Marking a Milestone: ACSSW's Division Status and Exemplary Practices in Counseling Sexology

Dear JCSSW Readers,

It is with great enthusiasm that I present this landmark issue of the Journal of Counseling Sexology and Sexual Wellness (JCSSW). This publication marks a significant milestone as we officially become the journal of the Association of Counseling Sexology and Sexual Wellness (ACSSW), coinciding with ACSSW's recent elevation to full divisional status within the American Counseling Association (ACA) in 2024.

The centerpiece of this issue is the ACSSW Exemplary Practices for Counseling Sexology and Sexual Wellness, a comprehensive framework that represents a crucial step forward in our field. These guidelines arrive at a pivotal moment when discussions about sexuality and sexual wellness are increasingly at the forefront of both public discourse and clinical practice.

The additional articles in this issue beautifully complement and reinforce the exemplary practices through different lenses:

An empirical investigation of objectification provides counselors with a validated measurement tool to better understand and address the impact of objectification on sexual wellness, directly supporting the exemplary practices' emphasis on comfort, awareness, and personal reflection in clinical work.

Research examining the intersections of trauma, HIV, social connectedness, and sexual orientation offers vital insights into how multiple identities and social support systems influence sexual wellness outcomes. This work enriches our understanding of the exemplary practices' focus on mental health factors, sexual identity, and intimacy in counseling.

A theoretical framework exploring social determinants of sexual and reproductive health through a structural competence lens enhances our ability to implement the exemplary practices' call for cultural responsiveness and social justice advocacy in sex and couples counseling.

Together, these works provide practical tools, empirical evidence, and theoretical foundations that support counselors in implementing the exemplary practices in their clinical work. They demonstrate how research can inform and enhance our ability to provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and socially just care in matters of sexuality and sexual wellness.

As we celebrate ACSSW's new status as an ACA division and JCSSW's role as its official journal, we remain committed to advancing scholarship that supports counselors in providing exemplary care to their clients and communities.

We invite you to engage deeply with these works and to contribute to the ongoing dialogue about how we can best serve our clients and communities in matters of sexuality and sexual wellness.