Experience

Sexual Health and Intimacy Psychological Services - SHIPS

• Australia
• Mental Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director & Founder

  • Jan 2019 - Present

  SHIPS is a progressive, inclusive, psychology organisation with a mission to reduce shame and stigma attached to sex and sexuality for individuals and for our community. We are industry leaders as the first psychology practice in Australia to focus exclusively on sexual health and its intersection with mental health and marginalised communites. We train and supervise psychologists to deliver exceptional, ethical, trauma-informed sexual health treatment. We believe that therapeutic content should not just be for people who can access the therapy room, so we develop and share evidence-based and community-feedback-informed resources. We are a kink-friendly, poly-friendly, sex work positive and LGBTIQA+ inclusive organisation.Sarah created SHIPS because she saw a deep need for safe and inclusive spaces to talk about sexual and relational issues. In her role as Director & Founder, Sarah aims to provides heart-felt, value-led leadership for the SHIPS team, providing support and guidance for the day-today running the practice and strategic direction to progress SHIPS's mission. To provide support and connection for our community, she oversees the development of resources and social media content.

• Training Author & Facilitator

  • Jan 2019 - Present

  SHIPS training provides online psychology and sex therapy training for students & professionals. Sarah author's, records, and facilitates this training. We integrate sex research, evidence-based frameworks to prove step-by-step frameworks and practical skills to support and develop your practice. Our training also includes online group supervision to connect with like minded practitioner and help you to consolidate learning.

• Principal Psychologist

  • Jan 2019 - Present

  As a psychologist, Sarah provides psychological treatment fo sexual health and intimacy related issues. As a principle psychologist, she also provides support and direction regarding SHIPS clinical governance for psychologist and staff. Sarah provides supervision for senior psychologist to support their supervision of other psychologist and their clinical practice. Sarah brings over 14 years of experience, warmth and respect to the therapeutic space. Sarah’s approach to therapy is elective adaptive, and trauma-informed. She utilises Schema Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Sensate Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectal Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and EMDR depending on the client need.Sarah has successfully treated a range of sexual issues including erectile difficulties, sex and pornography addictions, sexual pain (dyspareunia) and difficulties with orgasm. She understands and supports diverse relationship structures (such as polyamory and non-monogamy) and sexual practices (such as kink) and advocates for sexual autonomy. She is sex work positive and LGBTIQA+ inclusive. Sarah also has extensive experience treating issues related to sexual trauma, relational trauma and violence.



Victorian Sexual and Mental Health Network

• Coordinator

  • Jan 2020 - Present



Monash University

• Australia
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Associate Researcher

  • Jan 2020 - Dec 2020



Sarah Ashton

• Psychologist

  • Feb 2018 - Jan 2020

  I provide innovative, personalised, supportive treatment utilising evidence-based methods. I provide innovative, personalised, supportive treatment utilising evidence-based methods.



Insight Clinical and Forensic Psychological Services

• Psychologist

  • 2015 - Feb 2018



Caraniche

• Australia
• Mental Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Psychologist

  • 2014 - 2015

  Juvenile Sex Offender Program Juvenile Sex Offender Program



Department of Justice and Community Safety, Victoria

• Australia
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Clinician/ Psychologist

  • 2011 - 2014

  Sex Offender Programs Clinician Sex Offender Programs Clinician



Konekt

• Australia
• Vocational Rehabilitation Services
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Consultant/ Provisional Psychologist

  • 2011 - 2011



Insight Services Group

• Consultant/ Provisional Psychologist

  • 2009 - 2010