Q: Does sex therapy work?

<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7496638/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yes</a>, <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14681994.2014.915705" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sex therapy works</a>. While it can obviously be difficult to open up to a stranger about some of the most intimate parts of one’s life, sex therapy <a href="https://psychotherapy.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.1981.35.4.481" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">has proven to be effective</a> in treating several common forms of sexual dysfunction.

Question 1

What is sex therapy?

Accepted Answer

Sex therapy refers to the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of sexual dysfunctions and disorders by a licensed mental health professional.

William Masters first used the phrase "sex therapy" in a study proposal in 1958, and fully emerged in the 1970s as a form of psychotherapy. Initially, it appeared to be nothing more than a practical method to help people with sexual performance issues by providing various education and behavioral treatments.

The field has advanced since then, however there is no cohesive underlying theory, distinct collection of methods, or effective therapeutic result that defines Sex Therapy. Although there are certain common therapeutic techniques that are useful for helping men and women who are experiencing sexual issues, there is no uniform strategy that can be classified as Sex Therapy.

Question 2

How does sex therapy work?

Accepted Answer

Like in other talk therapy, sex therapy works mostly through the vehicle of conversation.

A client will report the experience or thoughts and feelings that led them to seek help. The therapist will help the client work on recovering from or moving past those issues to have a happy, healthy sexual life (whatever that means to the client).

A common aspect of sex therapy is “homework.” To help the client practice the coping skills, implement the techniques, or act on the insight learned in therapy, a sex therapist may give their client assignments to work on at home. These assignments may include using mindfulness techniques in sexual situations, changing communication styles between partners, or other exercises.

Question 3

What happens in sex therapy?

Accepted Answer

Sex therapy is like every other talk therapy or counseling, just focused on sexual health and function. A sex therapy session will look much like sessions of other kinds of therapy: A person or couple meets with their therapist, either in-person or via telehealth, and discuss the concerns and challenges they encounter in the course of their sexual experiences.

The sex therapist, in turn, offers guidance and counsel, working with their client to uncover causes of and solutions to sexual dysfunction or afflictions.

Importantly, sex therapy does not involve sexual activity between the therapist and the client(s), or any physical contact of any kind. It is a talk-based therapy just like analysis, psychodynamic therapy, or any other mental or behavioral health talk therapy.

Clients who feel uncomfortable with any part of therapy should speak up or stop seeing that particular therapist.

Question 4

Can single people go to sex therapy?

Accepted Answer

Yes, single people can absolutely go to sex therapy. Some of the most common reasons people seek sex therapy are issues that have nothing to do with their relationship status, including inability to orgasm, recovering from a traumatic sexual experience, or performance anxiety.

Just like people have sexual experiences on their own (such as masturbation or fantasy), sexual therapy isn’t limited to those who have partners.

Question 5

What does a sex therapist do?

Accepted Answer

Sex therapists are healthcare professionals that offer counseling and therapy to individuals and/or couples who need support with the emotional and psychological aspect of sex. They specialize in sexuality and relationships.

Some issues people take to sex therapy include lack of libido, recovery from sexual trauma, or even unwanted sexual fetishes.

Some sex therapists have received supplemental extra training in the treatment of sexual issues, but there is no one degree that establishes a person as a sex therapist. Any extra training is in the form of a certificate program.

As with those who practice in other forms of therapy, like trauma-focused therapy or psychodynamic therapy, sex therapists will ask their clients to describe their concerns and use conversation to find root causes and practical solutions to these concerns. Many sex therapists will also assign homework to clients.

Question 6

What are different types of sex therapy?

Accepted Answer

Sex therapy can employ any number of therapeutic modalities. Some sex therapy is simply talk therapy, whereby a therapist asks questions about a client’s concerns and about their health and personal history.

Often, sex therapy will take a page from cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, in that the the therapist will assign homework that is designed to strengthen skills or techniques learned in a therapy session. Another tack sex therapy may take involves learning mindfulness practices to employ in sexual situations.

Question 7

Does sex therapy work?

Accepted Answer

Yes, sex therapy works. While it can obviously be difficult to open up to a stranger about some of the most intimate parts of one’s life, sex therapy has proven to be effective in treating several common forms of sexual dysfunction.

What is sex therapy?

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