What is Psychosexual Therapy?

The aim of psychosexual or sex therapy

Our aim at Kent Psychosexual Therapy is to help you improve the physical and relational intimacy between you and your partner and to overcome or manage any sexual difficulties you’re having. Whatever your gender, sexual orientation or relationship status, sex therapy can support you to feel more comfortable about getting intimate.

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Why is sex therapy?

Having sexual difficulties can feel very isolating. You may feel self-conscious and unable to speak up about them, whether that’s having an honest conversation with your partner or reaching out to a professional. The truth is, sexual problems are very common and the best way to tackle them is to talk about them.

If the problem is affecting your relationship, being honest and open with your partner about what’s happening is a great first step. For some, this alone is enough to help work through the problem. For others, more support is needed.

This is where psychosexual therapy comes in.

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What causes sexual difficulties?

Sex therapy looks to help with any problem or difficulty relating to sexual relationships and can come in many forms. This can include:

• emotional issues such as disatisfaction in relationships, affairs or grief  

• psychological issues such as anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions.

• physical issues such as disabilities or medication implications

• Or situational issues arising from either particular environments or situations

 

Visiting your doctor is a good first step if you think the cause may be physical. Sometimes there will be ways your doctor can help (for example, trying different medications), but if not, they may recommend psychosexual therapy. While you can see a sex therapist on your own, if the problem is affecting your partner it helps if they can attend sessions too.

Sex is loaded with emotion and often, talking it through together with an impartial therapist can help ease tension and bring you closer together.  

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What can sex therapy help with?

 

• Loss of libido

• a lack of sexual desire or miss matched desire within the relationship

• difficulty getting or maintaining an erection

• premature ejaculation, or other ejaculation problems

• difficulty climaxing or orgasm problems

• pain during sex or being unable to have penetrative sex

• Vaginismus and Vulvodynia

• Vulval pain

• Relationship issues as a result of sexual difficulties

• Finding sexual pleasure after sexual trauma

• Tokophobia (fear of child birth)

• Difficulties in talking about sex. This might be where there are apparently incompatible sexual preferences or relationship styles; physical changes after childbirth, menopause, illness or old age, or even a history of sexual trauma.

• Reigniting the sexual side of your relationship. We all experience times when life feels too much and we find we don't have much time or energy. this can often mean that sex moves far down the list of priorities and the motivation to rediscover your sex life can feel too much. If this is the case, sex therapy might be for you.

• General relationship difficulties where sex has become another area for disagreement or hostility

 

Talking to a stranger about your sex life may feel uncomfortable, but we are not here to judge. By being honest and talking about what you’re experiencing in this confidential setting, we will be able to help you explore the root of the problem and offer ways of helping you overcome or manage symptoms.