What is a Sex Therapist?
Talking about sex can be hard. Perhaps you’ve been going through intimacy issues with your partner. You’ve had pain during sex, you and your partner have been feeling resentful and ashamed, and you hesitate to bring this up even with your regular therapist.
That’s when a sex therapist can step in. In sex therapy, with the help of a trained professional, you can develop healthier and more satisfying intimate connections.
What is a Sex Therapist?
A sex therapist is a professional who specializes in the field of sexual health and relationships. They are trained to address a wide range of concerns related to human sexuality, including sexual dysfunction, sexual trauma, communication issues, sexual identity, and intimacy problems. Sex therapists provide a safe and non-judgmental space for both individuals and couples to explore and resolve their sexual difficulties.
To become a sex therapist, a person typically undergoes specialized training and education after their primary mental health or healthcare background. Many sex therapists hold advanced degrees in fields such as psychology, social work, or marriage and family therapy.
During their training, a sex therapist learns about various aspects of human sexuality, including anatomy, physiology, psychology, and sociocultural issues. They also develop skills in conducting comprehensive assessments, developing personalized treatment plans, and using evidence-based interventions to address a client’s sexual concerns.
What Can Sex Therapy Treat?
People of many ages and backgrounds seek sex therapy for a variety of issues. Sometimes, someone in individual or couples therapy may be referred to a sex therapist for more specialized treatment. It’s important to note that not all people seeing a sex therapist are in a relationship or are even sexually active. Sex therapists are trained to address such issues as:
- Anxiety around sexual activity
- Fear of sex
- Erectile dysfunction
- Premature ejaculation
- Pain during sex
- Difficulty achieving orgasm
- Issues around sexual trauma and shame
- Mismatched libidos in couples
- Struggles with intimacy
- Improving communication about sex
- Infidelity
- Discovering sexual identity
- Coping with an STI diagnosis
What Happens in a Sex Therapy Session?
While the thought of a sex therapy session might make you uncomfortable, a therapist is well-equipped to help you open up about your issues. Most likely, your therapist will start by asking questions about your sexual history, your sex education, beliefs you hold about sex, and the issues that brought you into the session.
If your issue is physiological, you may need diagnostic tests. Your therapist may then employ a variety of techniques, including talk therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based techniques, and practical homework. Your homework might include experimentation with a partner, new communication strategies, and more comprehensive sex education.
If you’re seeing a sex therapist with a partner, they may also have you do sensate-focused exercises to work on building trust and intimacy. Sensate focus gets you to work on touching your partner in progressively intimate stages. It’s important to note that you will never have sexual contact with or in front of a sex therapist.
Should You Consider Sex Therapy?
Sex therapy offers people a safe space to discuss their sexual concerns, learn effective coping strategies, and develop healthier behaviors. If you’ve been struggling with your sexual identity, have physiological issues surrounding sex, or haven’t been connecting with your partner, you may benefit from seeing a sex therapist. They’re trained to help clients gain a better understanding of their own bodies, desires, and boundaries, leading to increased sexual self-confidence and satisfaction. Moreover, sex therapy can foster improved communication and intimacy within relationships so that they’re mutually fulfilling.
To find out more about how sex therapy can help you overcome sexual difficulties, please reach out to us.
