Talking about sex can feel uncomfortable, even with a counselor. Many people carry years of silence, shame or confusion about their sexual health and have never had a space where those topics were treated with the same clinical care as any other part of their well-being. Sex therapy provides that space.
At Artisan Counseling, our licensed counselors offer sex therapy as a form of talk therapy for individuals and couples. Sessions are structured, confidential and grounded in respect for who you are.
Sex therapy is a specialized form of talk therapy that addresses concerns related to intimacy, sexual health and relational connection. It is conducted by a licensed counselor and follows the same clinical and ethical standards as any other form of counseling.
Sex therapy is not a physical examination. There is no physical contact, no nudity and no request to perform any sexual act during sessions. It is a conversation-based process that takes place in a therapy office or through telehealth.
Your counselor will help you identify what is causing distress, explore the factors contributing to it and develop strategies for moving forward. Those factors may include emotional patterns, relationship dynamics, past experiences, beliefs about sex or medical considerations. When medical factors are involved, your counselor may recommend coordinating with a physician, but the therapy itself remains focused on the psychological and relational aspects.
Many people delay seeking help for sexual concerns because they are unsure if therapy is the right setting for it. It is. Sexual health is a part of overall mental health, and it deserves the same level of care and attention.
Sex therapy covers a broad range of issues. You do not need to have a specific diagnosis or label for what you are experiencing. Below are some of the concerns most frequently addressed in sessions.
Desire differences. When partners have different levels of interest in sexual activity, it can lead to frustration, rejection and distance. Therapy helps both individuals understand the factors involved and find ways to communicate about them.
Intimacy challenges. Emotional and physical closeness are connected. When one suffers, the other often follows. Sex therapy helps you identify what is getting in the way of intimacy and how to rebuild it.
Sexual dysfunction. Difficulty with arousal, orgasm or other aspects of sexual function can be influenced by psychological, relational and physiological factors. Therapy addresses the emotional and cognitive components while coordinating with medical providers when needed.
Performance anxiety. Worry about sexual performance can create a cycle where the fear itself becomes the barrier. Therapy helps you interrupt that cycle and reduce the pressure you place on yourself.
Pain during sex. Persistent pain during sexual activity has both physical and emotional dimensions. Therapy can help you process the emotional impact, address avoidance patterns and work alongside your medical team.
Sexual trauma. If a past experience of sexual abuse, assault or coercion is affecting how you relate to intimacy, sex therapy provides a safe and paced environment to begin that work. Your counselor will not push you faster than you are ready to go.
Kink-allied & sex-positive support. If you are looking for a counselor who will not pathologize your interests, values or practices, our approach is grounded in affirmation and clinical neutrality. You will not be judged for who you are or what you are into.
Identity & exploration. Questions about sexual orientation, gender identity or how you relate to your own body are welcomed in this space.
When sexual concerns exist within a relationship, both partners are affected. Sex therapy for couples provides a space where both people can speak openly about what they are experiencing without blame or defensiveness.
Sessions may focus on communication about sexual needs, reconnecting after a period of distance, processing the impact of infidelity or addressing patterns that have developed over time.
Sex therapy for couples can be done as a standalone service or alongside broader couples counseling. If your relationship concerns extend beyond sexual health, your counselor may recommend our [Couples Counseling] services as part of your overall treatment plan.
Both partners are typically present for couples-based sex therapy, though your counselor may occasionally schedule individual sessions to allow each person space to explore their own experience.
You do not need to be in a relationship to benefit from sex therapy. Many clients seek individual sessions to address concerns that are personal and internal.
Shame. Messages from family, culture, religion or past experiences can leave you with deep shame about your sexuality. Therapy helps you examine where those messages came from and determine which ones you want to keep and which ones you are ready to let go of.
Identity. If you are exploring your sexual orientation, gender identity or how you relate to your own desires, therapy offers a space where that process is supported without pressure to arrive at a conclusion.
Trauma recovery. Sexual trauma can affect how you experience your body, intimacy and trust. Individual sex therapy allows you to work through those effects at your own pace, with a counselor trained in trauma-informed care.
Body image. How you feel about your body directly affects how you experience intimacy. Therapy can help you examine the beliefs you hold about your body and begin to shift the ones that are getting in the way.
Confidence. If anxiety, self-doubt or past experiences have eroded your sense of sexual confidence, therapy provides tools to rebuild it.
Our counselors approach sexual health with the same professionalism and care applied to every other area of mental health treatment. Several principles guide our work in this area.
Trauma-informed. We recognize that many clients who seek sex therapy have experienced some form of trauma. Every aspect of the therapeutic process is designed to prioritize your safety and your control over the pace of treatment.
Non-judgmental. There is no topic that is off-limits in sex therapy. You will not be shamed, corrected or pathologized for what you share. Our counselors are trained to hold space for the full range of human sexual experience.
LGBTQIA2S+ affirming. Our practice welcomes clients of all sexual orientations, gender identities and relationship structures. You do not need to explain or justify who you are. Our counselors are equipped to provide affirming care that respects your identity.
Evidence-based. Our counselors draw from established therapeutic frameworks including cognitive behavioral approaches, trauma-focused methods and relational models. The approach used in your sessions will be guided by your concerns and your goals.
It is normal to feel nervous before your first sex therapy session. Most clients do. Here is what the process generally looks like.
First session. Your counselor will ask about what brought you in, your history and your goals. You control how much detail you share and when. There is no expectation that you disclose everything in the first meeting.
Pacing. Sex therapy moves at your pace. If a topic feels too activating, your counselor will slow down. If you are not ready to discuss something, that is respected.
Structure. Sessions are 50 to 60 minutes and follow a conversational format. Your counselor may introduce exercises, reflections or communication strategies depending on what you are working on.
Between sessions. Your counselor may suggest exercises or conversations to try between appointments. These are designed to reinforce what you are working on in session and are always discussed and agreed upon in advance.
Confidentiality. Everything discussed in sex therapy is protected by the same confidentiality standards as any other form of therapy. Your counselor will explain the legal exceptions during your first session.
Sessions are available in person and through telehealth.
No. Sex therapy is available for individuals as well. Many clients attend on their own to address personal concerns related to sexual health, identity, trauma or confidence.
For couples-based sex therapy, it is most effective when both partners participate. However, if one partner is not ready, the other can begin individual sessions.
Yes. Our practice is affirming of all sexual orientations, gender identities and relationship structures. You will be treated with respect and your identity will not be questioned.
Sex therapy is provided within the context of licensed counseling and is billed as a standard therapy session. Most insurance plans cover it. Contact our office at 757.503.2819 to verify your benefits.
This depends on the concern and your goals. Some clients see progress within a few sessions. Others with trauma histories or long-standing patterns may benefit from a longer course of treatment.
No. Sex therapy is talk-based. There is no physical contact, no nudity and no request to engage in any sexual activity during sessions.
That is expected and completely normal. Your counselor is trained to help you ease into the conversation at a pace that feels manageable. You do not have to say everything at once.