BESTCO membership

BESTCO Membership Categories and Requirements

In accordance with the BESTCO constitution, there are five categories of membership, as follows:

Associate Membership

1. Current or recent graduate degree from a recognized university in a field such as social work, psychology, counselling, theology, nursing, medicine, etc.

2. An official transcript of program in which highest degree was earned.

3. Documentation of membership in a professional credentialing body (e.g. AAMFT, OPA, CPSO, OCCSW).

4. Knowledgeable of and identifies with the ethical standards as established by the applicants credentialing body (please submit a one page copy of the current version of your credentialing bodies ethical guidelines).

5. Proof of professional malpractice insurance.

6. A minimum of 1 year of clinical experience after graduation related to couple and sex therapy.

7. Current letters of recommendation from two professional colleagues, supervisors, or administrators, familiar with the applicant's clinical experience and professional responsibilities.

8. Ability to qualify now, or willingness to take the necessary steps to qualify within three years, for Registered Membership status.

9. Participation in and contribution to the clinical sessions of BESTCO.

10. Payment of the annual fee, currently $25.00.

Registered Membership

A) Sex therapy training:

1. Current or recent graduate level study in the field of sex therapy, which can be met by taking one semester of a sex therapy course or equivalent.

2. 1 Sexual Attitude Reassessment course (SAR) or equivalent.

3. At least 100 hours doing client counselling/therapy for sexual problems with both women and men.

4. Read at the minimum four texts on sex therapy covering areas of assessment, treatment, and intervention, with both male and female sexual problems.

5. Regularly read at least one sex therapy journal.

6. 25-100 hours of supervision by an accredited BESTCO supervisor; the exact number of hours to be determined by the supervisor in consultation with the candidate and the Documentation Committee.

B) Relationship therapy training:

1. Clinical membership in AAMFT

1. Graduate level course work in relationship therapy satisfactory to the Documentation Committee.

2. At least 500 clinical hours of counselling/therapy for relationship problems/issues.

3. At least 100 hours of supervision of relationship therapy by an AAMFT approved supervisor, or equivalent as determined by BESTCO.

C) Progress assessment:

The Progress Assessment can take place any time up to three years after granting of an Associate Membership. Upon recommendation by the candidate's supervisor, the candidate will be requested to present a clinical case to three Registered Members; to respond to three standardized case vignettes; and engage in a discussion of general sex therapy issues. Progress Assessment fee is $50.00.

D) Case presentations:

In addition to the case presentation in (C) above, candidates will make one case presentation at a clinical session of BESTCO during the period of Associate Membership prior to the Progress Assessment. The cases will be approximately 20 minutes excluding questioning and feedback. A videotaped session, with critical sections pre-selected, can be used to meet this requirement.

E) Readings in sex therapy:

The Bibliography is intended for your use and guidance; you are not expected to have read all of these references.

F) Annual fee

At present the annual fee for Registered Members is $50.00.

Member-at-large

Registered members no longer active as clinicians in BESTCO.

Member Emeritus

Registered members who have made a special contribution to BESTCO, and are no longer practicing clinicians.

Affiliate Membership

This is an exceptional category for individuals who are not sex therapists, but have made outstanding contributions to our understanding of human sexuality and have distinguished themselves in fields such as sex education or research. Affiliate Membership is by invitation only.

Membership carries the expectation of regular attendance at meetings. Two missed consecutive meetings may result in suspension or termination of membership.

For information about becoming a member of BESTCO, please contact us