Sex therapy

The principle
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially recognized it: sexual health is an important factor of physical and mental well-being. For a couple's life to be satisfying, therefore, it is essential to question oneself in case of sexual problems. This is the goal of sex therapy.

Created by William Masters and Virginia Johnson, two sexologists, sex therapy was born in the 1960s. Contrary to couple therapies, it is a specialty of sexology aimed at re-establishing sexual contact in the couple. The basic principle? Combine oral interviews and practical exercises, at home. It is important to underline that it is not a question of curing sexual disorders from an organic point of view (with drugs or surgery), but only from a psychological point of view. It is essential that the sexologist always remains in contact with a doctor, in case of problems related to a medical cause.

The sexologist: the sex therapy specialist

Only sexologists can practice sex therapy. Sexology is not considered as a medical specialty, but only as a competence, so there is no official recognition for sexology, but only a university specialization.The sexologist has a good knowledge of sexuality and methods of treating sexual disorders. Sexologists can be general practitioners, gynecologists, psychiatrists or psychologists. Hence, there are a lot of competent sexologists. But as this title is not protected by law, some may be self-proclaimed sexologists despite lacking adequate training. To avoid nasty surprises, be careful and always ask your doctor for advice.

The sessions

Each session is aimed at facing openly, putting aside all modesty, one's intimacy and the development of sexual relations. Fears, unacknowledged desires ... The sexologist will be able to cure sexual dysfunctions and allow certain patients to regain a satisfactory sexuality. The visits are divided into two phases: interviews and exercises.

- The interviews: it is a question of establishing a dialogue between the patient (s) and the therapist. How do you live your sexual relationships? What blocks are there? What needs to be done to improve the situation? The sexologist will ask you similar questions and look for the appropriate answers. If you are in a couple, it is best to consult him together in order to better cope with the situation and overcome difficulties (difficult orgasms, premature ejaculation), unless you judge that these two sessions can destabilize your partner. Know that you will never be subjected to medical tests. Clothes must stay in place! However, the specialist may prescribe a full check-up if the doubt persists.

- The exercises: are aimed at putting into practice what was said during the interviews and at recreating an erotic and exciting atmosphere in order to promote sexual exchange. The therapist, once the problem has been identified, proposes exercises suitable for the problems encountered by the couple. A little at a time, with perseverance, these exercises will bear fruit, as happens in about 70% of cases.

Pros and cons

This approach to sexuality is perfectly suited to sexual disorders of psychological origin, linked to poor communication in the couple or insufficient knowledge of sexual physiology. But if the cause is related to the sphere of the unconscious, another type of therapy must be considered (psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, couple therapy ...). Sexologists may also, in some cases, prescribe drugs or antidepressants (if they are doctors), or recommend surgery (in case of malformations).

Practical information

The therapies will have a different duration depending on the difficulty of the problem to be solved and the frequency of the sessions.

To find your sexologist, consult the website of the Italian Federation of Scientific Sexology (FISS): www.fissonline.it/.