You can ask your primary care provider for a referral to a sex therapist, or you might check with a local hospital or medical center to see whether they have a sexual medicine clinic. Your health insurer or employee assistance program may offer recommendations as well. 0715328866

How you prepare

You can ask your primary care provider for a referral to a sex therapist, or you might check with a local hospital or medical center to see whether they have a sexual medicine clinic. Your health insurer or employee assistance program may offer recommendations as well. 0715328866

As another option, you can check with a professional organization, such as AASECT. Or look on the professional organization websites of psychologists, licensed clinical social workers and psychiatrists to locate a licensed and qualified sex therapy provider.

Before scheduling sessions with a sex therapist, consider whether the therapist would be a good fit for you. You might ask questions like those below.

• Education and experience. What is your educational and training background? Are you licensed by the state? Are you credentialed by AASECT? What's your experience with my type of sexual issue?
• Logistics. Where is your office? What are your office hours?
• Treatment plan. How long is each session? How often are sessions scheduled? How long might I expect treatment to continue? What is your policy on canceled sessions?
• Fees and insurance. How much do you charge for each session? Are your services covered by my health insurance plan? Will I need to pay the full fee upfront?

Before your appointment

Prepare for your appointment by making a list of:

• Details of your problem, including when it started, whether it's always present or comes and goes, professionals you've seen, and treatments you've tried and their outcomes
• Key personal information, including your medical conditions and any major stresses or recent life changes
• All medications that you're taking, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, other supplements or herbal preparations, and their dosages
• Questions to ask your therapist about your sexual concerns

What you can expect

You'll likely begin sex therapy by describing your specific sexual concerns. Sexual issues can be complicated, and your therapist will want to get a clear idea of all the factors involved. This typically involves an initial in-depth assessment of your background and presenting sexual or relationship concerns. Once your sex therapist understands the situation, you and your therapist will discuss ways to resolve your concerns and improve your communication and intimacy.

Talking about sex and intimacy may initially feel awkward or cause you anxiety, but sex therapists are trained at putting you at ease and are skilled at identifying and exploring sexual concerns.

If you're in a relationship, it's usually most helpful to involve your partner in meetings with your sex therapist. You and your partner will likely be assigned a series of homework exercises, such as:

• Communication exercises with your partner
• Slowing down and focusing on what you're sensing during intimate encounters, for example, mindfulness techniques
• Reading or watching educational videos about sexual health
• Changing the way you interact with your partner both sexually and non sexually

Sex therapy is usually short term. Some concerns can be addressed quickly, in just a few visits. Typically, however, several counseling sessions are needed.

As sex therapy progresses, you can use your home experiences to further identify and refine the issues you'd like to work on. Remember, sexual coaching that involves physical contact is not part of mainstream sex therapy and is against the ethics of licensed mental health professionals.

Other issues

Keep in mind that concerns about sex and intimacy are often linked to other underlying issues, such as stress, anxiety or depression. In other cases, sexual function is affected by chronic illness, medication side effects, surgery or aging.

Depending on your concerns and your physical health, seeing only a sex therapist may be enough — or your sex therapist may be part of a team that includes your primary care provider and other health care professional. For some sexual concerns, medication may be helpful. A complete medical evaluation can help determine the nature of your problem and the treatment options that may be appropriate.

Results

Through sex therapy, you can learn to express your concerns clearly, better understand your own sexual needs and better understand your partner's sexual needs.

Remember, effective sex therapy requires trust and good communication with your therapist. If you don't feel comfortable or trusting of your sex therapist, consider discussing these concerns in a therapy session, or finding another therapist with whom you feel more comfortable.

 https://lovetherapyeducation.blogspot.com

How you prepare You can ask your primary care provider for a referral to a sex therapist, or you might check with a local hospital or medical center to see whether they have a sexual medicine clinic. Your health insurer or employee assistance program may offer recommendations as well 0715328866

How you prepare

You can ask your primary care provider for a referral to a sex therapist, or you might check with a local hospital or medical center to see whether they have a sexual medicine clinic. Your health insurer or employee assistance program may offer recommendations as well. 0715328866

As another option, you can check with a professional organization, such as AASECT. Or look on the professional organization websites of psychologists, licensed clinical social workers and psychiatrists to locate a licensed and qualified sex therapy provider.

