Why Seek Psychosexual Therapy?
People usually seek psychosexual therapy when a sexual concern , change in sexual well-being or in some aspect of physical sexual function is causing the individual or couple difficulty in sexual expression, distress or unwanted sexual avoidance.
While transient sexual concerns or difficulties can occur at any time in our lives, changes to our sexual well-being increase in frequency as we get older.
Sexual difficulties often occur during times of significant life change such as the start of an intimate relationship, following childbirth, during periods of relationship difficulties, work difficulties, after trauma, the loss of an intimate partner, or at the time of menopause transition. Sexual difficulties also occur more frequently following diagnosis and treatment for common physical or emotional health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, cancer, depression and during times of stress or anxiety.
Among women the most commonly reported sexual concerns are loss of sexual interest and difficulty in becoming aroused, orgasmic difficulties and sexual pain. While among men the most commonly reported problems are difficulties getting or keeping an erection, rapid ejaculation and low sexual interest.
While many people experience a temporary reduction in sexual well-being, for others sexual concerns or difficulties affect the majority of their sexual encounters and are a source of concern for one or both partners.
Psychosexual therapy may be particularly helpful when individuals or couples have sexual difficulties that cause the person or couple distress and where they would like professional support to help them to overcome / resolve or manage such difficulties. Whatever the reason, it takes courage to seek help and our skilled and compassionate psychosexual therapist is here to support you and any partner to meet these goals.
Common Sexual Difficulties Seen for Assessment & Treatment
Below is a list of some of the more common reasons adults choose to see a psychosexual therapist:
- Low sexual interest or significant differences in sexual desire between partners that causes distress to the individual or couple
- Difficulty in becoming / feeling sexually aroused
- Difficulty in getting or maintaining an erection (men)
- Difficulty in achieving climax or orgasm
- Difficulty in controlling ejaculation (rapid ejaculation)
- Vaginal changes (dryness, narrowing or shortening) that cause sexual difficulty
- Sexual pain
- Sexual adjustment or changes relating to illness, physical health problems and medical treatments
- Low sexual confidence, sexual fear or sexual avoidance
- Sexual difficulties associated with childbirth
Frequently Asked Questions:
Your initial consultation is an assessment session and provides the opportunity for you to talk to your psychosexual therapist about your current difficulties and reasons for attending The Edinburgh Practice.
In this session, we seek to gain a deeper understanding of these difficulties in order to think about the best way to help you achieve your therapy goals and to make a treatment plan.
If you have a current sexual or intimate partner you are welcome to attend this assessment session unaccompanied, or with your partner, as you prefer. However, this session may include a discussion regarding whether or not it would be helpful for you to be seen for individual and / or couple sessions. Psychosexual therapy can be offered to individuals or couples as appropriate.
Please note that attending an initial consultation does not commit you to ongoing therapy sessions.