[Who can be a sex therapist? Ministry of Health Committee recommendations].

The question of who is authorized to conduct sexual therapy and sexual rehabilitation is a complicated issue which has concerned the Ministry of Health (MOH) and professionals in this area for many years. T.V. Channel 2 presented a program regarding surrogates in sexual treatment. Following this program and due to the lack of clear definitions, the Director General of the MOH appointed a committee assigned to define "sexual treatment" and determine who is considered to be a sex therapist. The members of the committee represented various relevant professions. The recommendations of the committee are still being discussed and no final decisions have yet been made. However, the committee defined "sexual treatment" as professional interventions aiming to treat sexual dysfunctions in men and women as defined in the ICD-10 classification. These dysfunctions could be a result of physical, mental or combined causes". The committee recommended that sex therapists should only be those who are already licensed in one of the following professions: Social work [MSW] with proven experience in individual and family therapy. Clinical Psychology. Medicine--specializing in one of the following fields-Psychiatry, Urology, Gynecology, Family Medicine, Pediatrics or Endocrinology. In addition, the committee recommended a syllabus which aims to train these professionals following the recommendations of the European Academy of Sexual Medicine which are attached to the proposal of the committee. The committee also calls to initiate academic programs which will be accompanied by supervised practical training. Furthermore, the committee recommended acknowledging professionals who will be considered as the founders of sexual therapy in Israel.