Other Specialties

Sexual desire describes our motivation for sexual connection. It's influenced by emotional, psychological, and physical factors. Low sexual desire can leave people feeling “broken”, guilty, and inadequate. 

Low desire can feel like:

• Sex is a chore

• You’d prefer to sleep (or do anything else) than have sex

• You rarely/never think about sex

• You want to want sex, but just don’t

• Isolation and loneliness.

Some ways therapy can help:

• Identify underlying causes

• Understand your sexual desire and arousal ‘map’

• Connect to pleasure

• Tools to build and maintain desire.

Sex should never be painful but for many it is. Dyspareunia (painful sex) can affect everyone. Pain can stem from medical and hormonal issues, and emotional and psychological factors.

Genital and Pelvic Pain can feel like:

• Burning, stinging, or sharp pain during or after sex

• Vaginal tightness (like a ‘brick wall’) or vulval pain

• Painful erections

• Pelvic cramping and bladder pain

• Hypervigilance and tension

• Sexual aversion or avoidance.

Some ways therapy can help:

• Comprehensive pain assessment

• Address fear and avoidance

• Develop embodiment and relaxation skills

• Learn gradual desensitisation exercises

• Increase sexual agency and learn to trust your body

• Referral and collaboration with a holistic treatment team.

Mismatched libido means partners have different levels of sexual desire.

Mismatched libido can feel like:

• Someone is pursuing, someone is distancing

• A never ending, frustrating, overwhelming cycle

• Your partner only wants sex

• Your partner never wants sex

• Significant emotional and physical disconnection.

Some ways therapy can help:

• Break the cycle

• Identify your role in the dynamic

• Develop communication skills

• Deepen empathy and understanding

• Prioristise pleasure and connection

• Find new ways to connect. 

Sexual arousal is the body and mind’s response to things you find sexy. Arousal issues can be lifelong or situational and stem from a range of factors.

Sexual arousal issues can feel like:

• Your body has a mind of its own!

• Difficulty getting or staying erect

• Rapid or delayed ejaculation

• Unsatisfying or non-existent orgasms

• Vaginal dryness and discomfort.

Some ways therapy can help:

• Learn about human sexual function and response

• Identify what excites or inhibits you

• Re-sexualise the mind and improve sexual stimulation

• Increase awareness and control of arousal

• Identify positive behavioural and lifestyle adjustments.

Poor sexual communication can lead to misunderstandings, frustration, and disconnection in relationships. When desires, boundaries, and concerns go unspoken, partners may feel unheard or unsatisfied. 

Poor sexual communication can feel like:

• There’s an elephant in the room

• Never having the right words 

• Fear of judgment and rejection 

• You only talk about what isn’t working 

• Conflict or avoidance

• Nothing ever gets resolved.

Some ways therapy can help:

• Learn how to communicate openly

• Feel comfortable saying and hearing NO

• Practice sexual negotiation

• Deepen trust and understanding in your relationship

• Build intimacy and friendship

• Feel seen, heard and fulfilled. 

Sexual self-esteem is about how comfortable you feel about your body and sexuality. When it’s high, you feel empowered, confident, and positive about sex. When it’s low, self-doubt, insecurity, and feelings of shame make it hard to enjoy sex and express your needs.

Low sexual self-esteem can feel like:

• You’re always hiding from sex

• Fear, anxiety and insecurity about sex

• Shame and embarrassment about your body and desires

• Not knowing what you want

• Enduring or tolerating sex.

Some ways therapy can help:

• Bust sexual myths and misconceptions 

• Comprehensive sexuality education

• Tools for increasing sexual confidence

• Shift negative sexual attitudes and beliefs

• Reframe negative, intrusive thoughts.