When couples begin psychosexual therapy they think about how thoughts and ideas affect their relationship, and in turn their sexual relationship.
- Just starting a conversation can be helpful.
- Most couples find it hard to talk about sex, it feels so exposing and awkward.
- There is no ‘normal’ when it comes to sexuality.
The most common issues couples and individuals bring to therapy are:
1. DESIRE DISCREPANCY
it is very common for partners to have different levels of desire, and this can shift and change during their life together. Psychosexual Therapy will normalise this and help find solutions that make each partner happier.
2. LOSS OF DESIRE
Again this is very common and can be linked to relationship issues, stress, depression, big life changes or illness.
3. TRAUMA
It is not talked about very much, but traumatic experiences in childhood and later, such as neglect, witnessing toxic parental dynamics, or abuse; both psychological or sexual, can have a massive impact on our sexuality. We will unpick the trauma and the impact this has had, before thinking about feeling more comfortable with being a sexual person.
4. SEXUAL FUNCTIONING
We can help with issues such as difficulties with erections or painful sex. Very often these problems are linked to our minds and not just our bodies.
5. LOSS OF INTIMATE CONNECTION
Often couples mourn the loss of the kind of sex they were having when they first met, and this may bring up feelings of insecurity linked with a fear of change, or worry that something is not right in the relationship. We explore this whilst normalising these changes and thinking about practical and emotional solutions.
Most often psychosexual therapy involves a two tier approach that combines talking in sessions whilst doing gentle exercises at home to help couples re engage with each other .
To find out more please go to the SEX THERAPY bar on my website menu.