Before scheduling sessions with a sex therapist, consider whether the therapist would be a good fit for you. You might ask questions like those below.

• Education and experience. What is your educational and training background? Are you licensed by the state? Are you credentialed by AASECT? What's your experience with my type of sexual issue?
• Logistics. Where is your office? What are your office hours?
• Treatment plan. How long is each session? How often are sessions scheduled? How long might I expect treatment to continue? What is your policy on canceled sessions?
• Fees and insurance. How much do you charge for each session? Are your services covered by my health insurance plan? Will I need to pay the full fee upfront?

Before your appointment

Prepare for your appointment by making a list of:

• Details of your problem, including when it started, whether it's always present or comes and goes, professionals you've seen, and treatments you've tried and their outcomes
• Key personal information, including your medical conditions and any major stresses or recent life changes
• All medications that you're taking, including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, other supplements or herbal preparations, and their dosages
• Questions to ask your therapist about your sexual concerns

What you can expect

You'll likely begin sex therapy by describing your specific sexual concerns. Sexual issues can be complicated, and your therapist will want to get a clear idea of all the factors involved. This typically involves an initial in-depth assessment of your background and presenting sexual or relationship concerns. Once your sex therapist understands the situation, you and your therapist will discuss ways to resolve your concerns and improve your communication and intimacy.

Talking about sex and intimacy may initially feel awkward or cause you anxiety, but sex therapists are trained at putting you at ease and are skilled at identifying and exploring sexual concerns.

If you're in a relationship, it's usually most helpful to involve your partner in meetings with your sex therapist. You and your partner will likely be assigned a series of homework exercises, such as:

• Communication exercises with your partner
• Slowing down and focusing on what you're sensing during intimate encounters, for example, mindfulness techniques
• Reading or watching educational videos about sexual health
• Changing the way you interact with your partner both sexually and non sexually

Sex therapy is usually short term. Some concerns can be addressed quickly, in just a few visits. Typically, however, several counseling sessions are needed.

As sex therapy progresses, you can use your home experiences to further identify and refine the issues you'd like to work on. Remember, sexual coaching that involves physical contact is not part of mainstream sex therapy and is against the ethics of licensed mental health professionals.

Other issues

Keep in mind that concerns about sex and intimacy are often linked to other underlying issues, such as stress, anxiety or depression. In other cases, sexual function is affected by chronic illness, medication side effects, surgery or aging.

Depending on your concerns and your physical health, seeing only a sex therapist may be enough — or your sex therapist may be part of a team that includes your primary care provider and other health care professional. For some sexual concerns, medication may be helpful. A complete medical evaluation can help determine the nature of your problem and the treatment options that may be appropriate.

Results

Through sex therapy, you can learn to express your concerns clearly, better understand your own sexual needs and better understand your partner's sexual needs.

Remember, effective sex therapy requires trust and good communication with your therapist. If you don't feel comfortable or trusting of your sex therapist, consider discussing these concerns in a therapy session, or finding another therapist with whom you feel more comfortable.

 https://lovetherapyeducation.blogspot.com

Sample Sensate Focus Exercise 0715328866

 Two of the most important elements in the success of sensate focus are an acceptance of mutual responsibility and a willingness to do homework as prescribed by the sex therapist. Mutual responsibility is critical because it frames sexual difficulties as a problem of the couple instead of a problem of the person who has been identified as "the patient."0715328866

Structured homework assignments are the component that separates sensate focus from other behavioral techniques. The hallmark of sensate focus is that it temporarily takes stressful behaviors off a couple’s sexual menu. Then, with the sources of stress removed, the therapist prescribes a specific recipe of steps to follow to improve the couple's sexual lives.

