Evaluation of a continuing education program in sex therapy

This paper describes a multi-dimensional, ongoing approach to evaluation in a sex therapy training program. The Yale Sex Therapy Training program agencies throughout Connecticut who would meet or surpass pre-determined standards for sex therapists. Because sex therapy is a new discipline, it was deemed essential that program evaluation be developed and carried out from the very beginnings of the program and throughout its course. Evaluative findings proved essential to monitoring the quality of teaching and supervisory efforts, in assessing change in knowledge and professional activity of trainees, and in measuring impact upon the communities served. Continuous feedback led to changes in program content and format through identification of needs and problems. The experience in the Yale program confirms the recommendations of others regarding the conduct of a continuing education program. These findings strongly imply that multi-dimensional, ongoing evaluation should be an integral component in any continuing education program.