A sex therapist is a licensed mental health professional and is eligible to provide therapy related to any sexual concern. A sex therapist helps in identifying the underlying emotional or mental patterns that causes issues with sexual desire, arousal, inappropriate boundaries and confusions and emotions associated with sexual orientation.
In the therapeutic process, a sex therapist helps the client to overcome the challenges related to sexual health and focus on improving the overall well-being. Sexual well-being is an important aspect which needs to be emphasized in order to balance and maintain a positive lifestyle. Any problem or issue related to sexual health might lead to irritation, lack of focus and concentration, anger outbursts and different biological problems. Therefore, along with social, emotional, professional and psychological wellbeing, the sexual well-being is a very important subject that contributes to a perfect balance in one’s life.
Sex addiction therapy
Sex addiction can impact an individual’s life in ways that go beyond their sexual health. It is described as a compulsive need to perform sexual acts, despite having negative consequences. Persistent sexual thoughts, fantasies, inability to control sexual urges can affect the different areas of a person’s life.
Symptoms of sex addiction
A person having sex addiction might exhibit some of the following symptoms-
- Obsessive sexual thoughts and fantasies
- Compulsively performing the act with multiple partners including strangers
- Inability to control sexual or inappropriate behavior
- When it interferes with daily life, work performance and productivity
- Deploying sexual activities as a way to cope with stress, anxiety and other related concerns
- Preoccupation with sexual activities leading to negligence of social, personal and professional life responsibilities
- Remorse or guilt after the act
Treatment Approaches
- Pharmacotherapy: Medicines may benefit to certain extent when it comes to sex addiction disorder. Further, it might help to manage co morbid conditions such as depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT): CBT can help a person identify the triggers, understand the sexual urges and the underlying causes.
- Psychodynamic therapy: It helps to identify the emotional issues leading to unusual sexual obsession. This form of therapy helps in understanding the reason behind using sexual act as a coping mechanism.
- Exposure therapy: In exposure therapy with sex addiction, the environment that triggers sexual urges is mainly focused for evolution and better management.
- Motivational enhancement therapy: This approach focuses on setting goals, making a plan towards adopting a healthier attitude and regarding sexual concerns.
- Family therapy: The support from friends and family can bring positive changes in the person. Being in the immediate environment, they can provide a safe space to the person in sharing their thoughts and issues while overcoming addiction.
Couples sex therapy
Couples sex therapy is a form of therapy which aims at helping couples address the sexualissues that affect their relationship. It helps in identifying the major areas such as- communication, sexual satisfaction, openness in sharing the obsessive thoughts related to sexual activities. This therapeutic approach mainly focuses on collaboratively working together for a better and healthier relationship.
The aims and objectives of couple’s sex therapy are-
- Stronger communication: Open communication helps the couple in improving the relationship. Creating a safe space where both the parties can share open and honest deep-rooted thoughts and ideas.
- Physical and emotional intimacy: It helps in understanding the intimate issues (both physical and emotional) which prevents true closeness between partners. Recognizing the preferences and priorities in terms of intimacy and effectively working on it reinforces a healthier and better relationship.
- Building trust: Trust is the most significant element in a relationship. Lack of trust might affect the relationship and both the individuals emotionally and psychologically. Therefore, focusing on the attitude, belief system and sharing the intentions or motives behind certain acts helps in developing trust to a great extent.
- Managing and exploring sexual preferences: Understanding each other’s preferences, accepting and respecting the differences regarding sexual intentions leads to a better understanding among the partners.
Sex addiction counselling
Sex addiction counselling is specifically designed to benefit the individuals struggling with obsessive sexual thoughts and actions. The main purpose of this therapeutic approach is to gain control over the thoughts and compulsive behaviour, improve overall mental wellbeing and strengthen relationships.
The significant objectives of sex addiction counselling are-
- Understanding the underlying causes: It is important to understand the causes leading to obsessive sexual thoughts. This awareness helps the individual and the therapist to get more insight about the problem and focus on the resolutions.
- Building positive and healthy relationships: Relationship is an important area and in the therapy process, this aspect is highly prioritized. When the relationship gets better, it impacts the individual’s physical and emotional health.
- Discovering the coping mechanisms: Coping mechanisms are different for different people. Therefore, reflecting on the inner self and analysing the triggers and strategies gives clarity about the coping mechanisms.
- Maintaining the balance: In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is important to balance the different aspects of life. Thus, emphasizing on the issues and finding the accurate resolution leads to amore balanced life.
There is great benefit in receiving therapy related to sexual concerns. The individual might feel uncomfortable or might have fears of being judged and accepted but understanding the problem and approaching a sex therapist will help them to resolve it in a standardized way. It is essential to visit a sex therapist nearby in order to take the first step and start the treatment process if you are facing any issues that cause you discomfort and need immediate attention.
At North America Behavioral Health Services, we believe that even the most intimate issues like these should be discussed without any shame. So, seek help and know that you will be taken care of.
