Let’s talk sex! I know it is hard, uncomfortable, maybe even scary. That’s exactly what we work on - learning to talk about your sexual needs, desires, hurts, passions, and struggles in a way that is empowering and healing. Sex therapy is where we become more comfortable with the uncomfortable ( it is uncomfortable because most of us only have an 8th grade education on sexual vocabulary and much of it was shaming or too medical anyway). My absolute favorite part of sex therapy is that if you can identify, accept, and express your thoughts, feelings and needs to yourself and/or with your partner, all those big things you are worried about speaking up about in other areas of life start to feel smaller too. Intimacy (physical, emotional, spiritual, sexual etc.) is layered and learning how to show love to yourself or your partner, or teaching your partner how to love you in the ways you feel most loved leads to an overall improved sense of self and relationship worth, as well as overall satisfaction in life. If you are in a relationship, don’t be fooled - many couples counselors don’t talk about sex at all. Sex therapy covers all of the couples counseling work AND simultaneously addresses sexual satisfaction. Here are some examples of why someone would come for sex therapy:

• The quality of sex changed after pregnancy, having children, peri-menopause or menopause, or aging

• You were raised in a shaming or purity culture setting and want to untangle the harmful sexual messages you’ve internalized (did you know that many women who come from a purity culture setting experience painful sex even if their relationship is loving and safe?!)

• You have noticed a change in your ability to perform sexually

• You are wanting to spice up your sex life. Variety is key to a long-lasting sex life with your long term partner!

• Sex has become undesirable

• Sex is painful

• Your partner is expressing an interest or need that you aren’t sure you are comfortable with, or vice versa

• You are exploring an interest or need that you aren’t sure how you feel about yet

• You’ve had a traumatic sexual experience(s) and want to untangle and heal from the body memories, internalized shame, or post traumatic stress symptoms

• You simply just don’t know how to express your needs to your partner

• You want to explore your thoughts, needs and desires from a body positive, sex positive perspective

• You worry you think about sex “too” much

• You haven’t been intimate with your partner in a long time and want support in re-engaging in intimacy (this is way more common than you think!)

• You want guidance on how to talk to your kids about sex

• There’s been a breach of trust in your relationship and you are wanting support in re-building trust and intimacy

• You have medical or ability limitations and want to find ways to improve your intimacy through these limitations

• You want to feel secure in yourself and empowered in your sexual experiences whether you are single, dating, or in a long term relationship

• Many more!