What is sex therapy? What does a sex therapist do? In this article, I would like to shed some light on the generally misunderstood term.
According to the dictionary, sex therapy is counselling or other therapy that addresses a person’s psychological and/or physical sexual problems. In other words, sex therapy is a strategy employed to treat dysfunctional problems when there is no physiological reason or as a complement to medical treatment. Therefore, a sex therapist could be a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a physician, a social worker, or a therapist who has undergone intensive training to get certified. Sex therapy has existed since ancient times in different cultures including China, India, Greece, etc. in different forms ranging from manuals, spells, tantric yoga, and erotic massages amongst others. In comparison, much of western approach to sex therapy and dysfunctional problems has centered around scientific discussions and medical research. Sexual dysfunctions here refers to low libido, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, painful sex, traumatic sexual abuse, lack of sexual confidence, problems caused by stress, tiredness and relationship factors. A sex therapist helps those with the above problems overcome them and hopefully regain an active sex life. A sex therapist usually works in conjunction with medical and psychological professionals to continuously evaluate the progress and to have a thorough picture of a person’s sexual well-being. Low libido and sexual dysfunction are usually associated with old age due to changes in the endocrine system (low levels of hormones), circulatory and vascular functions (heart problems, varicose veins) and neurological changes and decline. (dementia, etc.) On top of these problems there are also other factors such as low self-esteem, lack of confidence, performance anxiety, inhibiton from partners, and stress from different aspects of life. Sex therapy for older adults will look at sexual desire, sexual activity, sexual behavior and medical of history to determine the course of action. The treatments vary including hormone supplements injections, medication and sensate focusing or sex exercises. People can seek help from sex therapists as individuals or as couples. A professional sex therapist does not have sex with their clients.
Sensate focusing is reported to work very well on women with frigidity, painful sex or vaginal dryness or men with impotence with the focus on sensuality and body exploration rather than the genitals. In this session, talking, hugging, touching and kissing are generally encouraged. There are different stages in the approach. In the initial stage, participants are instructed to touch their partners’ body parts (excluding private parts) which they find interesting rather than which they think the other might like. The second stage include touch options involving breasts. The purpose of this stage is still learning about the partner’s body not the pleasure itself. Later stages encompass touching genital areas. At all stages, orgasm is never the focus.
Sheila’s Approach massage and Sheila’s Approach massage training are designed based on sensate focusing notion but it’s better in a way that it has its own routine and rhythm. It serves as a general body assessment from which practitioner can build an individual body profile for each partner. It was experimented in BKK before it was introduced officially 2 years ago. The technique has been continually updated and perfected. It can be modified to suit different purposes. In many cases, it helps to treat premature ejaculation and in combination with nuru to treat delayed orgasm. Sheila’s Approach massage training also boosts practitioner’s sexual confidence. It now has more than 200 students of more than 36 nationalities around the world. It’s success is guaranteed especially if students follow the full program.