I’ve been reflecting recently on what it means to deepen our practice as psychosexual and relationship therapists. We often begin this work with curiosity, passion and a desire to support others in navigating some of the most vulnerable parts of their lives. But as time passes, many of us find ourselves looking for more: more complexity, more nuance, more understanding of the territory we’re holding. We want to go further.
This desire to deepen is the driving force behind our Advanced Diploma in Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy at CICS. And it’s a response to what I’m seeing in the field right now: therapists who are highly skilled, highly committed and yet longing for spaces where they can be stretched, inspired and build relationships with equally committed individuals.
Why Advanced Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy Training Matters Now
In 2025, we’re holding more than ever before. Cultural narratives around sex and relationships are shifting fast. From queer identities and expansive relationship structures to the growing influence of AI in intimacy and porn, we’re working with clients who are navigating an increasingly complex and often contradictory sexual landscape.
Our Advanced Diploma gives experienced psychosexual and relationship therapists a place to engage with that complexity. It’s not about going back to basics. It’s about going deeper into the work you’re already doing: asking bigger questions, holding more layers, developing confidence in the face of uncertainty.
What Makes the CICS Advanced Diploma Different
This course isn’t just a set of modules. It’s a developmental space. The curriculum brings together academic depth, clinical rigor and the reflective space needed for genuine integration.
Therapists on the programme will:
- Explore critical themes such as power, difference and intersectionality in sex and relationship therapy.
- Deepen their ability to work with trauma, cancer and high conflict dynamics.
- Complete a research project that contributes to the field and supports their progression to COSRT Accredited membership.
We’ve designed it as a fully online, Level 7 COSRT Accredited Thematic Training course so you can participate from anywhere in the world, while continuing your clinical work.
Therapy for Our Time
The clients we meet today are carrying so much. Shame, disconnection, longing, desire, numbness, fragmentation. They’re living in a world where bodies and relationships are policed, where pleasure is politicised, where the language for healthy sexuality is still, in many cases, out of reach.
As therapists, we need to meet that world with depth. That means rigorous training. But it also means courage, creativity and a commitment to keep evolving, not just for our clients, but for ourselves.
If you’re a qualified psychosexual and relationship therapist looking to step into the next chapter of your professional development, to be challenged, supported and part of a community that takes this work seriously, I hope you’ll consider joining us.
Learn more and apply here or email enquiries@contemporaryinstitute.co.uk for more information.
