The sex therapy is a process conducted by a professional psychology, trained in sexology area. Also called a sexologist, this professional will carry out a work, together with his clients, to increase the quality of sexual life, individually or for a couple.
It is estimated that more than 50% of the Brazilian population has some sexual difficulty or some problem related to sex. The World Health Organization (WHO) establishes sexuality as one of the four pillars for assessing healthy quality of life (alongside family, leisure and work). It is also known that most sexual problems have psychological and emotional causes.
A psychotherapeutic process, focused on issues of human sexuality, is able to help people and put fears and desires aside. Through sex therapy it is possible to be happier, getting rid of discomfort and dissatisfaction. It is possible to experience sex as an intimate, pleasant and healthy activity. After all, sex is life !!
After all, what is sexology?
The sexology is the scientific study of human sexuality, including sexual interests, behavior and human function. Sexology can use tools from a variety of academic fields, including biology, psychology, education, sociology, anthropology, criminology, medicine, epidemiology and neurology. Sexologists study and work in specialized areas, including lifelong sexual development (infantile sexuality, sexuality in adolescence and maturity), sexual relations, sexual behavior and activity, sexual identity and orientation and also with groups (cultures, people with disabilities, adolescents, sex in old age). The study of sexual function is also part of the general term of sexology, and may include sexual dysfunctions such as anorgasmia, erectile dysfunction, vaginismus and sexual pain, among others.
The sexologist
A sexologist is someone who has studied all areas of sex, including anatomy, physiology, sexual development, sexual orientation, the dynamics of sexual relations, as well as the mechanics of sexual contacts and acts. A sexologist seeks other disciplines to understand human sexuality, such as history, sociology, psychology , biology, gender studies and more, to see how sex works in the context of social, cultural and religious environments.
A clinical sexologist focuses on treating sexual dysfunctions, disorders and variations, mainly including 6 common sexual issues, such as:
- Pre-orgasm: difficulty reaching orgasm
- Painful or inhibited intercourse, including vaginismus
- Low sexual desire
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Fast or premature ejaculation
- Delayed or inhibited ejaculation
- Anorgasmia
A clinical psychologist trained in sexology will use psychotherapeutic techniques to identify myths and dysfunctional beliefs around sexuality, sex education and couple counseling to enable clients to experience sexuality in a different way.
A way that allows more confidence and understanding of their own sexuality and freeing them from sexual misinformation and increasing intimacy with a couple .
Platforms like Vittude can facilitate the search for a psychologist who meets specific requirements to meet everyone who needs follow-up. Access our website and check for yourself all the opportunities offered!
Sex therapy: who is it for?
Sex therapy can be useful for couples or individuals who have difficulties in one or more of the following areas:
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Performance anxiety
- Premature or delayed ejaculation
- Low sexual desire (lack of libido)
- Sexual Aversion
- Irregular libidos
- Low excitation
- Persistent Boost
- Difficulties in reaching an orgasm
- Vaginismus and dyspareunia
- Reproductive health
- Sexuality in aging
- Sexuality and Disease
- Gender issues
- Sexual orientation problems
- Sexual assault or abuse cases
- Sexual addiction or compulsion
- Living with an STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease)
- Relationship difficulty
- Parafilias, sadismo, masochismo, fetichismo, voyeurismo
- Zoophilia, coprofilia, clismafilia and urofilia
Sex therapy can help maintain healthy sexuality during aging
How Sex Therapy Works
A sex therapy appointment is similar to any other psychotherapy session . The psychologist and sex therapist will discuss, speak and listen to you and / or your partner. The main difference is that the sex therapist is also specifically qualified to address and manage sexual concerns. The sex therapist will provide you with educational material, information, tips, suggestions and some work at home tasks. It is important to state that in a sex therapy session there is no contact or no sexual acts performed.
The psychologist will work according to his therapeutic line of study, using multiple theories and treatment strategies depending on the needs of each subject or couple. The most important thing in this work is that a quality bond is established, where the psychologist and patient can work together. The empathy and acceptance is crucial in the decision to proceed or not with the queries after a few sessions. Feeling welcomed, heard and seeing the evolution is crucial to the success of the process and advances in your sex life.
Duration of sessions
An individual session usually lasts around 50 minutes. If the psychotherapeutic process is carried out as a couple , the time and dynamics may be slightly different. The couple sessions, in general, last between 90 and 120 minutes. It is common for psychologists to have an individual session with each partner. The goal is to listen and understand the demands of each person. Understand what can be shared or not in the couple process, desires, expectations and the reasons that led the couple to the office .
Sex therapy can help a couple to have a healthier and more pleasurable relationship
Commitment to the psychotherapeutic process
Most concerns about sexual health or relationship problems do not improve on their own. This requires a commitment from the individual. The psychologist will be responsible for guiding the patient through the process, motivating him and, most importantly, the sex therapist will be there for support. It will also provide you with useful skills that you can implement and use throughout your life.
In order for sex therapy sessions to be more effective, the sex therapist may ask you to perform some behavioral tasks, which will be conducted in the privacy of your own home.
These tasks can consist of:
- Specific behavioral tasks to work in your privacy
- Specific techniques for working on your sexuality concerns
- Biofeedback
- Anxiety reduction or relaxation techniques
- Relationship- specific tasks
- Communication exercises
How to Find a Sex Therapist
Nowadays technology has helped to bring people together. Digital platforms, such as Vittude , can help you find a sex therapist or psychologist specializing in human sexuality in seconds. You can find professionals close to your home or work or talk to your sex therapist from the comfort of your home through video consultations.
Just visit the site: www.vittude.com , enter your neighborhood, select the Sex Therapy option and click on “Find my psychologist”. The system will list the top sex therapists closest to you. You will be able to see the curriculum, training, professional experience and opinion of other patients.
He lives an unsatisfactory sex life who does not know where and how to get help. We suffer from bad sex or lack of it, when we don’t know how to solve the problem or we don’t have the tools to do it. This article was written with a view to eliminating misinformation and enabling more and more people to have quality sex and a healthy and tasty sex life. Schedule your appointment today and live your sex life in a pleasant and satisfying way !!
