Sex Therapy; What Happens In A Session

Many people find talking about their sex lives quite difficult, especially when it’s not working well for them. Individuals, who may have been living with sexual problems for some time, may find it too difficult, and feel embarrassed or ashamed to discuss it with anyone, including their partners.

Whilst sex and relationship therapy may seem like the best course of action, many people fail to seek it because they are embarrassed or worried about how to explain their problem and what sexual language to use. Some also worry about being judged and fear other people finding out that they are seeing a therapist.

Your first session at the North Hampshire Clinic will be a relaxed and informal chat.

You will be offered a cup of tea or coffee and invited to just talk about whatever it is you would like help with. Alternatively, you can opt to be asked some questions if that makes it easier for you.

At this session you:

• can express any concerns about therapy that you may have,
• ask as many questions as you wish,
• get the opportunity to absorb the environment we will share, and
• gather more information about us and whether you feel you have the right therapist for you.

If after this session you decide to proceed with therapy, the information that has been gathered from this session will form the start of a thorough assessment. The assessment process may take a further one or two sessions, or up to four if you are a couple. It is necessary to gather lots of information to better understand your situation. Assessment sessions for couples will usually require the couple to be seen individually as well as together.

During the assessment, you will be asked questions about your health, medical history, lifestyle, childhood, adolescence, family background, beliefs, past and present relationships and sexual functioning, plus any traumas or significant events in your life which may be contributing to your current problems.

If it is ascertained that you require any physical tests or examinations, you will be referred to your GP.

Once a full and thorough assessment has been completed, a treatment plan will be formulated and presented to you at your next session. This plan is likely to be made up of a variety of interventions to target the issues uncovered in the assessment.

We will discuss the treatment plan together, as we will need to work collaboratively to move forward.

We will discuss how and when the sessions will take place and how long the treatment may take.

At this point we can talk about any concerns you may have and decide whether you are ready to take the next step and move forward with the therapy sessions. Don’t worry! If you are not, everything can be put on hold until you are.