Sexuality & Intimacy Issues

Initially, the therapist will conduct an assessment which will typically include asking clients about their sexual histories, what they have learned about sex, their beliefs about sex, and the presenting concern they are attending therapy to discuss. In sex therapy, there’s a lot of discussion of emotional health, relationships and communication, debunking cultural myths, awareness of the body’s sensations, and changing our (potentially unhealthy) perception of self and others. The therapist will often assign homework to the couple, homework assignments may include experimenting with new experiences during sex, for example using toys or engaging in role play, sensate focus which involves exploring each other’s bodies in a non-sexual way and gradually moving toward a sexual focus over time, education about sex and how the body responds to arousal, and communicating your desires with you partner. For example, communicating if you would like to engage in power play, BDSM, kinks, and so on. Many of these preferences are normal as long as they are consensual.

Sometimes, sexual issues also have to do with having gone through traumatic events, especially sexual trauma. If this is the case eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy or cognitive processing therapy might be a good fit for the partner who has experienced trauma in conjunction with sex therapy.