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Sex therapy: what you need to know

Let’s talk about sex…in therapy. Sex therapy helps people identify factors that help or hamper sexual satisfaction.

Do I need Sex Therapy? What is it, anyway?

Sex Therapy! Yes! Those two words combined can elicit different meanings for most people, especially if you do not know what kind of therapy this is.

So…what type of therapy is it? 

Sex Therapy is a type of talk therapy that is designed to help individuals and couples address medical, psychological, personal, and/or interpersonal factors impacting sexual satisfaction. This is done at an individual level and/or as a couple. Some Sex Therapists are medically trained and employ their medical background in addition to providing Sex Therapy.

Tell me more…there are several areas and aspects that Sex Therapists cover; allow me to take you through a few:

  • Education – we educate on sexual function and anything that can repress it
  • Bridging gaps – we help you understand your choices given what you have learned, heard, or been told
  • Connecting – we help you understand yourself, and your partner/partners
  • Discovery – we help you learn yourselves, your bodies and allow you to feel confident in who you are
  • Language – talking about sexuality is not easy; we give you the language and confidence to express yourself
  • Myth dispelling – we dispel myths and identify distortions
  • Normalizing – we help normalize experiences
  • Opening up – we help you open up and start a conversation
  • Fear and Shame – we help you overcome your fears and let go of any shame associated with past and present experience
  • Facilitate healing – we help you process and heal from abuse
  • Sexual Dysfunctions – we diagnose and treat sexual dysfunctions by helping you reframe your sexual challenges and increase your sexual satisfaction
  • Enhance Intimacy and Passion – we work with couples and individuals who wish to enhance intimacy and passion their existing relationship

If my Sex Therapist is not medically trained, how do they deal with medical issues?

Sex Therapists who have a Psychology background follow a legal and ethical framework with the focus on not doing harm to any person in their care. As they are not medically trained; they work with a Dream Team to ensure overall patient care.

What is a Dream Team?

This includes colleagues and specialists in Gynaecology, Urology, Physical Therapy, Massage Therapy, General Medical Practitioners, Psychiatry, Social Work, Clinical Psychology, and any other profession that will assist in providing overall and holistic patient care.

Do Sex Therapist use non-talk therapy too?

Yes, some Sex Therapists are trained in providing alternative and complementary therapies such as Hypnotherapy, Bowen Technique, Acupuncture, Aromatherapy, Homeopathy, Meditation, Mindfulness, Reflexology, Reiki, TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Ayurvedic Medicine, Western Herbal Medicine and much more. Your therapist will recommend what would be needed as part of your treatment plan and refer you to someone else if they are not trained in whatever they are recommending.

What are some of the things Sex Therapists DO NOT do?

Over time and due to research done many years ago, some myth still exist concerning what Sex Therapists do. It is important to demystify them for you. As practicing ethical Sex Therapists, the following will not occur as part of treatment:

  • Masturbate in front of clients
  • Have sex with clients
  • Ask clients to do embarrassing exercises
  • Perform physical exams on clients
  • Be too embarrassed to talk to clients
  • Judge clients
  • Dispense any medication, such as Viagra, Cialis, etc (unless they are medically trained)
  • Act as a sex surrogate – there is an international body (called IPSA) that deals with this and you cannot double up as a Sex Therapist and Sex Surrogate at the same time; as a Sex Therapist you will work alongside a Sex Surrogate.

So, do I need to have a serious sexual problem to see a Sex Therapist?

No, you do not need to have a problem to see any kind of therapist. This is also a myth, partly due to the stigma therapists have carried over the years regarding mental health. There are many benefits of therapy, such as personal development and growth, identifying challenging or negative behaviours, building self-esteem and even being able to make life-changing decisions.

There are very few Sex Therapists in Kenya. However, the numbers are growing. If you are looking for one, you can get in touch in the comment section below.

I hope this sheds some light on this kind of therapy, and demystifies any existing ideas of what this kind of therapy does and can do for you.

Be safe, and take care of you and yours, and wash your hands!

 

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Recent Comments (8)

  1. How ad where can I get one?…
    How ad where can I get one? Now in Eldoret Kenya

  2. Hello David, sorry to say,…

    Hello David, sorry to say, we are not a dating service and cannot assist you in finding a partner. Best thing to do is take some time with yourself, find hobbies, practice things that you love and try to learn how to be happy with yourself.

    Happiness and confidence is attractive in a person and when you find yourself in a good place people will find you. As always, feel free to ask us any questions about love, sex or relationships if they come up.

    Best of luck.

    <3 The Love Matters Team 

  3. I have a few personal…
    I have a few personal questions that I need addressed privately

  4. Hi Eve, thank you for…

    Hi Eve, thank you for getting in touch and asking a great question. Feel free to get in touch on our discussion board on letstalk.lovemattersafrica.com/forum or look for us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/lovemattersafrica where we can consult you on a private capacity dear. We are here for you.

  5. Am aged 5o,sometimes when i…
    Am aged 5o,sometimes when i start having sex i start thinking of other things and my erection looses, what could be wrong.

    1. Hi Ben, thank you for…

      Hi Ben, thank you for reaching out to us. When you are older it does get indeed get harder to get and maintain an erection. By your own admission, you lose your erection when you think of other things. Try to focus on the task at hand and see if that helps. However, if the issue persists and you feel it is causing you real concern talk to a medical practitioner for proper advice.

  6. Less than a minute duration…
    Less than a minute duration please help me

  7. Hi Kim,

    It could be that…

    Hi Kim,

    It could be that you have erection-related problems. While it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle though exercise and eating a healthy diet or trying different sex positions, and relaxing during sex, this may be a problem that may require medical attention. See medical services for tests to establish whether you have any erection-related problems. In the meantime, read this article to learn more: I want to stay harder for longer

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