Two graduates of APU’s master’s program in counseling psychology offer insights on intimacy and sexuality as featured guests Sept. 23 on a call-in show airing on Anchorage public radio.
Licensed counselors Rebecca Love, ’08 , and Chris Reynolds, ’99, are among the few Alaska therapists certified to offer sex therapy. Love and Reynolds are in private practice in Anchorage.
Renee Georg, director of the University’s MSCP program, said the two are among APU grads invited over the years as guest on “Line One,” an award-winning health program produced by KSKA public radio FM 91.1. The show airs at 2 p.m. Mondays and repeats at 9 p.m.
Georg said the University’s MSCP program has established itself among counselors who want to pursue sex therapy.
“Folks doing this work in the state are mostly connected to our program,” Georg said, noting efforts by former APU Professor Ellen Cole, a licensed sex therapist who supervised Love and Reynolds as they obtained certification.
“This legacy is something APU can acknowledge,” Georg said.
She said counseling students drawn to therapy focused on couples, intimacy and sexuality recognize that the topics are hard for many people to talk about.
“There shouldn’t be a stigma, but there is,” Georg said. “I think the biggest pre-requisite for MSCP students who gravitate to sex therapy is courage. “
Students pursuing sex therapy must be able to talk frankly about topics that are a bit taboo for general conversation, Georg said.
“Reducing stigma by offering good information is good for APU and good for our profession.”