Sex Therapy
Have You And Your Partner Encountered Sexual Intimacy Issues?
Are there discrepancies between what you and your partner want in the bedroom?
Do you feel like you aren’t getting your sexual needs met in the relationship?
And are you afraid that if you truly open up about your desires, your partner(s) will judge you or feel hurt?
Perhaps one or both of you are feeling unsatisfied in your sex life. Whether you’re concerned about frequency or introducing new elements into your sex life, you may not know how to approach the subject with your partner. Instead, feelings of rejection, inadequacy, and low self-esteem may have crept into your intimate relationship, preventing you from having satisfying sex.
There might also be physical limitations keeping you from enjoying sex. Maybe you struggle with erectile dysfunction or pelvic floor disorder, but you weren’t aware that counseling could help. Frustrated that sex feels painful or burdensome, you probably wonder if the sexual intimacy issues impacting your relationship will last forever.
Cultural Competency And Awareness Are Essential When Addressing Sexuality
You may have considered couples counseling or sex therapy to address your intimacy concerns but feel ashamed of or intimidated by the process. Or maybe you’re in a unique situation—including a polyamorous relationship or same-sex couple—and you’re worried that the average therapist won’t have the experience or cultural competence to offer meaningful insight.
Many of your fears could be resolved if you learned how to communicate your desires, fantasies, and needs effectively. Luckily, in sex therapy, you can gain the knowledge and skills required to achieve intimacy and satisfaction in your relationship.
Have any questions? Send us a message!
True Intimacy Can Be Hard To Achieve And Maintain
All relationships experience desire discrepancy—in other words, “situations where one partner wants to have sex [or a certain kind of sex] and the other doesn’t.” It’s estimated that 80 percent of couples experience these differences, and that sexual intimacy issues are a driving force behind a variety of marital conflicts.
There are many reasons for desire discrepancies. Gender stereotypes would have us think that men want sex all the time while women are never interested. In addition, there is a lot of pressure for men to perform sexually—which can be an underlying cause of erectile dysfunction—and cultural norms perpetuate the idea that satisfying sex revolves entirely around achieving orgasm. As a result, partners place a lot of expectations on themselves and each other to conform to this narrow definition of intimacy.
Unfortunately, sex remains a taboo topic, so it’s hard to dispel myths and misconceptions. Most of us were never given the proper vocabulary, tools, or validation to discuss sexual intimacy issues, especially if we were raised in very strict or religious households.
But sex is a normal—and essential—part of being human. And in counseling, you can have an opportunity to explore your sexuality in a fulfilling, affirming way.
Sex Therapy Can Enhance Intimacy And Satisfaction Within Your Relationship
The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) believes in the “fundamental value of sexuality as an inherent, essential, and beneficial dimension of being human.” As an AASECT-certified therapist, We will provide you with a safe, respectful environment where you can freely discuss your sex life without fear of judgment.
We offer sex counseling to both couples and individual clients. If you’re seeking individual sex therapy—whether or not you’re partnered—we can use our sessions to explore your sexual history, address past trauma, and develop communication skills to help you express your needs. And if you’re in a couple (including a polyamorous relationship), we’ll use sex therapy sessions to address intimacy issues together. Whatever the case may be, we will individualize the counseling process to align with your needs.
Our Approach
We aim to see the “whole picture” of our clients’ experiences while exploring their sexuality. Taking into consideration your family-of-origin and early relationships, we will work together to understand where you learned about sex and how it plays into your identity. If you or your partner have been affected by sexual trauma, we will make sure to gently address those issues as they become relevant.
With our guidance, you can expect improved communication about your needs, fantasies, desires, likes, and dislikes. As we strategize about ways that you can better meet your partner’s needs, we’ll also discuss the vital importance of consent. And because we are closely involved with AASECT, we stay current on all developments in the field of sex therapy.
We know that reaching out to a complete stranger about the most intimate details of your life and partnership can be scary, but counseling can make a difference. With the help and support we offer in sex therapy, you can have a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling relationship. Not only will counseling allow your sex life to improve—it will also benefit your overall well-being.
Perhaps You’re Interested In Working With A Sex Therapist But You Have Some Concerns…
Counseling with a sex therapist will be awkward or embarrassing.
Because we conduct all sex therapy sessions via a secure online platform, you never have to worry about running into someone you know in the office. This process is entirely confidential, and you’re protected by HIPAA, so nothing you say in counseling will ever be shared without your consent.
In addition, I’m confident that once you get to know me, you’ll see that I’m easy to talk to and that the therapeutic atmosphere is supportive and nonjudgmental. Sex is like any other topic discussed in therapy: the more you talk about it, the easier it becomes to discuss.
Sex therapy sounds expensive.
Sex therapy is an area of expertise that requires extensive training, so it costs a little more than working with a counselor who doesn’t have specialized training. However, because you’ll be working with an expert, your time in treatment is likely to be shorter and more cost-effective. Results are not always guaranteed, but many of our clients report positive changes in their relationships after just a few sessions.
I can’t convince my partner to attend sex counseling for couples.
If your partner is opposed to attending sex therapy as a couple, we can still do meaningful work in individual counseling. We’ll use our time to address your sexual history, presenting concerns, and effective communication tactics that will help to enhance intimacy between you and your partner. Who knows? Maybe they’ll be so impressed by the progress you make in sex therapy, your partner will want to start participating with you.
Enhance The Intimacy In Your Life
Your sex life is important! If you (and your partner) experience sexual intimacy issues, counseling offers a safe space for exploration and resolution.
To schedule a free, 15-minute consultation to discuss our approach to sex therapy, email us or call 817-887-8157.
Recent Posts
