinely engage with each one.

  • Most programs include a mix of video content, written material, case studies, reflective exercises, and downloadable worksheets and resources. Expert interviews feature in several courses. See individual program pages for specific details.

  • It depends on the program. Self-paced courses range from 2 hours to 12 hours, and the CE count gives you a rough guide. TSCT Foundations is a 40-hour program combining self-paced modules with live Integration Days. Live workshops vary in length and are listed on each event page.

Supervision & Mentorship

  • Supervision is a formal clinical relationship in which the supervisor holds a degree of oversight responsibility for your work. At Northern Lights, we offer formal supervision specifically for clinicians working toward AASECT certification – where that structure is required.


    Consultation and mentorship is a different kind of relationship. Diana and Ciara bring their clinical expertise to help you think through your cases and develop your practice, but you remain fully responsible for your own caseload. This is the right fit for most clinicians who are looking for expert support and guidance, rather than formal certification supervision.

  • No – consultation and mentorship is valuable at any stage. If you’re new to working with sexual concerns and looking for guidance as you build your skills, that’s a completely appropriate reason to reach out. If you’re a more experienced clinician looking for a thoughtful space to work through complex cases, that’s equally welcome.

  • AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists) is the leading professional body for sex therapy certification in North America. Both Diana and Ciara are AASECT Certified Sex Therapists, which means formal supervision hours with them can be applied toward AASECT certification requirements. If you’re working toward certification, please mention this when you enquire so your sessions can be structured accordingly.

  • Ongoing consultation or supervision involves a regular commitment – working with Diana or Ciara over time to develop your practice and build a deeper working relationship. A one-off session is a single conversation, well suited to clinicians who have a specific case or question they want to think through. Both are available at Northern Lights.

  • Individual sessions offer more personalised attention and dedicated space for your own cases. Group sessions offer the added richness of peer learning at a more accessible price point, with the flexibility of an open format – join as many or as few sessions as you need. Some clinicians use both, depending on what they’re working on.

  • Both are AASECT Certified Sex Therapists with strong clinical backgrounds. Note that Diana is currently at capacity for ongoing individual supervision and consultation, though she does have availability for one-off sessions and group work. Ciara is currently accepting new clients for ongoing individual work. If you’re not sure who is the right fit, you’ll be able to indicate your preference in the enquiry form below.

  • All sessions are held virtually, so you can access support from wherever you’re based.

  • Reach out via the enquiry form. Tell us a little about where you are in your practice and what you’re looking for – and we’ll take it from there.

Policies & Logistics

  • It depends on the program.

    TSCT Foundations — You have 30 days from enrolment to work through the self-paced modules and decide if the program is right for you. If you request a refund within that period — and before attending your live Integration Days — we'll refund your full course fee, no questions asked. If you're unable to attend your selected Integration Days, you can transfer once to a future date at no cost. Additional transfers incur a $100 administrative fee. All transfers are subject to availability.

    Live Workshops — 50% refund if cancelled 30 or more days before the event. No refund within 30 days.

    Self-Paced Courses — Because our self-paced programs provide immediate access to all course materials, we're unable to offer refunds once a purchase is made. If you have questions about whether a course is right for you before enrolling, we encourage you to reach out first.

Still Have a Question?

If you didn’t find what you were looking for here, reach out – we’re happy to help.

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