AASECT Book Awards

AASECT Book Award for Children under 18 years old (audience focus)

This award is presented to the author(s) of a book that makes a significant contribution to AASECT’s vision of sexual wellbeing and education, specifically as it applies to children/adolescents (kids) and teens (young adult), and which elevates the standards of the field. The nominated book must be intended for an audience under the age of 18 and have been published in 2021-2024. Please include a brief description of why the book is nominated for the award (no more than 250 words). This award is open to all. Each subcommittee member must receive a copy (either hard copy or digital copy) of the book to read/review no later than February 7, 2025.

Please note that submitting materials may accrue a cost (i.e. hard copies and shipping). Nominees will be provided with the list of members including mailing address for those who wish to mail a hard copy in the confirmation email.

Nominee/ Author must be: Open to AASECT members and non-AASECT members
Target audience: General audience under 18
Published/produced in: 2021 - 2024
Submission process (e.g. must include links/title/etc to all subcommittee members):

Checklist for nominator

• Published in 2021 - 2024
• Book must be intended for an audience under the age of 18 
• Nomination form
• Reason for nomination, no more than 250 words 
• Submit all documents, including nomination form and letter of support in one PDF 
• The book must be sent to all members of this award subcommittee to be considered, by Feburary 7, 2025.
• Incomplete nominations will not be reviewed

AASECT Book Award for Sexuality Professionals (professional focus)

This award recognizes the author(s) of a book that makes an outstanding contribution to the fields of clinical sexology, sexual health, or sexuality education. To be eligible, the book must be authored by sexuality professionals and specifically written for an audience of other professionals in the field, with the goal of advancing and elevating professional standards. Please include a brief description of why the book is being nominated for the award (no more than 250 words). Each subcommittee member must receive a copy (either hard copy or digital copy) of the book to read/review no later than January 24, 2025.

Please note that submitting materials may accrue a cost (i.e. hard copies and shipping). Nominees will be provided with the list of members including mailing address for those who wish to mail a hard copy in the confirmation email.

Nominee/ Author must be: AASECT members
Target audience: Sexuality Professionals
Published/produced in: from 2021 - 2024
Submission process (e.g. must include links/title/etc to all subcommittee members): Books must be sent to all subcommittee members for this award subcommittee to be considered. The nominator should reach out to the author and/or publisher to have them send copies to the subcommittee members. Nominations must be submitted, and each subcommittee member must receive a copy of the nominated book, by February 7, 2025.
Checklist for nominator:

• Nominee must be an AASECT member
• Published from 2021 - 2024
• Nomination form
• Reason for nomination, no more than 250 words
• Submit all documents, including nomination form and letter of support in one PDF
• Books must be sent to all subcommittee members for this award subcommittee to be considered, by February 7, 2025.
• Incomplete nominations will not be reviewed

AASECT’s Sexuality Professionals Book Award for General Audience (audience focus)

This award is presented to the sexuality professional(s) who authored a book that makes a significant contribution to the general public’s knowledge of sexuality. The nominated book written for a general audience must have been published between 2021 - 2024. Please include a brief description of why the book is nominated for the award (no more than 250 words). Each subcommittee member must receive a copy (either hard copy or digital copy) of the book to read/review no later than February 7, 2025. 

Please note that submitting materials may accrue a cost (i.e. hard copies and shipping). Nominees will be provided with the list of members including mailing address for those who wish to mail a hard copy in the confirmation email.

Nominee/ Author must be: Open to AASECT members and non-AASECT members 
Target audience: General audience
Published/produced in: From 2021 - 2024
Submission process (e.g. must include links/title/etc to all subcommittee members)

Checklist for nominator

• Incomplete nominations will not be reviewed
• Book must be sent to all members of this award subcommittee to be considered, by February 7, 2025.
• Submit all documents, including nomination form and letter of support in one PDF 
• Reason for nomination, no more than 250 words 
• Nomination form
• Published in 2021 - 2024

See all book awards recipients.

Digital Media Awards

AASECT Social Media / Live Web Series Award (YouTube, Instagram, etc.)

AAESCT Awards

AASECT Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

This award recognizes a sexuality professional whose work is building towards a more sexually liberated world. Nominate your colleagues and friends who are disrupting systems of oppression by raising awareness about and transforming harm, injustice, or inequity in our professions and our world. The AASECT DEI Award celebrates the accomplishments of historically marginalized sexuality professionals enacting real change in our communities. Areas of impact may include, but are not limited to, art, activism, organizing, leadership, education, public advocacy, or media. The nominee should have one letter of support, no more than 500 words, from individuals familiar with their work. Tell us about sexuality professionals centering disability, racial, gender, and reproductive justice. Nominations are due January 24, 2025.

Nominee must be: Open to AASECT members and non-AASECT members
Submission process (e.g. must provide links/title/etc to all subcommittee members)

Checklist for nominator

• Nomination Form
• Letter of support, no more than 500 words
• Send up to 3 links to resources like the nominee’s website, bio, social media, or projects.
• Access codes to any paid content
• Submit all documents, including nomination form, links, and letter of support in one PDF 
• Nominations due January 24, 2025.
• Incomplete nominations will not be reviewed

See all award recipients

AASECT Award for Emergent Professional

This award is presented to an AASECT member (educator, counselor, or therapist) who currently has made impactful contributions in the field of sexuality within their first 3 years of stepping into the sexuality field. This may include students as well as recently graduated AASECT members. This award may be considered for any practical or theoretical body of work, including (but not limited to) providing training, retreats, online courses, videos or publishing a paper or book. The nominee should have 1 letter of support, no more than 500 words, from individuals familiar with their work. Nominations due January 24, 2025.

