Health & Sexuality
Sex Therapy
What It Is & What It Isn't
There is a high rate of sexual problems with all genders, all ages, and all sexual orientations in our culture today. Research shows that these problems have adverse effects on interpersonal relationships and quality of life. Although there have been progressive advances in the practices for sex therapy since recent revolutions in areas of disease management, medications, and acceptance of alternative orientations, sex therapy continues to be mystifying, confusing, or forbidding to many individuals.
Health & Psychiatry is proud to offer clinical sex therapy services by practitioners who have clinical expertise and who are comfortable and knowledgeable about sexual health and sexual therapy. Sex therapy is a specialized area of psychotherapy that focuses directly on the physical, health, and emotional issues of human sexuality. The norm for sexual therapists are issues of sexual intimacy, such as desire problems, performance anxiety, and the communication challenges which occur in relationships. This is common, and most individuals struggle with these issues at some times during their lives.
Romantic relationships are often fraught with sexual differences, particular since it appears that opposites attract. Understanding the differences and nuances of the opposite gender is beneficial. Therefore, sex therapy can take place for couples as the primary or secondary focus for relationship therapy. Sex therapy for one individual can often benefit both partners. Education is a prime approach in sex therapy, and frequently this is all that is needed to resolve a sexual concern.
Sex therapists can also tackle more uncommon issues, being trained to work in most areas of female sexual disorders, male sexual disorders, minorities, gender dysphoria, chronic illness, aging, and atypical sexual behaviors. Social media can distort the practice of sex therapy by portraying it as an exotic form of treatment, thereby dissuading individuals from getting the real help that they need. Rest assured that at Health & Psychiatry, you will be treated with professional, caring approaches. After the initial psychosocial assessment, referrals will be made for individuals who would be more appropriate for another type of service.
What Can I Expect?
- A trained psychotherapist or social worker will first conduct a psychosocial interview-style assessment that will include a sexual history related to your area of concern. As the patient, you may request that one or more significant others be included in the assessment.
- A collaborative treatment plan will be developed based on the findings of this assessment and the information shared.
- Interventions include educational guidance, resource guidance, insight-oriented psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral approaches, relationship training, and other classic forms of psychotherapy.
- Homework and assignments may be given for practice and problem resolution.
- If appropriate, referrals will be made to local physicians for follow-up of medication or for health issues revealed in the initial session.
Sexual Problems Treated
The following is a more specific list of problems tackled by sex therapists at Health & Psychiatry:
- Sexual Desire Discrepancy
- Performance Anxiety
- Sexual pain and other physical and medical issues
- Sexual Aging Issues
- LGBTQ issues
- Sexual Trauma
- Sexual Relationship Problems
- Delayed Ejaculation
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Sexual Addictions
We at Health and Psychiatry are committed to providing up-to-date and quality services to our patients. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Florida regulations specify that psychotherapists who wish to use the title "Sex Therapist" must meet specific educational and supervision requirements as described in Florida law: “Rule 64B4-7.004 (2005) Use of the Title 'Sex Therapist' Any licensed clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or mental health counselor who holds himself out as a sex therapist shall have completed: (a) A minimum of 120 hours of approved education, and (b) twenty hours of clinical case supervision.”
