Definition:
Sex Therapy is the application of professional and ethical skills to deal with the problems of sexual function of people. It assumes recognition of the concept that sexuality is of legitimate concern to professionals and that it is the right of individuals to expect expert knowledge when seeking remedies with sexual concerns. Sex Therapists and Clinical Sexologists focus their specialized skills to help individuals and/or couples to deal with their sexual concerns.
Medical News Today – 2022
Sex therapy is a type of talk therapy designed to help individuals and couples experiencing issues achieving sexual satisfaction.
Physical, psychological, and emotional factors can all cause sexual challenges. A sex therapist’s goal is to help a person or couple address these issues and obtain a more fulfilling sex life.
Sex therapy does not involve sexual contact between clients and therapists.
Sex therapy can help people identify and work through their sexual challenges, such as low sex drive, pain during sex, and difficulty having an orgasm. It can help improve sexual satisfaction.
Sex therapy may benefit anyone who wants to improve their relationship with sex and pleasure. It can be especially helpful for those who have difficulty with a lack of arousal, painful intercourse, an inability to reach orgasm, or other sexual dysfunctions.
Sex therapy does not require both partners. Some people may benefit from individual therapy sessions, while others may find couples sex therapy more useful.
Generally, the client and sex therapist discuss any experiences, emotions, and concerns that may contribute to the client’s sexual dissatisfaction and challenges. They will also work on coping mechanisms to help them build a more satisfying sex life.
Sex therapists might also give their clients “homework.” This may vary depending on the individual or couple and can include assignments designed to increase sexual education and improve communication between partners. Sex therapists also may assign sexual experimentation and sensate focus homework.
If they suspect a physical concern is behind the sexual challenges, the therapist may refer the client to a medical doctor. In turn, the doctor and therapist may work together to address the physical issue while guiding the client toward reaching their sexual goals.
Healthline – 2018
Sex therapy is a type of talk therapy that’s designed to help individuals and couples address medical, psychological, personal, or interpersonal factors impacting sexual satisfaction.
The goal of sex therapy is to help people move past physical and emotional challenges to have a satisfying relationship and pleasurable sex life.
Sexual dysfunction is common. In fact, 43 percent of women and 31 percent of men report experiencing some type of sexual dysfunction during their lifetimes.
A fulfilling sex life is healthy and natural. Physical and emotional intimacy are essential parts of your well-being. When sexual dysfunction occurs, having that fulfilling sex life can be difficult.
Sex therapy may be able to help you reframe your sexual challenges and increase your sexual satisfaction.
Sex therapy is like any type of psychotherapy. You treat the condition by talking through your experiences, worries, and feelings.
Together with your therapist, you then work out coping mechanisms to help improve your responses in the future so that you can have a healthier sex life.
During your initial appointments, your therapist will either talk with just you or with you and your partner together.
With each session, your therapist will continue to push you toward better management and acceptance of your concerns that may be leading to sexual dysfunction. All talk therapy, including sex therapy, is both a supportive and an educational environment.
It’s meant to provide comfort and encouragement for change. You will likely leave your therapist’s office with assignments and work to do before your next appointment.
If your therapist suspects the dysfunction you’re experiencing is the result of a physical sexual concern, they may refer you to a medical doctor.
Your therapist and the doctor can consult about your signs and symptoms and work to help find any physical concerns that may be contributing to greater sexual problems.
One way to determine if you need to see a sex therapist instead of another type of talk therapist is to analyze what parts of your life are the most affected by how you feel right now.
If your quality of life and emotional health are greatly affected by your sexual dysfunction, it’s a good idea to see a sex therapist. Likewise, if a lack of intimacy or difficulty communicating with a partner leads as your most serious personal concern, a sex therapist is the place to start.