What to Expect from Psychosexual Therapy Online
Psychosexual therapy is a talking therapy for difficulties with sex, desire and intimacy. At Cynefin Therapy it is offered online. This article explains what the work involves, what online sessions are like, who provides the therapy and how to get started, so you can decide whether it might be right for you.
What does psychosexual therapy involve?
Psychosexual therapy is not a physical examination and it is not a medical treatment. It is a space to talk about your experience of sex and intimacy with a therapist, and to explore that experience with curiosity. The pace and focus of the work are shaped by what you bring.
Sexual difficulties can have physical, medical, psychological, relational and contextual dimensions, and often a combination of these. A difficulty may be connected to earlier experiences, to a relationship, to stress, to health, or to the ways we have learned to think about sex and our bodies. Sometimes the picture is less clear, and that is worth being curious about too.
Psychosexual therapy does not start from a fixed idea of what a difficulty means. It offers a space in which you might become curious about your own experience and discover what it means for you, at a pace that feels manageable.
You can read more about how this works at Cynefin Therapy on our psychosexual therapy page.
What do people bring to psychosexual therapy?
People come to psychosexual therapy with a wide range of concerns. These might include low or mismatched desire, difficulties with arousal or orgasm, pain or discomfort during sex, anxiety about sex, feeling disconnected from their own sexuality, or changes in their sexual relationship with a partner.
Some people come with something specific they have been living with for a long time. Others come with a more general sense that something in their relationship with sex or intimacy has changed, or has never quite felt right. Either is a reasonable place to begin, and you don’t need to have worked out what is going on before you start.
Why online?
Psychosexual therapy at Cynefin Therapy takes place online, by video. Sessions usually take place at the same time each week, from a private space of your choosing. For some people, talking about sex from their own home feels more manageable than travelling to a clinic. Online sessions can also make therapy easier to fit around work, family and other commitments, and mean you do not need to live near a particular practice.
Online therapy is not the right fit for everyone, and whether it suits you is something you can talk about at your initial assessment. For many people, it offers a private and flexible way to begin.
Who provides psychosexual therapy at Cynefin?
Psychosexual therapy at Cynefin Therapy is provided by therapists in the final stages of specialist training, working under specialist supervision. This is part of how we are able to offer psychosexual therapy at a lower cost, and each therapist’s work is supported and overseen as they complete their training.
How to get started
New clients begin with an initial assessment with Nina, our Clinical Assessor. This is a chance to talk about what has brought you to therapy and what you are looking for, so that we can think with you about the kind of support that might suit you and match you with a therapist.
If you are also thinking about support with other parts of your life, you may want to read about our individual therapy service too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is psychosexual therapy for individuals or couples?
Psychosexual work can be done on your own or with a partner. Couples who want to explore sexual or intimacy difficulties together may also do this as part of relationship therapy. Your initial assessment with Nina is the place to talk through which kind of work might suit you.
What happens in the first session?
After your initial assessment, your first session with your therapist is a chance to begin talking about what has brought you to therapy and what you hope to explore. You can share as much or as little as you choose.
What if I find it hard to talk about sex?
Many people are unsure how to put sexual difficulties into words, especially at first. You don’t need to have the right language. Finding a way to talk about your experience is part of the work, and your therapist will go at your pace.
How long does psychosexual therapy take?
It varies. The length of therapy depends on what you bring and how the work develops, and it is something you can review with your therapist as you go.
Are the sessions confidential?
Yes, within the usual limits. Your therapist will explain these at the start, including the rare situations where confidentiality may need to be broken, such as a serious risk of harm to you or someone else.