Samantha Blair Rotay, PsyD, a 2024 graduate of the PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University’s New England campus, recently published her dissertation entitled Graduate Students’ Accessibility to Human Sexuality Training. The dissertation highlights a critical gap in the education psychologists receive related to sexual functioning and advocates for mandatory human sexuality training in graduate programs.
Students often receive education on gender identity and sexual orientation, but they miss out on training in areas like sexual well-being, arousal, and disorders. This gap means many licensed psychologists struggle to address clients’ sexual concerns effectively. Rotay’s study adds to previous research by surveying program directors and department chairs from APA-accredited graduate programs about human sexuality courses. Out of 47 programs, fewer than 10 offered such a course, and only one made it mandatory. This shows that, despite evidence of the benefits of human sexuality training, many new clinicians enter the field without it. The study also suggests that adding this training could enhance therapists’ confidence in handling these issues and better prepare them for the realities of clinical practice.
Rotay pursued her master’s degree in Philadelphia before relocating to New England to attend Antioch University. Her upbringing involved extensive travel, providing exposure to major cities and diverse regions across the United States. This experience was enriched by study abroad programs in Costa Rica and India during her undergraduate studies. Rotay’s clinical experience spans diverse settings, including public school districts, community mental health organizations, inpatient facilities, and college campuses.
Read more about Rotay and her full dissertation, Graduate Students’ Accessibility to Human Sexuality Training, here.
