Sexual challenges are among of the most frequent sources of conflict in relationships, yet surprisingly few therapists have specialized training or knowledge in how to effectively support their clients with these issues.

This unfortunately leads to people either barely talking at all about their sexual lives in therapy, or therapists giving unhelpful (even if well-intentioned) advice that may leave their client feeling just as stuck and frustrated as before, or even moreso.

Problems with sex are way more common than you might think— and if that’s where you find yourself today, it doesn’t have to stay that way.

Below are some of the sexual challenges we can help with:

  • Low sexual desire or desire discrepancy (one or both partners not having interest in sex)

  • Difficulty connecting to sexuality due to past sexual trauma and/or religious trauma

  • Vaginismus or other vaginal pain issues

  • Erectile unpredictability (commonly known as “erectile dysfunction”)

  • Premature ejaculation and delayed ejaculation

  • Body image and attention issues

  • Orgasm issues

  • Recovering emotionally and sexually after an affair

  • Out-of-Control Sexual Behavior (check out this great blog post by another sex therapist on why we use this language instead of “sex addiction”)

  • Exploring sexual preferences & identities (i.e. exploring Kink culture, navigating coming out as queer)

  • Navigating non-traditional relationship structures (i.e. consensual non-monogamy / poly)

  • Difficulty communicating with partner(s) about sex

Depending on your specific challenge and goal, sex therapy can be offered 1on1, or in the context of couples/relationship therapy.

Why choose The Gaia Center for sex therapy?

As a sex-positive practice, we approach our clients’ challenges through a lens of optimizing sexual health, rather than being gatekeepers or evaluators of what is “healthy/unhealthy” or “functional/dysfunctional” on their behalf. If it’s consensual and and it’s pleasurable, we are here for it!

We also firmly believe in multidisciplinary treatment, as almost any sexual challenge will benefit from a combined psychological and physiological approach. We love collaborating with other providers as part of a cohesive treatment team to support our clients in getting better and making us obsolete. 🤗

Clinical Director Valerie Martin is currently in process toward becoming certified with AASECT as a Certified Sex Therapist (among a small handful in Nashville) later in 2022 and currently serves on AASECT’s Advocacy Committee. She also supervises other Gaia Center therapists on sex therapy cases and makes sex therapy trainings available to the clinical team.

Interested in learning more about sex therapy or scheduling a session? Click the button below or fill out our contact form.