Sex Therapy: Its Objectives, Advantages, and Additional Thoughts!

A close relationship may be associated with enjoyable activities but may also be accompanied by disruptive feelings, like discomfort and pain. If you have challenges with a sexual relationship, think about consulting a professional sex therapist.

What Constitutes Sex Therapy?

Sex therapy is a unique mode of psychotherapy where a clinician, trained and licensed to practice, applies the relevant and appropriate sex therapy techniques, addressing emotional and psychological concerns of intimacy and sex, and helping the patient overcome their difficulties.

In addition, it aims to restore physical systems and enhance the partners’ interactions.

It represents a sizable part of sexual therapy that rests on the foundations of standard talk therapy. As with talk therapy, the therapist often begins with an intake to collect relevant biographic data about the issues that need to be resolved to create a therapy plan. There is not only a history that must be gathered about the problem from the patients, but attempts must also be made to solve it. It is, in essence, dumbroff, a Madison, NJ sex therapist, explains that a person’s sexual self is shaped by their sexual and relational history.

Dumbroff further adds, “and all the messages we get from culture, religion, and family about sex meaning and its significance.”

Feeling understood by someone in a secure, private, trust-enshrouded environment is priceless, and while therapist guidance isn’t necessary, therapists foster meaningful change through offering constructive strategies.

“When we lack a feasible resolution for a problem, we often seek external assistance. Imagine you’re unwell, and your cold has progressed to a point where it’s encompassing your chest. Perhaps you need an antibiotic. So, you go to a physician,” shares Dumbroff. “And your relationships, personal milestones, or your happiness are at an impasse due to certain factors, then seeking sex therapy may help.”

Types of Sex Therapy

Almost all, if not every, sex therapy can be aligned with psychotherapy as it involves counseling whereby patients are expected to narrate their feelings and their personalities. Some therapists also practice sensate focus therapy. “There are multiple pathways in sex therapy designed to address distinct difficulties foremost,” added Dr. Lisa Lawless, a sex therapist and CEO of Holistic Wisdom based in Bend, Oregon.

Talk Therapy

As Dr.

As Lawless will explain in this article, these are some of the most popular techniques of psychosexual therapy.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT revolves around problem areas related to an individual’s sexual relations and emotionally negative thoughts and beliefs that are intertwined with it. Also, it helps procrastination of more helpful methods. As Lawless explains, CBT is effective for those with anxiety, so it is with them.
• Psychodynamic Therapy: As Lawless stated, psychodynamic therapies are for people who reflect on their past, the people with whom they had relationships, and how these relationships have shaped their present self. Lawless states, “This approach works on your relationships or events from way back and analyses how they impact your sexual life at present, looking out for hidden forces dragging you down behind the curtains.”
• Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT): Lawless explains further: “To be emotional is a general feature of being human and human identity.” And so, “This method goes under the intimacy issues and works on the emotional aspects underneath to draw couples toward each other and to deeper wounds which together they hide under the skin of physical proximity.”
• Mindfulness Therapies: Lawless points out that mindfulness therapies work while focusing on the present moment, which is beneficial for one’s mental health, and applying such techniques aids the individual’s well-being.. She adds, “It is conducive with low desire issues, and with anxiety, as it helps someone focus their attention on connection and sensations rather than a turbulent sea of thoughts filled with worry.”
• Systemic Therapy: Lawless describes systemic therapy as focusing on the ‘big picture’, meaning the clinician analyzes a number of contextual relational systems, such as intimate relationships, friendships, and family networks, and their possible influences on the sexual health domains.[7] “This therapy is usually applied to assist couples in managing relationship challenges, for example, some communication or other unresolved issues that interfere with their intimacy,” she elaborates.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Lawless states that the defining characteristic of ACT is accepting feelings beyond one’s control, but not allowing those feelings to control oneself. “There are those who are stuck in negative thoughts about sex or intimacy. This therapy helps them confront and address what matters in their relationships,” she adds. Also, ACT works to assist individuals in actively disengaging from self-defeating value behaviors.

Focus Therapy

Lawless defines sensate connect as “a behavioral approach to intercourse therapy that allows partners to revive their corporeal bond devoid of copulation.” [9] Clients are provided with tasks restricted to contact and escalating in intimacy stepwise.

“Its benefits for couples struggling with desire imbalance or performance anxiety are profound,” underscores Lawless. “It assists couples recovering from ‘intimacy burnout’ in overcoming intimacy issues through a more connection-based approach instead of genital-focused sex.”

What Conditions Can Sex Therapy Be Used to Treat?

Sexual functioning, relationships, or sexuality may require therapy due to some mental blocks. The process of sex involves a profound interplay between the mind and the body, and the intricacies of these intertwining elements could benefit from therapeutic intervention.

In particular, sex therapy is effective for the following challenges:

• Arousal issues
• Erectile dysfunction (ED)
• Ejaculation, either premature or delayed
• Dyspareunia
• Sexual problems stemming from trauma
• Negative feelings (shame, anxiety) surrounding sexual activity
• Gender or sexual identity concerns
• Poor body image of sexual activity
• Internalized messages from culture, religion, or society about sex
• Desire disparity between couples in incongruous extremes or levels
• Nonviolent disputes involving intimacy or sexual disagreements in a romantic relationship
• Improvement in the dynamics of partner interactionsManaging sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Addiction to sex or pornography

As pointed out by Lawless, emotions and relational difficulties underlying a person are issues that can be addressed through sex therapy.

