Sex Therapy: Not as scary as you think!

Generations 2022 – 21st Annual Behavioral Health Conference

Don’t let the fact that you’re talking about sex freak you out! Therapists ask the toughest questions of their clients (about their depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts). If you can ask those questions, you can ask about sexual health.

The most common sexual health concerns and their prevalence rates:
- Premature ejaculation: 3%
- Anorgasmia: 4.7-6.7%
- Low sexual arousal: 5.4-28%
- Sexual pain (GPPPD): 10-28%
- Erectile dysfunction: 20.7%
- Low sexual desire: 7-16%
- Desire discrepancy: 10-40%

But you likely won’t know your clients are facing these issues, if you don’t ask!
Easily assess sexual health with these questions:

Have you noticed a change in:
- Your desire/interest in sexual activity?
- Your willingness to be sexual?
- Your ability to become sexually aroused (lubrication, warm/tingly feelings in vagina, obtain/maintain erection)?
- Your ability to reach orgasm?
- Pain or discomfort during sexual activity?
- Any difficulties in your sexual relationship?

Use the Dual Control Model to determine what’s hitting the brake pedal of your client’s sexual health concerns. Whatever has the heaviest weight on the brake is the beginning of your treatment plan!

Treatment Strategies

1. General couples therapy
   - Process resentment
   - Improve trust
   - Build emotional intimacy

2. CBT to challenge irrational beliefs around sexuality

3. Sex education
   - Spontaneous vs. Responsive desire
   - Mind arousal vs. body arousal
   - The myth of the vaginal orgasm
   - Sexual pain is not normal!

4. Sexual communication
   - Model healthy sexual communication for your clients
   - Teach no shame. Don’t yuck my yum!
   - Bibliotherapy with The Guide to Getting it On
   - Sexual Menu

5. Sensate Focus to reduce pressure and improve mindfulness
   - Want to learn how to teach Sensate Focus to your clients? Take these courses. For a limited time, use coupon code “generations” for 50% off your course purchase.

6. Is this beyond your scope of practice? Then refer!
   - Sex therapists: www.aasect.org [find a professional]
   - Sexual Medicine specialists:
   - www.issm.info [find a provider]
   - www.isswsh.org [find a provider]