What is sex therapy?

Sex therapy is a type of talk therapy that’s designed to help individuals and couples address medical, psychological, personal, or interpersonal factors impacting sexual satisfaction.
The goal of sex therapy is to help people move past physical and emotional challenges to have a satisfying relationship and pleasurable sex life. Sexual dysfunction is common. In fact, 43 percent of women and 31 percent of men report experiencing some type of sexual dysfunction during their lifetimes. These dysfunctions may include:

- erectile dysfunction

- low libido

- lack of interest

- premature ejaculation

- low confidence

- lack of response to sexual stimulus

- inability to reach orgasm

- excessive libido

- inability to control sexual behavior

- distressing sexual thoughts

- unwanted sexual fetishes

A fulfilling sex life is healthy and natural. Physical and emotional intimacy are essential parts of your well-being. When sexual dysfunction occurs, having that fulfilling sex life can be difficult. Sex therapy may be able to help you reframe your sexual challenges and increase your sexual satisfaction.

How does our sex therapy work?

Sex therapy is like any type of psychotherapy. We help you treat the condition by talking through your experiences, worries, and feelings.

Together with your therapist, you then work out coping mechanisms to help improve your responses in the future so that you can have a healthier sex life.
During your initial appointments, your therapist will either talk with just you or with you and your partner together. The therapist is there to guide and help you process your current challenge:

They are not there to take one person’s side or to help persuade anyone. Also, everyone will keep their clothes on. The sex therapist will not be having sexual relations with anyone or showing anyone how to have sex. With each session, your therapist will continue to push you toward better management
and acceptance of your concerns that may be leading to sexual dysfunction. All talk therapy, including sex therapy, is both a supportive and an educational environment. It’s meant to provide comfort and encouragement for change. You will likely leave your therapist’s office with assignments and work to do before your next appointment. If your therapist suspects the dysfunction you’re experiencing is the result of a physical sexual concern, they may refer you to a medical doctor.

Your therapist and the doctor can consult about your signs and symptoms and work to help find any physical concerns that may be contributing to greater sexual problems.

Do I need sex therapy?

One way to determine if you need to see a sex therapist instead of another type of talk therapist is to analyze what parts of your life are the most  affected by how you feel right now. If your quality of life and emotional health are greatly affected by your sexual dysfunction, it’s a good idea to see a sex therapist. Likewise, if a lack of intimacy or difficulty communicating with a partner leads as your most serious personal concern, a sex therapist is the place to start.

What to know before your appointment

When you’re ready to begin sex therapy, keep these five things in mind as you prepare to decide on whom to meet for therapy.

Solo versus couple

You do not have to bring your partner with you to sex therapy. For some individuals, solo sex therapy is adequate to address concerns. For others, having both people present during therapy may help improve satisfaction and build a stronger connection. Talk with your partner about your choice to begin therapy. If you’d like them to be involved, ask.

Logistics

When deciding on a sex therapist, it’s important to keep in mind where your therapist’s office is and how easy it is for you to get to. You may be attending appointments during your lunch hour, after work, or on random days when you have a free hour. Our therapists also offer tele-health sessions, so you may be able to meet with them online from the comfort of your home.

Make sure it’s convenient to reach your doctor’s office, or you may find yourself creating excuses to avoid it.

Our Treatment plan

During your first appointment, your therapist will likely go over an initial treatment plan with you. For most individuals and couples, several sessions are required at first. However, once treatment is making a significant difference and your therapist feels confident you can handle future challenges, you may be released from your therapist’s care.

The bottom line

A fulfilling sex life is vital to your health for many reasons. Physical and emotional elements of a healthy sex life have far-reaching benefits, including lower blood pressure, better heart health, and stress reduction. Sex is also just a natural, fun part of life. However, for some people, sex is a source of great anxiety and worry. Sexual dysfunction can lead to relationship complications, loss of confidence, and many other negative effects.

Our Sex therapy is an integrative approach to treating and eliminating underlying challenges. These concerns may be physical, such as low circulation. They may also be psychological concerns, such as anxiety, stress, and confidence issues. Our Sex therapy can help individuals and couples find a way to have open, honest communication so that they can work through any concerns or challenges toward a healthy, happy sex life.