Sex Therapy involves seeing a therapist and doing homework. The homework is something you do at home in your own time, and meetings with your therapist are where you discuss how you are progressing and what needs to happen next. You will also be able to sort out any other issues that may arise along the way.

The therapist will ask you about your problem, and will want to know a bit about your upbringing and family background, what you learned about sex, any sexual experiences you have had, and your relationship if you have one. She or he will then tell you the likely causes of your problem, and how sex therapy is going to help you.

When you are ready, you will probably agree some easy touching exercises, called Sensate Focus to do at home in your own time. These will start with touching your body, or your partner’s body if you are in a relationship, in a non-sexual manner at first.

When this is going well, you will move on to some sensuous touching, then after a while start gentle sexual touching. You will be surprised at the changes this can bring about in how you feel about your body and your sexual ability.

If you want to go on to full sexual intercourse or other forms of penetration, the therapist will give you ideas of how to start off. It is best to do this do this step by step, and not aim for the whole thing all at once.