WHAT DOES A SEX THERAPIST DO?

Have you ever wondered about what a sex therapist is? Great! Because treatment models and studies like sex therapy and sexology are certainly gaining momentum around the world. To keep you informed, we’ve compiled some of the best information just for you. After all, sexual health and liberation are hot topics, but talking about sex can still be quite difficult for many people. Challenges with sexual performance and low libidos do tend to go beyond the scope of what’s normally discussed with physicians, medical professionals, or usual therapists. This is where sex therapists enter the picture!

What is a sex therapist and are they certified? 

Yes, these are trained professionals who focus specifically on human sexuality and healthy sexual behaviour, and who can offer compassionate, research-backed assistance, while addressing the full range of pertinent psychological, physiological, and cultural factors in play. A certified sex therapist in South Africa is able to assist couples and individuals with both the physical and emotional challenges of having pleasurable sex. This also encourages a more satisfying relationship with oneself and one’s partners, all built on this foundation of informed intimacy. 

How can you become a sex therapist?

There are many medical paths that can lead to someone deciding to specialise in assisting with sexuality, sexual health, and sexual functioning. Similarly, there are many different types of people who decide to take the career path of becoming a sex therapist. They might be a psychologist or psychiatrist, a clinical social worker, a family therapist, or even a doctor or nurse who has psychotherapy training. It may be a calling very early on in their careers or it may be something that strikes interest later on. Either way, sex therapists spend many years studying and training in a variety of medical fields before specialising. 

What can you expect from a sex therapy session?

To start, sex therapy can be effective for individuals of any age, gender, or sexual orientation. It is a specialised form of psychotherapy for treating mental health problems by talking with a mental health professional. Springboarding from this, sex therapy is structured as a normal therapy session, where various questions are asked to get a holistic idea about your life and experiences. A qualified sex therapist is adept at addressing a wide range of concerns including (but by no means limited to): 

• issues around sexual desire
• ejaculation-related problems
• trouble orgasming
• painful sex 

There is a scientific, sexological method to treating different types of sexual issues. With the exception of when separate sexual surrogate therapists are added (recognised by the medical community around the world as only ethically applicable in a very small number of cases), sex therapy is completely talking therapy. 

How can a sex therapist improve your life?

A well-qualified sex therapist does intensive research on sexual problems and sexual dysfunction and truly understands how to help treat people who are faced with a wide variety of challenges. If you find yourself or someone you know is experiencing any of the below, sex therapy could be greatly beneficial: 

• pain or physical difficulty when you try to have sex
• processing sexual trauma
• in a partnership with mismatched desires
• want to explore opening up a relationship
• have questions about gender identity
• exploring sexual orientation
• counselling for a current or former sex worker
• counselling for dating someone who is a sex worker
• overcoming  sexual shame

How to find a sex therapist?

Firstly, you should try to find a sex therapist with whom you feel comfortable. Be very specific regarding who you want to see. A male or a female therapist? How old should they be? What should they have specialised in? It helps to be clear with yourself on whether you want a warm, friendly doctor, or one who is more clinical and removed. 

Also, try to keep in mind that there is no sexual problem that is too big or small to seek help for as soon as you start struggling with your sexual wellbeing. At the end of the day, most medical professionals agree, that prevention is better than cure. Contacting a sex therapist today can help you prevent any challenges from growing into larger physical or mental health problems down the line.