A Primer on Sex Therapy
Sex therapy is a specialized form of psychotherapy designed to help individuals and couples address issues related to sexual function, intimacy, and satisfaction. It's a field that combines psychological principles with a deep understanding of human sexuality. A cornerstone of sex therapy is a foundational knowledge of the sexual response cycle, a model that describes the physiological and psychological stages of sexual arousal and activity. The most widely recognized model, developed by Masters and Johnson, includes four phases: excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. Understanding these stages is crucial for identifying where a dysfunction may be occurring. Sexual dysfunctions are common concerns addressed in therapy. These include difficulties with desire (e.g., hypoactive sexual desire disorder), arousal (e.g., female sexual arousal disorder, erectile dysfunction), orgasm (e.g., anorgasmia, premature ejaculation), and pain (e.g., dyspareunia, vaginismus). Therapy provides ...