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 more common than you would think. The fact is that 43 percent of women and 31 percent of men have reported experiencing some type of sexual dysfunction during their lifetimes.
Such dysfunctions may include:
• Lack of interest
• Erectile dysfunction
• Low libido / Excessive libido
• Premature ejaculation / Low confidence
• Lack of response to sexual stimulus
• Inability to reach orgasm
• Inability to control sexual behaviour
• Distressing sexual thoughts / Unwanted sexual fetishes
Physical and emotional intimacy is an essential part of your well-being. Having a fulfilling sex life is healthy and natural. However, maintaining a fulfilling sex life can become difficult when sexual dysfunction occurs.
Sex therapy may be able to help you rework your sexual challenges and increase your sexual satisfaction.
“Sex therapists can be very helpful in helping to guide one person to help themselves or their partner to overcome self-defeating behaviors”
HOW DOES SEX THERAPY WORK?
Like all types of psychotherapy Sex Therapy is treated through talking about your worries, fears, experiences and feelings.
The goal is to create coping mechanisms with your therapist to improve your reactions in the future allowing you to have a healthier sex life.
When you start sex therapy your initial appointments may involve your therapist talking with just you, or with you and your partner.
Your therapist’s objective is to guide and help you process your current sexual challenges:
• Sex therapy does not involve sex, it is not where you will learn how to have sex.
• Your therapist is not there to take sides or persuade anyone.
Your therapist will continue to push you toward better management and acceptance of your concerns that may be leading to sexual dysfunction with each session. Sex therapy alike all talk therapy, is both an educational and an supportive environment.
Sex therapy aims to provide encouragement and comfort 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 symptoms and work together to help find any physical concerns that may be contributing to greater sexual problems.
The therapist may offer some ideas for things you can try at home. The therapist may suggest you try something called Sensate Focus Exercises, which are designed to help you attune more to your partner.
The exercises are typically done in stages, starting with touching or stroking anywhere on the body, except the breasts and genital areas. The goal is to experience the sensation of touching rather than trying to reach orgasm. Eventually, the exercises can lead to intercourse.
It may help to bring your partner to sex therapy but It’s not necessary
