Sex Therapy is a specific area of therapy as many providers are not trained in managing sexual based concerns. Sex Therapy can be individual or couples therapy. Sometimes it may be family therapy, such as when a child is recovering from sexual abuse.
Sex Therapy can be challenging as we are not taught in most society to speak about sex openly. This can create shame and guilt regarding sex. It can also bring up challenges in speaking to a partner regarding sex.
The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists is the national organization which certifies Certified Sex Therapists and Certified Sex Therapist Supervisors.
Sex therapy can include by is not limited to the following areas:
- Increase sexual frequency
- Increasing sexual pleasure
- Process low and high desire challenges
- Sexual pain disorders
- Erectile functioning challenges
- Premature ejaculation
- Inability to orgasm
- Inability to ejaculate
- Processing feelings related to kinks, fetishes, and paraphilias
- Sexual trauma and/or abuse
- Helping disclose a sexual trauma to a partner
- Processing shame or guilt associated with sex and upbringing