Sex Therapy Philadelphia
Embrace Intimacy, Confidence, & Fulfillment with Sex Therapy at The Therapy Gal—your trusted partner for personalized healing and growth.
How Could Sex Therapy Help You?
Your therapist’s office is supposed to be a safe space where you can discuss all the issues you’re facing in your life. A spot where no topic is off the table, and open communication is key. So why is it that talking about sex with your therapist still seems so taboo? At the very least, quite awkward! This is where specialized sex therapy could be beneficial and, in some situations, very necessary.
Often, we can overlook how much our sexuality and gender might impact our overall mental health. It’s not just about the physical act itself but concerns about love and intimacy, sexual identity, and defining ourselves to the rest of the world.
In many cases, it can be really beneficial to speak to a professional sex therapist – and not just for issues like sexual assault or infidelity. A sex therapist can also help you work through how your libido may have changed as you age. This includes kinks or fetishes you may be afraid to explore, physical issues like erectile dysfunction, or making changes to your gender expression. Sex therapy can help uncover underlying issues that couples or individuals may be facing. Most importantly, it can help find ways to address their negative impacts.
As a society, we’re becoming so much more sex-positive. This means that discussing private matters with your sex therapist should be a part of your overall mental healthcare. Realistically, it’s a very essential part! But is it for you? Here are a few topics you might consider working on with your sex therapist.
Sexuality and Gender
Discovering you may be a part of the LGBTQ community can be a wonderful experience. It can make you feel more in touch with who you are as a person. However, it can also produce a lot of anxiety and potentially cause issues in your personal life and relationships. So, talking about your sexual orientation with a therapist is a fantastic place to start. They can provide helpful resources and advice to really help you on your way. A sex therapist could be the first step in exploring your sexual orientation without judgment or social ramifications.
Similarly, exploring different gender identities and expressions has become increasingly normalized and far more common in recent years. If you’re considering whether you may be trans, non-binary, or just want to be more fluid with your gender identity, a sex therapist is an incredible resource.
Sexual Dysfunctions and Disorders
If you’re facing a sexual performance issue like erectile disorder, premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation, or orgasmic disorder, a sex therapist is definitely for you. While these things can be physically rooted, it’s just as likely for them to be a mental issue that could be worked through in therapy. There can be a lot of shame regarding “poor performance”. However, a sex therapist can and will create an environment to discuss these situations openly.
Those who experience pain during sexual encounters, such as pelvic pain, can also benefit from speaking to a sex therapist. They will help you work through how it may be impacting your intimate relationships. While talking to a medical doctor is an essential first step, discussing the mental and emotional ramifications of these conditions is also crucial.
Many people also experience sex addiction or a lack of sexual self-control. This could involve infidelity or simply engaging in certain sexual behavior. A sex therapist could help address the root causes of those actions and suggest steps that could be taken to make better sexual choices. Impulsive sexual decisions can, of course, have serious health repercussions. So, speaking to a sexual therapist is potentially a life-saving step in this case.
Sexual Desire
There are many reasons that sexual desire can fluctuate, some physical and others more mental. For example, aging can have a huge impact on your sex life and cause general arousal problems. Also, if you’ve been in a long-term relationship, sometimes sexual interest can wane over time. This can negatively impact how close you and your significant other feel, as sex is a big part of intimacy. Feeling physically disconnected from your partner creates strain and can have a ripple effect that causes lasting damage. A sex therapist could help you tackle these barriers and, hopefully, renew the passion in your relationship.
After a severe sexual trauma like sexual assault, rape, or incest, the healing process can often involve trying to reconnect with your own sexual desires. Violating experiences like these can make people feel uncomfortable with their own sexuality after the fact. So, working through these issues with a sex therapist can help clients overcome any negative emotions. Guilt, shame, or other mental barriers can prevent people from having a fulfilling sex life. These extreme situations really do call for the help of a professional sex therapist. They specialize in dealing with sexual trauma and its repercussions.
Lifestyle Sex Therapy
Human sexuality is a wide and sometimes wild spectrum of desires, some of which may at first shock and surprise you. Discovering that particular kinks or fetishes arouse you can be confusing and occasionally embarrassing. It’s something that may be difficult to discuss with current or future partners openly. This is where a sex therapist could step in to help you examine and embrace what interests you in the bedroom. Realizing that you may, for example, be curious about exploring BDSM is a sensitive topic. One that a sex therapist would be able to safely discuss and provide resources for.
Occasionally, and without conscious intention, people can become sexually fixated on something that is outside the realm of social acceptance. Paraphilic Disorders, as they are called, can be a deep source of shame and have horrific mental health repercussions. A trained sexual therapist can help unpack the cause of these impulses. They will then provide the necessary resources to treat and redirect these impulses.
Polyamory and other non-monogamous relationship structures can be daunting to discuss and explore at first. If you’re curious about opening up your monogamous relationship to include additional partners, speaking to a sex therapist might be a good place to begin before tackling the topic with your significant other.
Sex Therapy Catered To You
As adults, we all understand that there’s a lot more to sex than just the birds and the bees. It’s a complex and often emotionally fraught topic that should be treated as a paramount part of your overall mental health. So, removing the stigma surrounding sexuality and gender conversations is deeply important. If you’re currently struggling with any of these issues, please contemplate speaking to a sex therapist. They are professionally trained and experienced in discussing a myriad of issues. These include gender identity exploration, sexual orientation, sexual dysfunctions and disorders, increased or decreased sexual desire, infidelity, and complex sexual trauma.
At The Therapy Gal, we’re proud to provide sex therapy resources for both couples and individuals who want to explore any aspect of their sexuality and gender. If you’re interested in discussing a sexual or relationship issue with one of our specialists in Philadelphia or New Jersey, please consider reaching out today! Healthy and open communication surrounding sexual health and gender identity can be a very liberating experience. One that might unlock or address a myriad of other mental health barriers you might be facing.
Fill out our form below to start your journey. Remember, there is no downside, and the benefits might come to embracing and enjoying much more fulfilling sexual and emotional relationships.