What is Sex Therapy?

Sex Issues

I often get asked what sex therapy means. It’s a fair question as it’s sort of vague. In a sense, it is exactly what it sounds like: therapy about sex.

Here are the most common topics that fall under the umbrella of sex therapy:

  • Mismatched desire for couples 
  • Mismatched sexual interest for couples
  •  Affairs/infidelity
  •  Sexual abuse and trauma
  •  Infertility/Pregnancy/ Postpartum concerns
  •  Sexual orientation
  •  Gender identity
  •  Pelvic pain
  •  Performance issues (i.e., rapid ejaculation, delayed ejaculation, erectile dysfunction)
  •  Pornography and/or masturbation issues (a.k.a. sex addiction)
  •  Alternative relationship styles (i.e., open relationship, polyamory, etc.)
  •  Fetishes/kinks/BDSM

Education

For most people, understanding sex and sexuality is an area of misinformation or partial information. This is due, in part, to the stigma surrounding sex topics and our society’s lack of a uniform sex education system.

Sex therapists can help fill those gaps and provide education.

The key piece of sex therapy is a therapist who is trained in topics of sexuality. Any therapist can claim to a sex therapist, but unless the therapist has education and training as a sex educator-counselor, he or she will likely be incompetent to deal with your concerns.

A lot of therapists are uncomfortable talking about sex, which is huge part of a relationship. Even worse, many therapists are misinformed or uneducated about the topic and can end up doing more harm.

I recommend you find a therapist who is trained or certified through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT). The organization has strict education and supervision requirements to ensure competency.