Heather Beeves has a Post Masters Certificate in Sex Therapy from U.W Stout, she is a certified Sexologist through the American Board of Sexology, and is a good standing member with AASECT. She is also currently working on her certification with AASECT.
What is Sex Therapy?
Sex Therapy is a form of talk therapy that is designed to assist individuals and couples explore multiple factors that can impact their sexual satisfaction. Some of these factors can be medical, psychological, or interpersonal. Sex therapy can also address individual issues related to sexual identity, trauma, sexual orientation, problematic sexual inhibitions, undesirable sexual habits, as well as desire discrepancies in couples.
A Sex Therapist is a specialized therapist that is trained to walk along side of their clients and direct them towards overcoming issues that are specific to the topic of sex. It is often a form of therapy used when couples counseling has not been helpful or when medical attempts have not been successful. Sex Therapists treat a broad range of difficulties related to sexuality, including erectile dysfunction, rapid ejaculation, vaginismus, anorgasmia, and dyspareunia.
Sex Therapy allows space for couples or the individual to process through ideas, beliefs and fears around the topic of sex. It is also designed to explore the barriers that hinder one from finding joy and freedom as a sexual person. Areas that can impact finding freedom sexually can be trauma, abuse, conditioning, anxiety, pain, functioning, and the inability to talk openly about the topic of sex.
What can I expect in session?
Each session varies. The first session, or the intake, is a session where the therapist will learn more about you, your history and what concerns you. This often involves taking history around your relationship, sexual functioning, concerns, or overall satisfaction. The second session often involves a more detailed sexual history that explores your education, beliefs, and experiences around the topic of sex. The second session is important as it will assist your therapist to determine the best steps to take in addressing your concerns. The sexual history is done individually to ease the feeling of anxiety that some people feel when discussing sex and intimacy. After the second session a treatment plan will be discussed and goals will be set for treatment.
Is Sex Therapy the same as a Sex Surrogate?
No, they are nothing alike, and with sex therapy there is no touching from the therapist to the client at any time. There is often fear and misconceptions around seeing a Sex Therapist. The biggest misconception is that there will be touch from the therapist, that the sessions will solely focus on sex, or that the sessions themselves will be sexual. While sex is often the main reason people come to see a Sex Therapist, it is not the only factor to be addressed. Other areas that are often explored in sex therapy are connection, communication, intimacy, pain, arousal, desire, finding joy and experiencing freedom.
Your Sex Therapists Training
Heather Beeves has a post Masters Certification in Sex Therapy from U.W. Stout, she is a Certified Sexologist and a member of AASECT. She also specializes in trauma, EMDR, Medical Family Therapy and she has advanced training in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy. These other areas of specialized training are often used successfully to address various issues during Sex Therapy.