Sample Sensate Focus Exercise

Two of the principal goals of sensate focus are reducing performance anxiety and improving communication. A typical early homework assignment for a couple where one partner is experiencing erectile dysfunction might go something like this:

"I want you two to find two nights over the next week where you can spend at least an hour together. One of you will arrange the date on the first night, the other on the second. Whoever is arranging the date will set up the bedroom with clean sheets, nice light, and pleasant music that you two find relaxing.

"Before your date, you'll each take a warm shower to relax. Since you've told me you'd prefer to be wearing underwear for this first exercise, you'll do that. Then, the person setting up the date will help their partner get comfortable on the bed. They'll then spend half an hour exploring and enjoying the sensation of touching their partner's body. For now, we're going to avoid touching genitals, as we want to keep this experience low stress.

"After a half hour, you will switch. Then the other partner will have a chance to do the same type of exploration. The goal of this homework is not to give your partner a massage. Instead, it's to find enjoyment in touching, and being touched, without any expectations. That's why it's important to communicate throughout this date. Tell your partner what you like and what you don't like. Let them know what feels good, and if there's anything that makes you uncomfortable or that you'd like them to stop."

Why Sensate Focus Is Used

As a component of sex therapy, sensate focus has been shown to be effective at treating a number of different types of sexual dysfunction in women and men, including:1

• Pain during sex
• Premature ejaculation
• Erectile dysfunction
• Arousal disorders
• Desire disorders

Sensate focus is a couples-based intervention. It can be used for couples of all different ages, gender identities, and sexual orientations. Much of the research has been for heterosexual couples. Still, many therapists have adopted it for same sex and diverse orientation couples.

Effectiveness

There is a lot of research examining the use of sensate focus, alone or in combination with other techniques, to improve couples’ sexual satisfaction.2

Studies suggest that sensate focus is useful not just for addressing specific sexual problems but also for helping to improve sexual satisfaction in couples with more general dissatisfaction.

The technique has also been used as a component of sex therapy for people dealing with sexual difficulties as a result of medical conditions, such as breast cancer. Sensate focus is well-accepted by sex therapists and other physicians working with sexual dysfunction.

That's particularly true when it is used in combination with good education about sexual performance and function. Sensate focus is a very safe technique, and most individuals find it easy to follow. That is, in large part, because sensate focus is specifically designed as a slow and gentle process of reducing performance anxiety and stress around sexual activity.

Many sex therapists report that sensate focus is a straightforward and effective way to increase intimacy and connection among couples, same-sex and opposite-sex alike.2 However, not all couples or individual therapists are comfortable using sensate focus.

It's a technique that requires a great deal of comfort with discussion of explicit sexual topics. That's not something everyone has.

How to Find a Sex Therapist

There are several ways to go about finding a sex therapist. The most affordable is often to search the provider list for your insurance company. Look for a behavioral health practitioner who specializes in sex therapy.

You can also search therapist listings, like Psychology Today, for sex therapists and cross-reference that with your insurance list. Finally, the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists maintains a list of sex therapists on their website at AASECT.org. AASECT certified sex therapists are required to undergo both training and clinical supervision in sexual health and therapy techniques.

Be aware that not all sex therapists take insurance. The cost of sex therapy is likely to vary depending on where you live.

That said, sex therapy is often time-limited. Pure sex therapy is generally expected to last no more than 10-12 sessions. However, the number of sessions you need will vary depending on the problems you are looking to address and whether you are seeing a sex therapist for general therapy as well.

 https://lovetherapyeducation.blogspot.com

Need more support with sex or want to find out more about Sex Therapy? 0715328866

0715328866

One in four of us are dissatisfied by our sex lives. Yet there’s still a big stigma about going to Sex Therapy. Many people find the idea of speaking to a complete stranger about sex to be embarrassing. Some think that they should be able to sort out any problems they’re having by themselves.

But Sex Therapy actually has a very high satisfaction rate. People are often surprised by how effective it is. If you think you might benefit from Sex Therapy, why not come in for an initial consultation? Your counsellor will talk you through what it involves and how it can help. Here are some of the most common reasons that people come in for.

