Specialist education

Forensic Sexology supports advanced education for professionals working with complex sexual behaviour, offending, harm, safeguarding and public protection. It does not provide an entry-level route into counselling or psychotherapy.

Specialist education in this field should connect theory with ethical and reflective practice across prevention and early intervention; assessment, formulation and risk management; therapeutic intervention, rehabilitation and desistance; digital sexual harm; developmentally informed work with children and adolescents; domestic abuse and coercive control; whole-family impact; clinical sexology; diversity and disability; and law, governance and multidisciplinary public protection.

It should also develop research literacy, cultural responsivity, professional judgement, supervision and practitioner wellbeing. Sexual interest, sexual behaviour, disorder, offending and risk must be understood as related but distinct concepts.

Level 7 Diploma in Forensic Sexology

IoPP’s Level 7 Diploma in Forensic Sexology is designed for qualified therapists who wish to deepen their theoretical, clinical and ethical understanding of this field. Applicants must already be qualified to practise as a talk therapist or hold an equivalent relevant professional background, subject to the published course requirements.

The IoPP course page provides the definitive and current information about eligibility, curriculum, delivery, status and applications.