"Erotic intelligence stretches far beyond a repertoire of sexual techniques. It is an intelligence that celebrates curiosity and play, the power of the imagination, and our infinite fascination with what is hidden and mysterious.”
- Esther Perel
What is sex therapy?
We believe that all areas of our health (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, sexual, etc.) are connected and affect how we feel in our day to day lives. Therefore, sexual health is an integral part of our overall well-being. Sadly, we live in a society that often leaves out crucial information when teaching us about sex and sexuality. This can cultivate a great deal of shame, confusion, guilt, and fear when it comes to this area of health.
Sex therapy is just like an individual and relationship counseling session. Sessions are usually 50-90 minutes long, and we use talk therapy to address sexual concerns in relationships, dating, body image, and pleasure. Sex therapy sessions tend to put a particular emphasis on sexual health, functioning, and satisfaction, among other stressors you may be dealing with within your life.
What issues can be treated through sex therapy?
Sex therapy can be helpful for a wide array of issues. Most sex therapists specialize in only a few of the areas covered in training to be a sex therapist since there is such a broad spectrum of issues.
We may be an excellent fit for therapy if you are looking to address issues related to:
Pain with sex/intercourse
Low or absent sexual desire
Desire discrepancies in your relationship
Sexual shame
Sexual shame through spirituality
Sexual trauma
Sex after having children
Difficulty with orgasm
Difficulty maintaining erections or rapid ejaculation
Navigating changes in sexual desire or arousal
Navigating sex through life transitions like having a baby, singlehood, divorce, menopause, stressful life events, etc.
Infidelity
Infertility
If you have more questions on additional ways sex therapy can be helpful, please feel free to reach out to us, and we'll be more than happy to answer your questions.
Who can benefit from sex therapy?
Sex therapy can benefit anyone who would like to improve their sexual health, functioning, and satisfaction. Since sexual health is an essential part of overall health, it deserves the time and attention we usually spend on our other areas of health.
What can i expect from the process?
For individuals seeking sex therapy, the first session or two will be about getting to know each other and goals for treatment. Your therapist ask you questions about your family, personal history, and how/what you learned about sex and pleasure. In the third session, your therapist will provide a general plan for to move forward with therapy based on your goals. This plan will include how we will use our time and what we will address in therapy, as well as the tools and techniques you can use at home to help in the process.
For couples seeking sex therapy, the first session will be you as the couple and your therapist all together so your therapist can ask questions about your goals for treatment and your relationship history as a couple. The next two sessions will be done individually so your therapist can ask each of you about your personal family histories and how/what you learned about sex and pleasure. All will come back together in the fourth session to go over our plan for therapy.
Do not be surprised if we discuss tools and techniques that have to do with communication, self-care, and other topics that may seem unrelated to sex. Sexual health is affected by other areas of functioning, and sometimes other areas need to be made a priority as well.
How long does therapy take?
There is no easy answer to this question. Resolving issues around sexual health, functioning, and satisfaction can be very complicated. Quality therapy and emotional work tend to take more time than we hope sometimes. The length of treatment will depend on how long the problem has been occurring, who is involved, and how often you attend sessions, among other factors.
Do you treat all kinds of relationships?
We are an LGBTQIA+ and polyamorous affirming therapy practice. Judgment, shame, and guilt are not a part of the therapeutic environment we strive to create.
Do we have to jump right into talking about my sex life?
No! This process is about you. Everyone’s journey is different, and we can take the pace that feels appropriate to you. Additionally, many times other areas of health that affect our sexual functioning need to be addressed first before we move to talk about sexual satisfaction. If you want to jump right into talking about sex, we can do that too!
Will what I talk about in therapy be confidential? How will you protect my privacy?
Everything you say in therapy is protected and confidential, with a few exceptions. If you permit your therapist to discuss your treatment with others, if there is any abuse of a child or elder you report, or if your therapist is compelled by a court to testify, then we will have cause to break confidentiality.
Otherwise, we take your privacy very seriously. We will not disclose any information about your treatment to anyone without your permission. We am not authorized to let anyone know you are even in therapy if you do not say so first. If you are worried about waiting in a waiting room with other people at either of our offices, please feel free to discuss options to protect your confidentiality with your therapist before our first session.