Human Sexuality Fellowship
The Human Sexuality Fellowship at the University of Minnesota provides two years of training in sex and gender-related therapy and research. The general fellowship prepares fellows to provide sex and gender therapy for a wide variety of individuals oftentimes with co-morbid psychiatric diagnoses. The fellowship meets the post-doctoral supervision licensure requirements for psychologists in Minnesota and in most states. In addition, the clinical experience and supervision meets requirements for accreditation as a sex therapist by the American Association for Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT). In addition, the fellowship provides training in sexual education and research.
The goals of this fellowship program are to:
- Provide 26 hours per week of direct individual, family, or group therapy depending upon the specific human sexuality fellowship and the amount of time that can be devoted to research
- Work effectively in an inter-professional team (faculty psychologists, psychiatry physician assistant, nurse practitioner, family physician, support staff)
- Provide education to medical students, family medicine residents on topics such as sex history taking, basic counseling skills for sexual concerns and problems.
- Engage in scholarly activity (10% of your time) that advances the field of sexual therapy and research
Current Fellow
Leonardo E. Candelario Pérez, Ph.D., received their doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Albizu University in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Candelario provides individual, family, couples, and group psychotherapy in English and Spanish for a wide range of sexual health issues including: transgender (i.e., gender identity issues in adolescents and adults) and sexual orientation issues, relationship and sexual problems. He practices using integrative interventions drawing from a biopsychosocial/multicultural perspective, health psychology and cognitive-behavioral theories in his approach to addressing a variety of mental health concerns and sexual health problems. Candelario Pérez’s doctoral research examined the influence of cultural factors like religion and psychological factors like sensation seeking in the manifestation of sexual behaviors in Puerto Rican adults. Their clinical training has included experience in assessment and treatment of individuals with co-morbid mental health and poly-substance use, community mental health, child and family therapy, HIV treatment and LGBT health.