Sex Therapy

To put it simply, sex therapy is psychotherapy where we primarily work on issues related to sexual health/sexuality. While issues related to sex will often come up in other forms of psychotherapy, these topics are the main focus in sex therapy sessions.

Despite the tendency to consider sex a purely “physical” act, we know that approaching sexual health from a strictly medical perspective does not yield the outcomes that people want (you can read more about that here, here, here, and here). Instead, using a multidimensional and holistic biopsychosocial lens allows us to explore how biological, psychological, and sociological factors can impact your sexual experiences (both positively and negatively).

Sex therapy can be beneficial for individuals as well as couples (or any members of a romantic/sexual relationship structure). During sex therapy sessions, we might focus on:

  • addressing challenges related to desire, arousal, orgasm, and overall sexual satisfaction

  • navigating discrepancies in desire for amount or type of sexual connection

  • treating sexual pain through/post illness and adapting to sexual changes over the lifespan

  • facilitating communication surrounding intimacy and expressing sexual desire

  • addressing patterns of sexual behaviour that feel out of control or compulsive in nature

  • introducing new sexual interests (e.g. kinks) or changes to relationship structures (e.g. moving from monogamy to consensual non-monogamy)

  • exploring sexual and gender identity, and 2SLGBTQIA+ sexual health more broadly

  • healing through sexual infidelity, assault, and abuse

  • working on improving, or even optimizing, an already good and functional sexual relationship

It is often the case that a physical assessment can be valuable to assist in clarifying the nature of the concern(s), and in these cases we can help facilitate referrals to appropriate services (for example, a pelvic floor physiotherapist). It’s important to note that sex therapy is strictly a form of talk therapy, and does not ever involve touch of any kind.

Katherine holds a certificate in Sexual Health & Sex Therapy from the University of Michigan, and is a member of numerous sexology organizations, such as:

  • Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR)

  • American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT)

  • International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM)

  • International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH)

  • World Association for Sexual Health (WAS)

  • World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH)

  • Association of Sex Therapy in Ontario (ASTO)