About sex therapy...
What is it?
Sex therapy is psychotherapy, or talk therapy, focused on helping an individual or couple(+) address their sexual health concerns. There is never any kind of physical contact between the therapist and client(s).
Sex therapy is frequently integrated in relationship therapy, as sexual concerns/wonderings often have relational components. However, individual sex therapy is still very helpful for many sexual health concerns. Sexual health concerns may be all that you would like to address in counselling, but more often than not, it is only one aspect of why many seek help.
Psychotherapists must first obtain a masters degree where they learn to treat a broad range of general issues, such as depression, anxiety and trauma, before they go on to develop specialized knowledge in treating sexual and relational issues. Becoming a Certified Sex Therapist with the Board of Examiners in Sex Therapy and Counselling in Ontario is a rigorous process involving additional training, supervision and examination.
In sex therapy, you may expect:
To feel comfortable openly talking about your sexual concerns or wonderings
To feel more comfortable with your sexuality
To feel respected, heard and understood, free of judgement
To collaboratively determine the best course of treatment
To experience direct questions about your sexual thoughts, feelings, behaviours and sexual history for the purpose of assessment and to develop strategies to address your concerns or wonderings
To answer as much as you feel comfortable
To be assigned home practice, individually or with your partner(s)
To get the recommendation that you speak with a physician to rule out physical causes for the sexual concern(s) in question
To get the recommendation of pelvic floor physiotherapy in addition to sex therapy.
To get accurate, evidenced-based information about your body and sexuality from a sex-positive framework
some examples of Concerns that may be addressed Through sex therapy
Low sexual desire/desire discrepancy
Alternative relationship navigation (CNM, Swinging, Poly etc)
Sexual shame/negativity
Sexually-related fears and phobias
Sexual assertiveness & communication
Self-acceptance
Gender concerns/wonderings
LGBTQIA+ concerns/wonderings
Pain with intercourse
Lack of sexual knowledge
Body image concerns
Embracing pleasure
Navigating kinks & fetishes
Performance anxiety
Erectile dysfunction
Premature/delayed ejaculation
Anorgasmia (difficulty with orgasm)
Fertility-related concerns
Intimacy related concerns
Out of control sexual behaviours
