First, let’s clear up a few things: there’s no couch demonstration, nobody gets naked, and you’re not going to be graded on how often you have sex. Sex therapy, it turns out, is mostly talking—which, if you’ve ever tried to bring up what you want in bed, may sound like a relief or your worst nightmare. But talking about sex shouldn’t be taboo, and a sex therapist can help you find the answers to the questions you’re too afraid to ask.
Maybe it’s been hard to get aroused lately. Maybe you want to explore kink, sexual fantasies, or you’re wondering how to use sex toys with your partner. Whatever the situation, a sex therapist can help you “reclaim your pleasure, body, and sexual health,” Eros says.
Sex therapists can help with just about anything sex-related, from body image to healing from past trauma. If you’ve ever been curious about going to sex therapy, there’s no shame in wanting support. Ahead, therapists share what it’s all about, the benefits for you and your relationship, and how to find a practitioner.
It uses talk therapy as a way to help people feel more aligned with their bodies—mentally, emotionally, and physically, she explains. You can go to sex therapy individually or with a partner. Just like in traditional therapy, there are firm boundaries between therapist and client.
Some other practices, like sex and intimacy coaching, may involve physical touch, but they’re very different from sex therapy in both training and practice. (There’s also no governing body or licensure board for sex coaching). At the beginning of sex therapy, the therapist will conduct a thorough interview and assessment. They screen for any medical issues that may need to be addressed by another practitioner, whether it’s a medical doctor, psychiatrist, or pelvic floor specialist, Eros says.
From there, clients may explore a wide range of topics in sessions, from sexual pleasure to body image and spicing things up with your partner, she says. The approach can vary, and there’s no one-size-fits-all process for everyone. That said, it’s always centered on talk therapy: conversations with a client or couple about their thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and beliefs about sex, Eros says.
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