Sex therapy addresses the full range of concerns that affect desire, arousal, function, and connection, for individuals and couples alike. But the goal isn’t simply to resolve a problem or return to some baseline. It’s to help you build a sexual life that feels genuinely satisfying: more pleasure, more presence, and more ease with yourself and your partner. Below are some of the areas we work on together, though this list isn’t exhaustive. If you don’t see your concern here, reach out and we can talk about whether therapy can help.
You may find that sex has become less interesting, less spontaneous, or something you rarely think about, whether that’s always been the case or something that’s changed in your life. Low desire can be influenced by stress, relationships, medications, mood, hormones, life transitions, the way you experience sexuality, or a combination of a few. Therapy can help explore what may be getting in the way of desire and develop a more satisfying relationship with your sexuality.
Partners rarely want sex in exactly the same way or at exactly the same frequency. Differences in desire can leave one partner feeling rejected and the other feeling pressured or inadequate. Therapy can help couples move away from a cycle of pressure and withdrawal and toward greater understanding, communication, and mutually satisfying intimacy.
Erections can be affected by anxiety, stress, health, medications, or simply the pressure to “perform.” Therapy can help reduce performance pressure, understand the emotional and relational factors involved, and develop a more relaxed and pleasurable approach to sex.
For some people, pornography and/or masturbation can become out of control or something they try to curtail without much success. Therapy can help to better understand what these behaviors mean for you, what may be driving them, and how to be more successful in deciding how or if you want to engage in them, offering greater choice and control.
Concerns about ejaculation can create frustration, embarrassment, and anxiety for both partners. Therapy can help you better understand the physical and psychological factors involved while developing greater awareness, control, confidence, and comfort during sexual activity.
Some people have difficulty reaching orgasm, while others find that orgasm has changed or become less accessible over time. Therapy can explore the factors that may be contributing and help create conditions that allow for greater pleasure and orgasm achievement.
Pain during sex can be distressing and can lead to avoidance of sex. Therapy can help you understand the emotional and relational impact of pain, reduce fear and anxiety around sexual activity, and work alongside appropriate medical care toward a more comfortable and satisfying sexual experience.
Worrying about whether you will become aroused, maintain an erection, orgasm, or “perform well” can make it difficult to actually experience pleasure and connection. Therapy can help break the cycle of anxiety and self-monitoring and shift the focus from performance toward being present and enjoying sex.
Some people want sexual connection but struggle to initiate it or communicate that they are interested. Therapy can help explore the fear of rejection or learned beliefs about sexuality that might be at play while building greater confidence in communicating and expressing sexual interest.
Sex may feel disconnected, routine, or focused more on getting through the experience than enjoying it. Therapy can help you reconnect with your body, identify what feels pleasurable, and develop greater comfort, curiosity, and presence during sexual experiences.
Questions about sexuality can arise at any stage of life. Therapy can provide a nonjudgmental space to explore your desires, values, experiences, and identity without forcing you toward a particular conclusion.
Sexuality can sometimes feel complicated when personal desires intersect with religious, cultural, or family values. Therapy can help you explore these tensions thoughtfully, develop a more integrated sense of self, and make choices that are consistent with your values rather than driven solely by shame or conflict.
Individuals and couples may have questions about desires or interests that fall outside conventional ideas about sexuality. Therapy can provide a nonjudgmental space to explore kink and BDSM and communicate about desires and boundaries, with an emphasis on consent and safety.
Relationships do not all follow the same structure. Whether you are exploring consensual non-monogamy, an open relationship, or another relationship structure, therapy can help partners communicate clearly about expectations, boundaries, jealousy, agreements, and emotional needs while building a relationship that works for the people in it.
Talking about sex can feel surprisingly difficult, even in otherwise strong relationships. Partners may avoid conversations about desire, frequency, preferences, boundaries, or dissatisfaction because they fear hurting or disappointing each other. Therapy can provide a space to have these conversations more openly and develop healthier ways of communicating about sex.
After conflict, distance, parenthood, illness, or simply years together, couples may struggle to find their way back to a satisfying sexual relationship. Therapy can help partners address unresolved issues, communicate their needs, and gradually rebuild intimacy.
You may feel that something is missing from your sexual relationship without knowing exactly how to describe it. Therapy can help identify what is not working, clarify your needs and desires, and create a sexual relationship that feels more connected and fulfilling.
Sex is often impacted by major life transitions such as marriage, parenthood, aging, illness, career changes, menopause, fertility challenges, religious changes, and others. Therapy can help couples adapt to these changes while maintaining a sense of connection and intimacy.