Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

Q:

What is sex therapy?

A:

Sex therapy is the clinical treatment of sexual dysfunction and sexuality-related concerns. Sex therapy occurs in outpatient psychotherapy with a unique focus on sexuality-related topics.Certified Sex Therapists have completed extensive training in human sexuality and sex therapy and supervision, which allows them to competently treat sexual concerns . Clients who are interested in pursuing sex therapy can decide to work with a clinician who has extensive training in the field of sexology and/or certified sex therapy practitioners. The American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) website offers a directory for people who would like to connect with a certified professional in their area.

One of the common misnomers about sex therapy is that some people think sex therapy involves clients being sexual with their therapist in session. No sexual contact between therapist and clients is permissible in sex therapy. Rather, sex therapy is talk therapy with an emphasis on treating sexual concerns.

There are many reasons why clients may seek the guidance of a sex therapist, including:

  • Differing sexual styles
  • Performance anxiety
  • Difficulties reaching orgasm
  • Communication about sex
  • Infidelity and sexual relationships
  • Body image concerns
  • Embracing one's sexuality and sexual expression
  • Changes in sexual desire
  • Erectile functioning

These are all concerns that can be addressed in sex therapy. The most common reason clients seek sex therapy is relational conflict related to sexual desire discrepancy. Sexual desire discrepancy refers to differences between each partner's experience of sexual desire, which is a completely normal part of any relationship.

One way to think about desire discrepancy is to think about any difference partners experience relationally. For example, how often someone wants to eat pasta for dinner. In a relationship, one partner may way to have pasta once a week and another partner may want to have pasta once per month. Now, if conversations about their desire for pasta were to escalate and create distance in the relationship, leaving partners feeling depressed or anxious, one could understand how people find themselves feeling stuck.

As it relates to sexual desire, sometimes people find themselves in conflict with their partners when one partner wants sex more or less frequently than another and that conflict creates relational distress. When sex is a source of distress relationally, it is responsible for 50% to 75% of relationship satisfaction or lack thereof. Sex therapists can help clients address sexual desire discrepancies by introducing cognitive and behavioral strategies and providing psycho-education on desire to help clients identify contexts that support their sexual desire and learn ways to reconnect that feel pleasurable to each person involved.

Latest Sex Positions

View More Positions More Icon