Mission & Values

Promoting sexual wellness as a central aspect of mental health and supporting counselors in integrating sexual health into their practice

Our Mission

The mission of ACSSW is to promote sexual wellness as a central aspect of a person's mental wellness. We support counselors in all settings to integrate sexual health and wellness into their work.

How We Advance Our Mission

1

Promote Understanding

Promote greater awareness and understanding of sexuality, as defined by the World Health Organization

2

Respect Diversity

Promote greater awareness and understanding of sexual wellness, while respecting diversity in sexual expression

3

Remove Barriers

Identify conditions that create barriers to the development of clients' and communities' healthy sexuality

4

Improve Standards

Improve standards and delivery of sexuality-related counseling services to enhance overall wellness

5

Advance Knowledge

Produce scientific, educational, and professional materials to raise standards of practice

6

Foster Education

Develop and foster educational programs designed to advance sexual rights

7

Advocate for Training

Advocate for inclusion of affirmative training on sexual wellness within the counseling professions

Core Values

Our values guide every decision we make and shape how we support counselors in creating inclusive, affirming spaces for all clients. These principles ensure that sexuality counseling remains ethical, evidence-based, and centered on human dignity.

Inclusive Excellence

We champion inclusivity across all dimensions of human diversity, recognizing that sexual wellness intersects with every aspect of identity and experience.

Professional Standards

We maintain rigorous standards for sexuality counseling practice, ensuring all counselors have the competencies needed to address sexual wellness effectively.

Scientific Excellence

We ground our work in evidence-based research while remaining open to diverse ways of knowing and understanding human sexuality.

Human Rights

We affirm sexual health and wellness as fundamental human rights, advocating for equitable access to affirming, culturally responsive care.

Collaborative Community

We foster connections among counselors, researchers, and advocates to advance the integration of sexual wellness into mental health practice.

Holistic Integration

We recognize that sexual wellness cannot be separated from overall mental health, promoting integrated approaches to counseling practice.