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Last Updated: Jan 26, 2024
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Sex Therapy - How Does It Help The Couples?

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Ms. Annuradha RakeshPsychologist • 24 Years Exp.M.Phil Clinical Psychology, M A Psychology (Clincial Psycholgy), BA Psychology
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Sex therapy is like any other type of psychotherapy. You treat the condition by talking through your experiences, worries, and feelings. Sex therapy is a form of counseling intended to help individuals and couples resolve sexual difficulties, such as performance anxiety or relationship problems. A sex therapist will listen to you describe your problems and assess whether the cause is likely to be psychological, physical or a combination of the two.

If your therapist suspects the dysfunction you’re experiencing is the result of a physical sexual concern, they may refer you to a medical doctor. Each therapy session is completely confidential. You can see a sex therapist by yourself, but if your problem affects your partner as well, it may be better for you both to attend.

Lots of people have a problem with sex at some point in their life. Sexual dysfunction is common. Globally, 43 percent of women and 31 percent of men report experiencing some type of sexual dysfunction during their lifetimes. Some people deal with these problems themselves. For others, sexual problems can cause a lot of distress and unhappiness.

A sex therapist can help people with various sexual problems, including:

• Lack of interest

• Low confidence

Erectile dysfunction

• Low libido (Sexual Desire)

Premature ejaculation

• Lack of response to sexual stimulus

• Inability to reach orgasm

• Distressing sexual thoughts

What happens during sex therapy?

Therapist may be able to help you reframe your sexual challenges and increase your sexual satisfaction. Together with the therapist, you then work out coping mechanisms to help improve your responses in the future so that you can have a healthier sex life. It’s normal for clients to feel anxious when seeing a sex therapist, especially for the first time. Many people have trouble talking about sex at all, so discussing it with a stranger may feel awkward.

However, most sex therapists recognize this and try to make their clients feel comfortable. Often, they start with questions about the client’s health and sexual background, sex education, beliefs about sex, and the client’s specific sexual concerns. It’s important to know that sex therapy sessions do not involve any physical contact or sexual activity among clients and therapists. Clients who feel uncomfortable with any aspect of therapy should speak up or stop seeing that particular therapist.

Some choose to attend sessions alone but if your problem affects your partner as well, it may be better for you both to attend. Session frequency and length usually depend on the client and the type of problem being addressed. Sex therapists usually assign you exercises and tasks to do with your partner in your own time. practical activities that clients are expected to complete in the privacy of their own home.

Such assignment might include the following:

• Experimentation: Couples who feel they’re experiencing sexual difficulties try different or new activities together to increase their desire. They can adjust their sexual routine or positions to make other person more accommodating.

• Sensate focus: This technique for couples is designed to build trust and intimacy while reducing anxiety. Sensate focus has been used to treat problems with body image, erectile dysfunction, orgasm disorders, and lack of sexual arousal. Couples progress through three stages, starting with nonsexual touching, progressing to genital touching, and, usually, ending with penetration.

• Education: Sometimes, clients do not receive adequate sex education while they are growing up. As a result, they may not be aware of anatomy and how the body functions during sexual activity. It leads to many misconception regarding their body image and sexuality.

• Communication strategies: Clients may practice asking for what they want or need sexually or emotionally in a relationship. Sex therapy can help individuals and couples find a way to have open, honest communication so that they can work through any concerns or challenges toward a healthy, happy sex life.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult a specialist & get answers to your questions!
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