"I’ve gone off it"

This is by far the most common issue that people attend Sex Therapy to address. When we ‘go off’ sex with someone we enjoyed it with in the past, it can be mystifying, confusing and very unsettling.

Discovering when things changed is often the first stage of recovery. Then we can start to uncover why. Many life events can impact our sexual lives and responses - moving in together, losing a job, having a baby, grieving – the list is long. 

A sex therapist can help you work together to find out what will help you in approaching issues, taking time to understand what is happening for you. You will create a way forward that feels comfortable or maybe even exciting. This process may take a while but it’s important to stick with it - nurturing a long term fulfilling sexual relationship is something that happens over time.

"I can’t come"

Both individuals and couples, men and women, may experience this. It may be that you have never experienced an orgasm - or that you can’t any more.

Sex doesn’t have to end with climax, but if you do want this to happen, anxiety about getting it ‘right’, feeling angry or upset or not being sure any more about what works sexually for you can all contribute towards difficulty.

A sex therapist can help you to discover or rediscover what works for you through designing a series of tasks to do at home and helping you to talk openly with your partner - to communicate what works and what doesn’t.

Painful sex

It may be that, for a woman, intercourse simply hurts. In some cases, this can make it very difficult or even impossible to have penetrative sex.

Having the chance to just talk about the issue may in itself bring some relief. Your sex therapist will help you to explore your reactions to sex and get a more thorough understanding of your sense of pleasure and pain. They may also talk to you about opportunities for medical checks to rule out any physical cause.

"I can’t get (or keep) it up"

This is a very common problem for men – and something that most will experience at some point during their lives. An inability to get or maintain an erection can result from illness, surgery or trauma - or it may have been something you’ve always had problems with. Often just the anxiety of ‘will it work this time’ can make things worse.

Sex Therapy can be very helpful in revealing the best approach to address this problem. This can happen in combination with prescribed medication, or it may be that that the process of talking things through is enough to help things begin to change.

"I come too soon"

Once in a while, this may not be a big problem, but if it continues regularly it can make it difficult to maintain a satisfying sex life.

Coming too soon is something that lots of people worry about and can sometimes be caused by feeling anxious or not feeling fully focussed on what's going on. The good news is that Sex Therapy can really help by taking you through a series of tasks and exercises that help you take back control and last longer.

Need more support?

Need more support with sex or want to find out more about Sex Therapy? 

• Talk to one of our trained counselors online via our Live Chat service.
• Find out more about Sex Therapy and how it can help.
• Read more Common Problems with Sex.
• Book an appointment by calling.

 https://lovetherapyeducation.blogspot.com

What questions will a sex therapist ask in the first session? 0715328866

What questions will a sex therapist ask in the first session? 0715328866

In your first therapy session, a sex therapist may ask you questions around the following topics:

• Your sexual history, both as individuals and (if applicable) as partners
• Your general mental health history
• Your sexual orientation and gender identity
• Your family and your relationship with them
• Any traumatic experiences or history that the therapist should be aware of
• Any physical or medical concerns that may be affecting the current issue
• The course of your relationship and what it’s like outside of sex (if the issue is related to a partnered relationship)
• Your typical sexual habits, including frequency and type of sexual contact and masturbation
• How you show desire and affection, beyond sex.

 https://lovetherapyeducation.blogspot.com

8 Signs a Sex Therapist Might Improve Your Life (and How to Find One) People are trained to make your sex life better! What a world. 0715328866

8 Signs a Sex Therapist Might Improve Your Life (and How to Find One)

People are trained to make your sex life better! What a world. 0715328866 

You may have joked to friends that you don’t need therapy—you have them. But sometimes working through the hard stuff requires help from a neutral party who happens to be a licensed professional. If your hard stuff is about sex, a sex therapist may be your best option. Here are eight signs a sex therapist could be a great addition to your life, and after that, advice on actually finding one.

