What is psychosexual therapy?
Talking about sex can be a taboo issue. When the topic comes up, many of us can feel uncomfortable and awkward and avoid the subject altogether. For some of us, the idea of sex can bring out feelings of anxiety and fear or trigger trauma. For those people, psychosexual therapy can be a big help.
What is psychosexual therapy?
Psychosexual therapy – or sex therapy as it’s more commonly known – is a therapeutic practice that helps individuals and couples to understand issues relating to sex and relationships. It involves exploring the issues to find the root cause and providing healthy coping strategies and lifestyle adjustments that can help you improve your relationship with sex.
A form of talking therapy, it aims to help individuals resolve a wide range of sex-related issues. These include, but aren’t limited to:
- Pornography addiction
- Difficulty orgasming
- Fear and anxiety associated with sex
- Pain during sex
- Difficulty becoming aroused or staying aroused
- Exploring sexual relationships
Who is a good candidate for psychosexual therapy?
As with all therapy, there is no perfect candidate. But, as psychosexual therapy deals with sexual issues, you’re more likely to get the specialised care you need if your problem is related directly to your sex life. Sex might come up in discussions during other therapies – especially if it’s associated with other mental and emotional problems – but a sex therapist will be focused more on your own sexual experiences.
It’s not just a certain group of people either. Men and women, LGBTQIA+ and heterosexual, young and old – all sorts of people have psychosexual therapy, whatever stage of their sexual lives they might be at.
How can psychosexual therapy help me?
Sex therapy can help to transform the way you look at and participate in sex and relationships.
Therapists have a deep understanding not just of the brain, but the body too, so their approach will be unique to you and the dilemmas you present. You’ll have a safe, confidential space to discuss sex with a qualified practitioner, who can help you unravel complex emotions, potentially improving your confidence, sexual performance, and comfort in intimate situations.
What can I expect from a psychosexual therapy session?
Because sex therapy is a form of talking therapy, you won’t have to do anything intimate in the therapy room. The therapist will ask you about the problems you’re experiencing and attempt to get a better understanding of the other emotions at play that might be affecting you. If you have other mental health concerns, it’s worth letting them know about this.
It’s likely your therapist will want to know about your personal history – not just sexually, but throughout your life. This is because experiences you had as a teenager or child, even if not related to sex, can have an impact on your intimate relationships with other people. It may also help you to understand why you feel a certain way and the impact it has on your approach to sex.
You’ll also likely be set homework or tasks to undertake in-between sessions. The therapist will never push you beyond your limits but will give you the tools and understanding you need to conquer your individual issues regarding sex.
At the Omya Centre, our team of highly-qualified experts provide a confidential, safe space for you to explore psychosexual and family issues. Servicing the areas of Croydon, South London and Surrey, our practitioners are here to help you towards a healthier, happier relationship with yourself and others.