What Is Sex Therapy?

Sex therapy is a specialized form of talk-therapy aimed at helping people reach psychosexual health by addressing the physical, psychological, and relational aspects of sexual functioning.

Common goals addressed in sex therapy include

*Healing from psychological trauma and coping with post-traumatic stress symptoms, such as feeling detached from one’s body, feeling unsafe and having trouble trusting others, feeling shame, reacting to triggers

*Rebuilding intimacy and addressing relational concerns, such as fears of abandonment or difficulty sharing wants/needs, setting sexual boundaries, or showing affection

*Treating sexual dysfunction or coping with a partner’s sexual dysfunction, such as low or high sexual interest/arousal, pain during sex, premature or delayed ejaculation, and difficulty having an erection or orgasm

*Refraining from unhealthy/harmful sexual behaviors, such as past sex offending, sexual risk-taking that causes distress, or pornography use that interferes with daily living

*Coping with the impact of current or anticipated life changes/events, such as pregnancy, menopause, and medical illness/injury/disease, can have on intimacy, sexual functioning, and relationships

Approach to Therapy

Harbor Hope believes people deserve to be treated in a humanistic, whole-person approach that
– is based on an honest and authentic relationship with providers,
– addresses the entirety of the person,
– bears witness to their experiences,
– recognizes people as the experts of their own lives,
– encourages people to make informed decisions, and
– provides the non-judgmental support, knowledge, and skills needed to live safe, healthy, productive lives that are consistent with their values and goals.

Harbor Hope believes when you understand your emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and patterns of living, you set manageable, realistic goals that are consistent with your values, and you gain or strengthen skills, then you can
– move through distressing thoughts and feelings,
– move beyond nonproductive, counterproductive, or non-desired behaviors,
– effectively cope with stress,
– change habits, and
– move into healthy, functional relationships with yourself, others, and the world.