The title and how it is regulated
The Philippines licenses psychologists and psychometricians under the Psychology Act of 2009 and guidance counsellors under the Guidance and Counseling Act of 2004, both through the Professional Regulation Commission; doctors are licensed by the same commission. “Sex therapist” is not a licensed profession, and the Mental Health Act of 2018, which guaranteed access to mental-health services, did not create one.
Qualified help comes from psychiatrists and licensed psychologists with training in sex therapy — a small group, concentrated in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao — and from urologists and gynaecologists for the medical side. Overseas credentials such as AASECT certification are the usual mark of specific training.
Public hospitals and the National Center for Mental Health see outpatients for low fees, with long queues and limited privacy. PhilHealth covers hospitalisation and, through its primary-care package, basic consultations including mental-health screening, but not a course of sex therapy. Privately, a psychiatrist or psychologist charges roughly 1,500 to 4,000 pesos a session; health maintenance organisations sometimes include a few psychological consultations a year.
Online consultation with licensed psychologists has expanded since 2020 and is often the most private route outside the big cities.
Key points
| Title | Unregulated; psychologists and guidance counsellors licensed by the PRC |
|---|---|
| Regulated professions nearby | Doctors, psychologists, psychometricians, guidance counsellors |
| Who is trained | Psychiatrists and licensed psychologists with overseas sex-therapy training; urologists, gynaecologists |
| Public services | Public hospitals and the National Center for Mental Health, low fees |
| PhilHealth | Hospitalisation and basic primary care; no course of sex therapy |
| Private cost | About 1,500–4,000 pesos a session |
In practice
- Verify the licence on the Professional Regulation Commission's online verification service.
- Ask about specific sex-therapy training; the Psychological Association of the Philippines directory helps locate practitioners.
- Use public hospital outpatient departments for medical evaluation at low cost.
- Check whether your HMO plan includes psychological consultations.
Cost and reimbursement
Public hospital: low fees, queues. Private psychiatrist or psychologist: 1,500–4,000 pesos, out of pocket; HMO plans sometimes cover a few sessions.
What has changed recently
The Mental Health Act of 2018 obliged PhilHealth to widen mental-health benefits; outpatient packages remain modest and do not cover sex therapy as such.
Where to go
- Professional Regulation Commission: licence verification.
- Psychological Association of the Philippines: directory.
- National Center for Mental Health and public hospital outpatient departments.
- Philippine Psychiatric Association.
Worth knowing
Unlicensed “therapists” and clinics promising cures advertise freely online; the PRC licence is the check that matters, and a licensed psychologist will show it without hesitation.
Frequently asked questions
Are sex therapists licensed in the Philippines?
No. Psychologists and guidance counsellors are; sex therapy is practised within those licences or by psychiatrists.
Does PhilHealth pay for therapy?
Only hospitalisation and basic primary-care consultations; a course of sex therapy is not covered.
Where can I find affordable care?
Public hospital outpatient departments and the National Center for Mental Health charge low fees; online licensed psychologists offer privacy at private rates.
Official sources and links
- Professional Regulation Commission — licence verification for psychologists and doctors
- Psychological Association of the Philippines — directory
- gov.ph — official government portal