In the western world sexuality is often repressed. For example, children frequently receive little, if any, sexual education. 

Instead, young people  are exposed regularly to sexual images plastered in the media and on the internet, which contribute to distorted ideas of sexuality, feelings, and behaviors related to this primal force in each of us. 

Yet, as adults, we are expected to have healthy satisfying sex lives.

Many people living with sexual problems believe the issues cannot be solved. You know there is a problem in your sex life, but feel too embarrassed to bring it up with friends or family. Fortunately, in a therapeutic setting  you can feel more comfortable sharing sexual issues previously held secret because of fear, shame and guilt. 

In sex therapy the focus is on any sexual concern one may have, through which other psychological issues often become identified and addressed, too.

• Do you have sexual desire for others, but no longer for your partner?
• Do you feel you want to have sex much more or much less than your partner? 
• Do you have extra marital relationships, or sex with more than one partner and have conflicting feelings about it? 
• Do you have shameful thoughts about being sexual? 
• Do you feel undesirable? 
• Do you find yourself spending significant time on internet sex sites? 
• Did you experience physical, emotional, or sexual abuse in your past? 
• Did you ever experience a traumatic sexual experience? 
• Do you question aspects of your own sexuality? 
• Do you feel uncomfortable about your sexual orientation?
• Do you have difficulty reaching an orgasm? 
• Do you feel you reach orgasm too quickly?
• Do you have difficulty achieving or  maintaining an erection?
• Is intercourse painful?

Often psychosocial issues translate into sexual problems. Among the conditions that impact sexual issues are: trauma, shame, depression, guilt, anxiety, performance anxiety, poor communication skills, lack of knowledge, fear of touch, and fear of the unknown.

Sexual issues range from problems with desire to physical symptoms. These are actually the body’s manifestation of underlying psychological issues rooted in unconscious motivations and inhibitions.

Problems with desire may include, no longer finding one’s partner attractive, not feeling worthy of being desired, sexual aversion, or sexual compulsivity.  

Physical symptoms may include genital pain and inability to reach orgasm for women, and erectile dysfunction, and premature or delayed ejaculation for men.

• Sexual aversion disorder
• Hypoactive sexual desire (HSD)

• Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
• Premature Ejaculation (PE)
• Delayed Ejaculation
• Male Orgasmic Disorder

• Vulvodynia
• Vaginismus
• Dyspareunia
• Anorgasmia

Sex therapy is talk therapy in an office setting that involves the clients reflecting back on exercises that they work on at home. Depending on the issues identified, satisfaction may be reached following brief treatment. Resolving more complex issues may involve prolonged treatment.

The process of sex therapy involves restoring inhibited sexual impulses or desires. 

Like any other psychotherapy, it is strictly talk therapy, during which the client is coached through a series of exercises designed to help restore sexual desire and overcome female or male sexual dysfunctions. These exercises are based on sensate focus originally developed by Masters & Johnson.

Embarrassment about discussing sexual issues is quite common. Although more often than not, people have issues in their sex lives, they are afraid to admit or talk about them.  Fortunately, sex therapy offers the opportunity to share sexual attitudes and behaviors, which can lead to breakthroughs and very rewarding experiences for many clients.

A qualified sex therapist is a licensed psychotherapist who has had an extensive postgraduate education specializing in sex therapy and has received nationally recognized certification in that field.

No. While sex therapy is my specialty, I treat all related issues, including relationship problems, low self-esteem, self-consciousness, self-blame, obsessive thinking, anxiety, shame, guilt, depression, etc.