Sexual Difficulties
A client's sexuality is a key component in many relational and individual issues. No matter how you identify, your sexuality and your sense of your sexual self are major factors in determining your preferences and sexual behaviors.
Sexuality is about your:
Sometimes, these interconnecting parts do not fit well together and can cause distress in your life. A sex therapist may be able to help you dismantle your social conditioning and find out how to integrate pieces of your sexual identity and your sexual preferences so that you can feel whole and content in your sexual life.
Sexuality is about your:
- sexual identity
- the gender roles you carry with you
- the "scripts" you learned from family, religion, society and significant others.
- These and other factors have contributed to your understanding of sexual expression.
Sometimes, these interconnecting parts do not fit well together and can cause distress in your life. A sex therapist may be able to help you dismantle your social conditioning and find out how to integrate pieces of your sexual identity and your sexual preferences so that you can feel whole and content in your sexual life.
Sexuality
If you, like many people, struggle finding a safe place to talk about your sexual concerns or interests, you could benefit from seeing a professional qualified to provide therapy for sexual dysfunction and issues of sexuality.
From relational issues to individual concerns, a sex therapist can help you in finding your sexual identity and work through issues that may be hindering the enjoyment of your sexual experiences.
From relational issues to individual concerns, a sex therapist can help you in finding your sexual identity and work through issues that may be hindering the enjoyment of your sexual experiences.
How Can Sex Therapy Help Me?
Sex therapists are trained to help people establish, regain and enhance their enjoyment of sex and sexuality. They come from many disciplines including medicine, psychiatry, marriage and family therapy, social work and counseling, among others.
In choosing the right therapist, it is important to ask about the clinician's scope of practice and clinical training in human sexuality. It is important for clients to ask potential therapists about their background and comfort in addressing sexual concerns as a professional's educational program, certifications and licenses are not necessarily an indicator of their abilities or their potential fit with you as their client.
I am a Certified Sex Therapist (CST) and a professional member of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT). My major coursework and training already includes, human sexuality and anatomy, advanced sex therapy and clinical issues in practice.
In choosing the right therapist, it is important to ask about the clinician's scope of practice and clinical training in human sexuality. It is important for clients to ask potential therapists about their background and comfort in addressing sexual concerns as a professional's educational program, certifications and licenses are not necessarily an indicator of their abilities or their potential fit with you as their client.
I am a Certified Sex Therapist (CST) and a professional member of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT). My major coursework and training already includes, human sexuality and anatomy, advanced sex therapy and clinical issues in practice.
Who are Sex Therapists?
Calling something "dysfunctional" can sound scary and judgmental. But when someone is experiencing a difficulty while having sex, identifying the kind of problem helps professionals in medicine, mental health and other disciplines find the right treatment for the concerns you have. Medical providers, therapists and even insurance companies can all communicate in a common language when discussing a sexual dysfunction.
Proper identification also helps you and your professional team agree on a treatment plan or course of action. The definition of dysfunctions have changed over time, but most dysfunctions in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition (DSM-5) can be classified under these major areas:
Dysfunctions of
Proper identification also helps you and your professional team agree on a treatment plan or course of action. The definition of dysfunctions have changed over time, but most dysfunctions in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th edition (DSM-5) can be classified under these major areas:
Dysfunctions of
- desire - one's mental interest in sex
- arousal - physical indications of one's willingness for sexual activity
- orgasm - the occurrence of muscle spasms/ release of tension
- pain - often internally located and not having a physical etiology
People's sexual preferences can also be classified as a dysfunction under DSM-5 if one's sexual interests are a source of conflict in relationships, work or family life or if interests have legal ramifications. There are two kinds of interest-related dysfunctions:
- paraphilias - recurrent, intense sexual fantasies, urges or behaviors involving non-human objects, suffering or humiliation of self or partners, or children/ non-consenting persons.
- fetishes - are similar to paraphilias, but are considered lifelong and are required for the person to engage in sexual activity.
In sex therapy, sessions are strictly verbal and suggestions of a physical nature are completed outside of session.
Sex Therapy addresses two major components of healthy sexual functioning
Sexuality & Sexual "Dysfunctions"
