What is sex therapy, and who is it for?

What is sexual therapy and who is it for?

Sexuality, which forms the backbone of a healthy relationship, can turn into a major problem between couples for various reasons. While some individuals experience premature ejaculation, others may build their sexual life on a misleading foundation by pretending to have orgasms.

All these problems affect not only the relationship but also the individual’s physical and mental health. At this point, sexual therapy can become a guiding and solution-oriented approach for individuals or couples experiencing sexual issues.

Although some couples tend to hide their sexual problems, this only causes the issue to grow and leads the relationship into a dead end. Considering that 4 out of 10 women and 3 out of 10 men experience sexual problems at some point in their lives, the importance of sexual therapy becomes much clearer.

If couples are experiencing problems in their sexual lives and believe that this is affecting their relationship, it is recommended that they seek help from a professional therapist.

What is sexual therapy?

Sexual therapy is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy and an approach applied by specialists to individuals or couples with sexual problems. This holistic psychotherapy, which must be conducted by professionals trained in sexuality, aims to neutralize fears and anxieties through communication.

Although many people feel hesitant about this topic, it must be addressed because it is one of the fundamental dynamics of a healthy relationship. Through therapy, individuals or couples can overcome psychological issues in their sexual lives and start a new chapter.

Moreover, sexual therapy is not only important for a healthy sexual relationship but also plays a critical role in an individual’s mental and physical well-being. Therefore, setting aside social taboos and personal shyness and confronting these issues is the right approach.

What problems can be treated with sexual therapy?

Many people associate their sexual problems with physical causes, but psychological factors often lie behind them. At this point, certain issues can be treated through sexual therapy guided by specialists.

Especially in common conditions such as vaginismus or premature ejaculation, progress can be achieved through sexual therapy. In addition, the following problems can also be addressed:

• Erectile dysfunction
• Dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse in women)
• Sexual desire disorders
• Loss of interest
• Self-confidence problems
• Issues related to orgasm phases
• Erectile dysfunction

How is sexual therapy applied?

Sexual therapy is a treatment approach based on communication, where issues related to sexual life are evaluated and addressed by a therapist. During the sessions, the therapist asks various questions to the individual or the couple.

For example: whether there is pain during sexual intercourse, whether there has been a previous negative sexual experience, or whether there are any physical problems.

The main focus of therapy is to enable the sharing of experiences, emotions, and concerns. Couples attending together are evaluated both individually and jointly, allowing problems to be examined in detail.

Once the source of sexual dysfunction is identified, it is very important for individuals to accept this reality for successful treatment. To manage the problem, individuals or couples need to develop awareness about themselves and their issues. When this is achieved, they gradually move toward a healthy sexual life.

During sessions, various psychological tests may be applied. After sessions, books about healthy sexual life or communication exercises may be recommended. The duration of therapy varies depending on the condition of the individual or couple.

We wish you healthy days.