1. You’re experiencing pain or physical difficulty when you try to have sex.

It’s important to see a medical doctor first to rule out any physical conditions behind this, somatic (body-based) psychologist and certified sex therapist , Ph.D., tells SELF. Unfortunately, a ton of things can cause horribly painful sex, like cervical inflammation from a sexually transmitted infection, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids. In that kind of situation, medical treatment may help ease difficulty having sex.

 

If you see a medical doctor and there is no physical issue at the core of your trouble with sex, that doesn’t make what you’re dealing with any less significant. Seeing a sex therapist to discuss any psychological components at play can be helpful, Richmond explains.

For instance, vaginismus, which causes painful vaginal muscle spasms during penetration, can stem from anxiety about having sex, according to the (That could include anxiety about it being painful even if any condition causing the pain has been treated.) It can also happen due to issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder from a sexual assault. Stress is one of many possible psychological causes behind erectile dysfunction, too.

 

Point is, the mental and physical are often so closely intertwined that painful sex is a very valid reason to see a sex therapist.

2. You’re processing sexual trauma.

It’s a misconception that trauma leaves all survivors incapable of being sexual beings. Enjoying sex after an assault is possible, and a sex therapist might help you get there.

Of course, recovering from a sexual assault is a different process for everyone. But for some people, a sex therapist is a better option than a more generalized mental health professional. “Oftentimes therapists will talk about the trauma, but there’s no resolution on how we move forward as our sexual selves,” says Richmond, who treats many survivors. “[Sex therapists] process the trauma and move forward to help you have sex with your partner. We can help you move from survivor to thriver.” That’s not to say a therapist who doesn’t specialize in sex can’t help you heal after an assault. But if you’d like to specifically focus on the sexual aspect, a sex therapist may be ideal.

3. You’re in a partnership with mismatched desires.

This can mean many things, like one person having a higher libido than the other or being interested in exploring a kink such BDSM, sex therapist 

, Ph.D., who often sees partners with mismatched desires, tells SELF.

While having a kink is generally becoming more accepted, disclosing one can still be scary. This is where a sex therapist can help. For instance, Richmond recalls a couple who came to her because the male partner was struggling with the female partner’s urge to explore her submissive side in a specific way. “She wanted to be called a slut, a whore, and her partner just could not do it. So, we had to figure out other ways for her to work within her fantasy,” Richmond says.

If necessary, a sex therapist can also guide you through the realization that the partnership isn’t working due to incompatible desires. “So many people are just petrified of breakups [and] they choose to stay even when they’re not happy,” Powell says. Seeing a therapist together may help you figure out whether to salvage the relationship or bring it to a respectful end.

4. You want to explore opening up your relationship.

This is another scenario Powell, who specializes in LGBTQ+ communities along with kink and polyamory, sees quite often. A sex therapist can help a couple in this situation craft a relationship format that allows both of them to feel safe and fulfilled. That can mean everything from the freedom to have a one-night stand once a year while in another country to dating multiple partners.

Having an impartial, trained person involved can help ensure that no one is simply capitulating to something like an open relationship due to pressure (even the internal kind) and that both partners are respecting each other’s boundaries—even if that means splitting up.

5. You have questions about your gender identity.

The gender revolution is making progress. In one recent win, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed into law a provision that creates room for a third gender, X, on birth certificates.

But there are setbacks, too, as evidenced by the recent news that the Department of Health and Human Services wants to define gender as a fixed identity determined by a person’s genitals at birth. (It’s not.)

In light of the continued fight to have everyone’s gender identity respected, figuring out the right words or expression for your gender can be a daunting task. A sex therapist, particularly an LGBTQ+ friendly one, may be able to help you alone or with a partner, Powell says.

6. You’re exploring your sexual orientation.

As with gender, a sex therapist can help you navigate questions about your sexual orientation, reassure you that there’s nothing wrong with you, and aid you in your journey of self-discovery. This can be especially helpful if you’re in a monogamous relationship and experiencing sexual curiosity for people of genders other than your partner’s, Powell says.

