The title and how it is regulated
Singapore regulates doctors through the Singapore Medical Council but has no statutory registration for psychologists, counsellors or psychotherapists: the Singapore Psychological Society and the Singapore Association for Counselling keep voluntary registers. “Sex therapist” and “sexologist” are unregulated terms. Accountability therefore rests on the doctor's licence or on voluntary registration.
Qualified sexual-health care is concentrated in the public hospitals: urology and men's-health clinics, gynaecology, endocrinology and psychiatry, reached by polyclinic referral with subsidised fees for citizens and permanent residents. The Department of STI Control clinic handles infections. A few hospital psychologists and psychiatrists offer sex therapy; the private sector has a small number of psychologists and counsellors with overseas sex-therapy training, often AASECT-certified or trained in Australia.
Costs are cushioned by subsidies in the public system, less by insurance. MediSave can be used for outpatient psychiatric treatment of listed chronic conditions, such as depression and anxiety, but sexual dysfunction is not on the list; MediShield Life and integrated shield plans cover hospitalisation rather than outpatient therapy. A private session with a psychologist or sex therapist costs roughly 150 to 300 dollars, a private specialist consultation similar or more.
Employers' group insurance sometimes includes a mental-health outpatient benefit; check the policy.
Key points
| Title | Unregulated; psychologists and counsellors on voluntary registers only |
|---|---|
| Regulated profession nearby | Doctors (Singapore Medical Council) |
| Voluntary registers | Singapore Psychological Society; Singapore Association for Counselling |
| Public care | Hospital urology, gynaecology, psychiatry via polyclinic referral, subsidised for residents |
| MediSave | Outpatient psychiatric care for listed chronic conditions; sexual dysfunction not listed |
| Private cost | About 150–300 dollars a session |
In practice
- Ask a polyclinic for a referral to a public hospital: subsidised specialist fees apply and the pathway covers urology, gynaecology and psychiatry.
- Check the SPS or SAC register for a psychologist or counsellor, and ask about specific sex-therapy training.
- Ask whether your employer's insurance carries an outpatient mental-health benefit.
- For infections, the DSC Clinic is the confidential public service.
Cost and reimbursement
Public specialist with referral: subsidised fee. Private psychologist or sex therapist: 150–300 dollars, out of pocket. MediSave and shield plans rarely apply to outpatient therapy.
What has changed recently
Mental-health benefits have been widening — MediSave use for outpatient psychiatric treatment was expanded — but sexual dysfunction remains outside the listed conditions, and no registration of psychologists has been enacted.
Where to go
- Singapore Psychological Society and Singapore Association for Counselling: voluntary registers.
- Public hospital urology, gynaecology and psychiatry clinics via polyclinic referral.
- DSC Clinic: sexually transmitted infections.
- Singapore Medical Council: register of doctors.
Worth knowing
With no statutory register, a “certified sex coach” and a hospital-trained psychologist can display the same words. Ask for the underlying qualification and register.
Frequently asked questions
Are sex therapists regulated in Singapore?
No, and neither are psychologists or counsellors by statute; only doctors are licensed. Voluntary registers exist.
Can I use MediSave for sex therapy?
No. MediSave covers outpatient psychiatric care for listed chronic conditions; sexual dysfunction is not among them.
Where is the cheapest qualified care?
In the public hospitals, through a polyclinic referral, with subsidised fees for citizens and permanent residents.
Official sources and links
- Singapore Psychological Society — register of psychologists
- Singapore Association for Counselling — registered counsellors
- gov.sg — official government portal
- Singapore Statutes Online — legislation in force