Joan Sughrue is a graduate of the University of South Carolina College of Nursing (BSN) and received a Masters degree (MEd) in clinical counseling from The Citadel in Charleston, SC.

Licenses and Certification

Mrs. Sughrue is licensed in GA and SC to practice as a registered nurse.

She is a Certified Sex Therapist by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) since 1983. In addition, she has completed the required training for AASECT supervisor and received Diplomate status in 2003. In 2008 Joan was approved as a provider of continuing education credits for AASECT.

Experience

Mrs. Sughrue has been active in nursing since 1969. She was Director of Inservice Education at St. Francis Xavier Hospital in Charleston, SC before joining her late husband, Dr. John Sughrue, in his medical practice. She began training in the sexuality field in 1976 and attended the postgraduate and advanced postgraduate courses at the Masters and Johnson Institute. She completed her sex therapy supervision and was certified as a sex therapist by AASECT in 1983. Mrs. Sughrue has been involved in women's health, counseling and sex therapy for 30 years.

Dr. and Mrs. Sughrue were both adjunct assistant professors in the College of Nursing Graduate Program at the Medical University of SC. They lectured and conducted sexuality-training programs for the graduate students in Clinical Counseling at The Citadel. Mrs. Sughrue also lectured in the College of Nursing at Trident Technical College. Currently, she is on the adjunct faculty at Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA whereshe teaches in the human sexuality course for 4th year medical students. She has lectured and conducted training workshops nationally for medical, nursing and mental health professionals.

Mrs. Sughrue served as the SC state chairperson, treasurer of the Southeastern district and a member of the national nominating committee for AASECT. Joan has been a member of the AASECT professional education committee since 2001. In June 2008, the Sughrue's were co-recipients of the AASECT Distinguished Service Award.

In 1997 she and her husband relocated to Atlanta, GA and expanded their medical and sex therapy practice to incorporate holistic, alternative and complementary approaches. Therapeutic techniques include educational, behavioral and reality-based therapies. Emphasis is placed on good communication skills - in and out of bed. Medical concerns are addressed as to the effect on sexual functioning.