A sex therapist could also be useful if you’re wondering whether or not you’re asexual or would like to talk about being asexual. “Some people think it’s a sex therapist’s job to make people have more sex and crazier sex, and [it’s] definitely not,” Richmond says. “You don’t have to have any sex. As long as you’re OK with it, I’m OK with it.”

7. You’re a current or former sex worker or dating someone who is.

Richmond says she frequently sees couples in which one person is or used to be a sex worker. A good sex therapist can help people uncover and eradicate any kind of internalized stigma around the profession. “In many people’s minds, because of our cultural lens, that’s something to be ashamed of,” Richmond says. “That’s not my view.”

Another important component may be helping the person not in the adult industry separate their partner from their sex work, Richmond says, explaining that people who are dating sex workers sometimes fetishize their partners accidentally. “Helping separate the person’s identity from [the adult industry] can be tricky because of the shame, but at the end of the day, you’re just dating another person,” she says.

8. You want to overcome sexual shame.

You may have noticed a theme here. From gender identity to surviving an assault to sex work and more, a sex therapist can help you deal with something that brings you shame even if that emotion is totally unwarranted. (As it is with everything on the above list.)

Both Powell and Richmond say that, deep down, most people who see them want to know if they’re “normal.” Shame has a funny way of making you feel like you’re not, and it’s the opposite of conducive to enjoying a healthy sex life. But it can also be almost impossible to escape. “Having grown up in a culture with so much shame, I think most of us could benefit from seeing a sex therapist,” Powell says. If anything is keeping you from having the love or sex life you always wanted, a sex therapist might be able to help you work through it.

Wishing you could teleport to a sex therapist’s office right now? Here’s the next best thing: advice on finding a great sex therapist you can afford.

Finding the right therapist can feel like dating. Despite their qualifications, therapists are humans, too. You might run into a therapist with their own sexual hang-ups or old-fashioned views, or just someone you don’t gel with. But when you find “the one,” there’s no feeling like it. Here are a few steps to try.

https://lovetherapyeducation.blogspot.com

Is a form of counseling intended to help individuals and couples resolve sexual difficulties, such as performance anxiety or relationship problems Sex Surrogate 0715328866

Is a form of counseling intended to help individuals and couples resolve sexual difficulties, such as performance anxiety or relationship problems.0715328866

Clients generally meet in the therapist’s office. Some choose to attend sessions alone; others bring their partner with them. Session frequency and length usually depend on the client and the type of problem being addressed.

It’s normal for clients to feel anxious when seeing a sex therapist, especially for the first time. Many people have trouble talking about sex at all, so discussing it with a stranger may feel awkward. However, most sex therapists recognize this and try to make their clients feel comfortable. Often, they start with questions about the client’s health and sexual background, sex education, beliefs about sex, and the client’s specific sexual concerns.

It’s important to know that sex therapy sessions do not involve any physical contact or sexual activity among clients and therapists. Clients who feel uncomfortable with any aspect of therapy should speak up or stop seeing that particular therapist.

Sex therapists usually assign “homework”—practical activities that clients are expected to complete in the privacy of their own home.

Such homework might include the following:

• Experimentation. Couples who feel they’re in a sexual rut may try different activities, such as role playing or using sex toys, to increase their desire. Other couples may need to adjust their sexual routine or positions, especially if one partner has a health condition that requires such changes.

• Sensate focus. This technique for couples is designed to build trust and intimacy while reducing anxiety. Couples progress through three stages, starting with nonsexual touching, progressing to genital touching, and, usually, ending with penetration.

• Education. Sometimes, clients do not receive adequate sex education while they are growing up. As a result, they may not be aware of anatomy and how the body functions during sexual activity. Therapists might assign books or web content to read or videos to watch. They might also suggest that clients use a mirror to learn more about their body.

• Communication strategies. Clients may practice asking for what they want or need sexually or emotionally in a relationship.

Success with sex therapy often depends on how committed clients are to the process. If clients are willing to put in the effort, either alone or with a partner, they may reach their sexual goals. 

https://lovetherapyeducation.blogspot.com/