Conversely, bodily considerations such as STIs, painful sexual intercourse, or ED in her words require “your body’s” aid and physiologic therapies. She adds, “Your well-being” would enhance the outcomes of sex therapy.

Sex therapy often helps with ED or PE.

“Including sex therapy in an American Urological Association’s curriculum of teaching therapies indicates the blending of medicine with holistic frameworks,” remarks Murray. “Here, the therapist handles the emotional conflicts, while the doctor’s realm of responsibility is the corporeal aspects of the illness.”

What Does Research Say About Sex Therapy?

The literature suggests that sex therapy has benefits across a broad spectrum of concerns.

For instance, one systematic review and meta-analysis of eighteen studies demonstrated that sex therapy not only enhanced sexual functioning but also improved interpersonal communication and satisfaction during intercourse.

In yet another one, there was a review and meta-analysis on the influence of the internet and mobile-based psychological instruments (IMIs) on sexual functioning and moderate levels of satisfaction. IMIs are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) sex therapy apps. Following a meta-analysis of twelve clinical studies, it was concluded that IMIs were “substantially more effective” than control conditions for males and females’ sexual function and in women’s sexual satisfaction.

Moreover, a meta-review and evaluation of 11 studies with 449 participants showed that mindfulness incorporated into sex therapy helped treat female sexual dysfunction. Furthermore, one of the studies that formed part of this meta-evaluation—a randomized control trial with 70 women with low sexual desire—found that sex therapy with mindfulness components was beneficial for their condition.

In another preliminary study with 28 younger males diagnosed with non-organic psychological erectile dysfunction, the authors reported that cognitive behavioral sex therapy and sildenafil had comparable effectiveness in symptom relief of erectile dysfunction.

Getting Started With Sex Therapy

The interplay of your mental health and the intimate dynamics of your personal life may necessitate booking an appointment.

What Is a Typical Session Of Sex Therapy Like?

Similar to other forms of talking therapy, sex therapy begins through dialogue, focusing on the area of sex. Lawless informs us, “We always want to know what your concerns are, your personal life, and what objectives you wish to attain as treatment goals for the sessions you have chosen to start.” The sessions last about 45 – 60 minutes.

Sex therapy, as Dubroff points out, does not include any physical interaction from the therapist’s side or another participant’s side. If there is a request to ‘participate’, it may be regarded as a request to take simple hand-holding, which constitutes the entire touch of a sex therapist’s touch, and these happen within the client’s domicile.

She continues: “Intimate issues will be resolved, but emphasis will be on the conversation.”

Lawless observes that for most people, talking about intimacy tends to be difficult, but in this case, the therapists really know how to make it safe for you. They will offer a safe place without any form of judgment, and you will be able to share your story on your own time.

As she explains, “Every session is tailored to your exact preferences. To some degree, cognitively and affectively, grappling with oneself about another human being could be a goal. In other sessions, mindfulness or relaxation techniques might be included to alleviate appearance anxiety. Nothing is set in stone. The therapist relies on you to uncover delicate details that provide sensitive revisions, guiding you towards a carefully constructed blueprint you co-create together.”

Action Steps in Selecting a Sex Therapy Services Provider

Like many health professions, sex therapy is not readily visible in today’s world, as Lawless points out, “AASECT, The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists, has a directory of practitioners which is searchable, so it’s one of the better places to search for a certified sex therapist. There is also a similar directory from the Society for Sex Therapy and Research. Sometimes local clinics or organizations such as Planned Parenthood offer low-cost referral services and, at times, sexual health services.”

Lawless provided helpful Information: “Some therapists will have some of their fees covered under insurance, but whether or not that applies to their case needs to be confirmed.” As Lawless outlines, “Many therapists also offer sliding fee scales based on income, which expands accessibility for those without insurance.”

What to Expect in Your First Session of Sexual Therapy

Lawless proposes creating a list detailing issues/challenges to be tackled in preparation for a session, and adding that a treatment plan can also be beneficial.

Be prepared to share Information about your physical health and medication history, especially mental health, as certain conditions and medications can impact sexual wellness, she notes.

If you are attending as a couple, discussing shared goals as an expectant pair during the session sets the groundwork for realistic expectations, whether to improve communication, restore intimacy, or resolve an issue,” she explains.

Who Shouldn’t Try Sex Therapy?

Lawless sex therapy is not appropriate for everyone. Patients struggling with severe mental health illnesses, such as untreated depression, anxiety, or even schizophrenia, “an effective treatment plan requires those first,” she explains.

“Abuse victims have varied priorities and a focus that requires them to be kept away from immediate harm,” she illustrates. “Here, therapy often focuses on intimacy instead of providing safety. There needs to be a safe environment full of care and protection where intimacy is added toward fully functioning relationships.”

Lawless points out that for patients with a history of sexual abuse, the therapist must be trained in trauma-informed care.

“Because of the intricacy of feelings involved, support systems are necessary in dealing with emotional trauma, and she notes that support systems assist rather than add to the complications.”

The key takeaway

Within the domains of parasitic sexological psychological disorders, support systems seem to stand out the most, and consequently can be addressed within sexual health counseling. While a qualified sex therapist may not be able to diagnose or treat a condition medically, their psychotherapies, especially when offered alongside other treatments, seem to provide some level of relief, implying a degree of effectiveness. If worries stem from a sexual closeness issue and by bearing psychological and emotional burdens regarding sex that make intimacy difficult with a spouse, struggling to resolve these matters, then seeing a skilled clinician is very likely to help.