Nominee must be: Early career AASECT member
Nominee must: Hold an AASECT membership and have 3 years or less of sexuality professional experience

Checklist for nominator

• Nomination Form
• Letter of support that includes membership start date and no more than 500 words
• Any additional supporting materials
• Access codes to any paid content
• Submit all documents, including nomination form, links, and letter of support in one PDF 
• Nominations due January 24, 2025
• Incomplete nominations will not be reviewed

See all award recipients

Professional Standard of Excellence Award

The recipient of this award is a highly regarded expert in their field, recognized by their peers as an accomplished and visionary colleague, and a role model for professional and personal ethics, as well as excellence in achievement. This award honors work that includes, but is not limited to, the development and implementation of sexuality education curriculum, clinical programs or other original clinical contributions, scientific research, and media contributions through art, print, radio, television, or the internet. The nominee should submit one letter of support, no more than 500 words, from someone familiar with their work. This award is open to all. Nominations due by January 24, 2025.

Nominee must be: Open to AASECT members and non-AASECT members
Submission process (e.g. must provide links/title/etc to all subcommittee members)

Checklist for nominator

• Nomination Form
• Letter of support, no more than 500 words
• Up to three link(s)  
• Submit all documents, including nomination form, links, and letter of support in one PDF 
• Nominations due January 24, 2025
• Incomplete nominations will not be reviewed

See all award recipients

Distinguished Service to AASECT Award

This award is presented to a certified AASECT member in good standing who has worked to promote the mission of AASECT, advocating for sexual health through the development and advancement of sexuality education, counseling or therapy. This individual will have served the organization through activities including, but not limited to, recruitment of new members;  presentation of a paper or workshop at AASECT meetings; serving on the Board of Directors, a committee or task force; developing publications for or about the organization; assistance in the development of AASECT policy; and representation of AASECT in the public sector. The nominee should have 1 letter of support, no more than 500 words, from individuals familiar with their work. Nominations due January 24, 2025. #DistinguishedAward

Nominee must be: AASECT members
Submission process (e.g. must provide links/title/etc to all subcommittee members)

Checklist for nominator

• Nominee must be AASECT certified
• Letter of support, no more than 500 words
• Relevant documentation which may include links to websites, event pages, photo, and/or video documentation. 
• Submit all documents, including nomination form, any links or supporting documents, and letter of support in one PDF 
• Nominations due January 24, 2025.
• Incomplete nominations will not be reviewed

See all award recipients

Humanitarian Award

This award is presented to a group or individual who have contributed to the field of human sexuality through private endeavor, charitable event(s), public awareness campaign, organizing effort, sex-positive educational offering, and / or political platform. Please submit a brief justification for your nomination at no more than 500 words, in addition to relevant documentation which may include links to websites, event pages, photo, and/or video documentation. The committee will view a maximum of 5 minutes of video documentation, so please cut your media accordingly, or include a time signature to reference for longer submissions. This award is open to all. Nominations due January 24, 2025.

Nominee must be: Open to AASECT members and non-AASECT members
Submission process (e.g. must provide links/title/etc to all subcommittee members)

Checklist for nominator

• Nomination Form
• Letter no more than 500 words describing justification for nomination
• Any relevant documentation which may include links to websites, event pages, photo, and/or video documentation. 
• Submit all documents, including nomination form, any links or supporting documents, and letter of support in one PDF 
• Nominations due January 24, 2025
• Incomplete nominations will not be reviewed

See all award recipients

AASECT Award for Integrative Approaches to Sex Therapy

This award recognizes exceptional creativity in applying integrative and interactive approaches to addressing sexual issues in clinical work with individuals, couples, groups, and/or supervisees across diverse ages, genders, and other identities. Eligible works may include (but are not limited to) practical or theoretical contributions such as trainings, retreats, online courses, videos, or published papers/books that demonstrate a holistic understanding of sexuality. Submissions should reflect a thoughtful integration of physical, emotional, cognitive, and/or spiritual dimensions of sexual experience, as well as relational and/or social contexts.The nominee should have one letter of support, at no more than 500 words, in addition to relevant documentation which may include links to websites, event pages, photo, and/or video documentation. The committee will view a maximum of 5 minutes of video documentation, so please cut your media accordingly, or include a time signature to reference for longer submissions. This award is open to AASECT Certified Sex Counselors and Therapists. Nominations due January 24, 2025.

Target audience: General or Sexuality Professionals
Submission process (e.g. must include links/title/etc to all subcommittee members):

Checklist for nominator

• Nominee is a certified AASECT member
• Nomination form
• Letter of support that includes membership start date and no more than 500 words describing reason for nomination
• Supporting documents (links/photo/video)
• Access codes to paid content
• Submit all documents, including nomination form, any links or supporting documents, and letter of support in one PDF 
• If nominating a book a text must be sent directly to each award subcommittee member to be eligible. Please reach out to the author or publisher and have them send the text to each subcommittee member 
• Nominations due January 24, 2025
• Incomplete nominations will not be reviewed

See all award recipients

Awards Committee

Co-chairs: Xuan Ho, LMFT, CST Claudia Johnson, LMFT, CST

Members:
Alice Ripberger
Jonathan Grammatico, LCSW
Dorian Head LPC, ACS
Terri Barrios, PhD, LMFT, CST
Kimberly Holloway, Psy.D., CST
Kristen Schaer, LMHC
Heather Huckett, PhD, LMFT, CST
Kelly Scherger, PhD, CST
Heather Alberda BA CSE CSES S.
Marissa Stein, MS, LMHC, CST, NCC
Kelvin Pace, LPC-S, CST-S
Shanna Katz Kattari, PhD, MEd, CSE