Are you struggling in a sexless relationship, or lacking in physical intimacy?
Do you and your partner have mismatched sexual desires or preferences?
Are you having low sexual desire, performance issues or difficulty experiencing orgasm?
Do you not feel emotionally connected anymore?
Do you want to spice up your sex life or try new sexual activities, but your partner isn’t interested?
If sexual issues are preventing true closeness between you and your partner, you may want to consider sex therapy.
Common sexual problems men experience include the following:
- Erectile dysfunction – Inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse
- Premature ejaculation – When a men ejaculates sooner than he (or his partner) would like during sex
- Delayed ejaculation – When a man needs an extended period of sexual stimulation to reach orgasm and ejaculate
- Low libido – Low sex drive or desire for sex
- Anorgasmia – When a man is unable to experience orgasm even with adequate stimulation
Common sexual problems women experience include the following:
- Low libido – Low sex drive or desire for sex
- Anorgasmia – When a woman is unable to experience orgasm even with adequate stimulation
- Dyspareunia – Pain during sexual intercourse
- Vaginal dryness – Common among young women, dryness is usually due to inadequate stimulation
- Vaginismus – The periodic spasm of the outer third of the vagina that interferes during sexual intercourse
Whether you are gay or straight, research suggests that sexual dysfunction is common (43% of women and 31% of men report some degree of difficulty). Though common, it is a topic that many people are hesitant or embarrassed to discuss. Fortunately, most cases of sexual dysfunction are treatable, so it is important to share your concerns with your partner and therapist.
How does Sex Therapy work?
As a sex therapist, my first goal is to help the couple feel more comfortable talking about sex. I focus on the physical relationship between a couple in a relationship. I initially may obtain sexual history information from each partner, identify the couple’s attitudes about sex, and identify the sexual problem. From there, I’ll often recommend specific exercises to refocus the couple’s attention and expectations. Lowering anxiety and learning how to communicate with one’s partner about sex is an important goal of sex therapy.
Specific objectives may include the following:
- Learning to relax and eliminate distractions
- Learning to communicate what feels good or what doesn’t feel good without shame or embarrassment
- Learning to communicate your sexual preferences and what you’d like in a positive way
- Learning nonsexual touching techniques (sensate focus)
- Increasing or enhancing sexual stimulation
- Eliminating pain or discomfort during intercourse
If you’d like to explore sex therapy, I want you to know that you aren’t alone in having sexual problems, and that I can help. Please contact me today for a free consultation.