15 Things Sex Therapists Really Want You To Know
Warning: There will be homework.
Even though therapy is becoming less stigmatized these days, there still seems to be some confusion and awkwardness around sex therapy. So to find out more, BuzzFeed Health talked to four licensed sex therapists: Brandy Engler, Psy.D., author of The Men On My Couch; Ian Kerner, Ph.D., founder of GoodInBed.com; Megan Fleming, Ph.D., founder of GreatLifeGreatSex.com, and Dr. Madeleine Castellanos, author of Wanting To Want. Here's what they wish people knew about sex therapy:
Sex therapy isn't for learning new positions or hot sex tips.
"Some people think sex therapy involves getting naked, having sex, being touched," says Kerner. "But certainly it's talk therapy." A sex therapist is different from a sex coach, sex educator, or sex surrogate. For starters, they won't be touching you, and they probably won't tell you how to give a better blow job.
It's actually a type of psychotherapy that can treat sexual and relationship issues from a biopsychosocial perspective. It's usually problem-focused, where a therapist considers all the factors that might be at play in a situation. "Sex therapy is understanding what the root of the problem is," says Fleming.
NBC / Via infinitesimal7.tumblr.com
Single people can go to sex therapy, too.
Really, it's not that weird. Engler has seen patients who want to address patterns in their sex lives — like feeling numb during hookups, losing interest after they have sex with someone, or feeling like they can't comfortably give or receive love. Or someone might see a sex therapist to deal with urges, fantasies, or sexual behavior that they're worried about, says Kerner. And hey, you can experience erectile dysfunction, orgasm issues, or sexual anxieties whether you're coupled up or not.
Paramount Pictures / Via wonderfulworldofwebdesign.tumblr.com
If something is up, go sooner rather than later.
"If you have a specific sexual dysfunction, then absolutely sex therapy is the quickest, most efficient way to get that taken care of," says Castellanos. Waiting too long to deal might end up making things worse by adding even more anxiety to the situation.
That's because as time goes on, it'll suck more and more if you're not able to fix something on your own. And that can lead to lots of negative connotations around sex and bleed into your relationship. "The longer you have the problem, the harder it is to resolve," says Castellanos.
Judith / Creative Commons / Via Flickr: judepics