Do you need help finding a good therapist who can help with your sexual problems? Here is what you need to know. If you can, you should talk to as many sex therapists as possible before deciding on a course of therapy. A sex therapist may be able to help a person or couple with sexual problems for a number of reasons. Studies show that 43% of women and 30% of men say they have a sexual dysfunction. But a therapist who specializes in sexual issues might be able to help with more than just issues with arousal and attraction. It might be hard to find a friend who will get along with both you and your partner. Since this sector is mostly private, there are not many rules about it. When looking for a good sex therapist, keep these things in mind.
Ask them in advance if they have a lot of clinical experience with your problem. A qualified sex therapist should know about all parts of the field, from problems with desire to problems with the body (or concerns). Before you can answer that question, you need to think about why you are asking for help. Plan to go to regular sex therapy sessions with your partner? Do you want to complete “homework” in between meetings? Some of these things could be communication exercises, reading and watching things that teach them something, and exploring their sexuality. Would you tell someone about something so personal if you thought they might like you? For such worries, you need to look ahead.
Check to see if the therapist you want to hire has the education and training they need. For sex therapists to get certified by a professional organization, they usually need an advanced degree (Ph.D., M.D., or master’s with some psychotherapy training), 90 hours of training in human sexuality, 60 hours of training in sex therapy, and a lot of supervision from a qualified sex therapist. Psychologists and psychiatrists who focus on sexual health are taught to look at the big picture.
You can find a sex therapist through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT), your general therapist, your doctor, your connections, and websites like Psychology Today. Even though it might be helpful to talk to more than one expert, you should first look into the therapist’s credentials.
You can ask a potential sex therapist what your treatment plan would look like and how long they think it might take. The price is another problem that has not been solved. She says that before you start treatment, you should talk to a potential therapist and your insurance company, because not doing so could affect your eligibility for out-of-network benefits and reimbursement. Because of this, there will be a lot of money and medical bills to pay.
Sexuality is a very personal and complicated idea that includes both healthy and unhealthy sexual behavior. It is possible that you will not feel right talking about them with your therapist right away. You should feel better and better as your therapy goes on, though. If you do not feel safe talking to your therapist, that could be a sign that something is wrong.