Sex Therapy
Are you experiencing sex related issues ? Are you and your partner experiencing issues communicating sexual desires? Sex therapy may be able to help!
Sex is such a taboo subject which can make it difficult for individuals to open up and discuss it freely. Perhaps you and your partner are having trouble communicating your sexual desires and would like help improving your sex life. Maybe you’re nervous about expressing and exploring your sexual desires individually or with your partner. Maybe a past trauma or negative experience has you feeling stuck in your sex life. In your therapy session, your therapist will create a safe and judgement free space for you to discuss issues that you may experiencing during sex, sexual fears and/or discomforts, desires, orientation and various other topics related to sex.
What can sex therapy help with?
Sex therapy can be for individuals or for couples! Sex therapy can be beneficial for anyone looking to explore any of the following:
- Explore sexuality or sexual orientation
- Navigating desire discrepancies
- BDSM & Kink
- Polyamory
- Masturbation
- Stress in sex
- Improve communication of desires with your partner
- Improve intimacy
- Pain during sex
- Navigating past sexual traumas
- Overcoming infidelity
- Enhance sex life overall
- Exploring new avenues of sexual pleasure
- Navigating sex life post childbirth or other life transitions
- Working through sexual dysfunctions
Reach out to us today to get matched up with one of our therapists that specialize in sex therapy!
What does a Sex Therapist do?
Our therapists specialize in the mental, physical and emotional aspect of sex and sexuality. They are there to help individuals and/or couples engage with their sexual side and explore different forms of stimulations, feelings and be more attentive and engaged with our bodies during sex. Sex therapists help individuals get to the bottom of sexual issues and make sex a more positive experience. In the session, nothing sexual in nature will occur, but you may be provided with exercises to try at home such as exercises to increase the sensation of touching and increase intimacy. Your therapist may also focus on mindfulness training which teaches individuals how to block out negative thoughts about your body and performance during the act of sex, and have you focus on your body’s reaction to sexual stimulation.
What happens in a sex therapy session?
Of course every client and session is completely different, so sessions with your therapist will be unique to you and your unique needs and personality. Sex therapy sessions aren’t markedly different from your average talk therapy session, but there are some key pieces your therapist may focus on. First and foremost, the therapeutic alliance is key – we’ll be chatting about sex and intimacy which are taboo for many, so it’s important you feel comfortable with your therapist and safe discussing tough stuff. Along side your therapist, you’ll work to better understand your beliefs about sex, your past experiences and of course, your goals for yourself. You may work through past traumas together or develop practical strategies for improving communication and deepening intimacy. Your therapist may provide you with activities, homework or psychoeducation on different topics. Techniques can vary from masturbation exercises to practice at home to exploring sexual values. Sex therapy often involves a lot of self esteem and confidence building work, as well as values work – helping you become the person you want to be. What’s important to know is that during the process, your therapist will regular assess for your comfort and will go at your pace!
What are some sex therapy strategies to help me?
Introduction to Sensate Focus
Sensate focus is an exercise with several different stages and degrees of touch and intimacy, designed for partners to increase your awareness of you and your partners sensations, needs & desires and develop intimacy skills! Sensate focus is designed to be a longer-term intervention, but here’s some tips to get started!
Set ground rules! This typical involves no intercourse or masturbation throughout stages 1-4.
Plan it out! For best practice, it’s best to set aside time to connect a minimum of 3 times per week
Ground yourself! It’s best to enter this experience with an open heart and mind and willingness to learn and grow.
When you’re ready, you can enter Sensate Focus stage 1: Non-Genital Touching
Touch and explore eac hother, noting sensations, and speaking up if anything is painful or uncomfortable at any point. Genitals and breasts are off limits for this stage!
Sexual Scripts
1) Write out the steps you think you and your partner go through during a sexual encounter. Begin with the point where you or your partner show an interest being sexual together to the point where the sexual encounter ends.
2) For each step, write down was is typically said and done by each partner and what you think each behaviour means
3) Compare what you and your partner came up with. How are your sexual scripts the same? How do they differ? Are there any misunderstandings?
4) Determine which aspects of the sexual script you’d like to change.
5) Start rewriting a sexual script together! Compromise to ensure each person gets at least some changes they are seeking.
6) Periodically check in and repeat this process to stay on the same page and continue enhancing your sexual scripts!