Sex Therapy and Reproductive Wellness
As sex and relationship specialists, we understand the intricacies of navigating one’s sexual wellness throughout reproductive life events. People with uteruses face a myriad of emotional, cognitive, physiological, and sexual changes directly related to these experiences. Whether it be infertility, pregnancy, miscarriage, postpartum, termination decisions, menopause, or pelvic and vulvovaginal pain disorders, we are here to guide you through these events and changes.
For many women, difficulties and unique challenges accompany their reproductive life events. It can be an exhausting, confusing, and unsettling journey. Especially while balancing the “every day”, such as intimate relationships, work, family, and social lives. We are practitioners who understand and empathize with women who find themselves in these situations (where they often feel alone). Reproductive health is a unique and often uncharted element of sex therapy. Many women feel they need to minimize their reproductive experiences, even though they directly affect their quality of life. Frequently, when facing these challenges, women report struggling with low self-esteem, difficulty accessing pleasure, and changes in their intimate relationships. They’ve also reported inadequate support or access to helpful information. When you run into these hurdles, complicated emotions and questions may arise. We are here to work alongside of you as you determine what steps to take next to best cope with these struggles.
While physicians are well-intended, their job is to focus on your physical health. That can leave you feeling alone and unsure where to turn for support, guidance, and pertinent information about how these challenges intersect with your sexuality. As trained sexuality specialists, we understand sexual wellness to be an important piece of one’s overall well-being, regardless of the current phase of life you are experiencing. It’s common to encounter challenges related to reproductive life events. These milestones and circumstances can create emotional, cognitive, physiological, and sexual stress. This does not indicate there is something wrong with you! Sex therapy can make a difference!
Together we will navigate your concerns including but not limited to:
- Desire and arousal
- Orgasm/ Erotic pleasure
- Pain (Chronic and Acute)
- Body image & self-esteem
- Life cycle transition challenges
- Role overload
- Societal constructs that create the “shoulds” in our lives
- Effective communication with a partner
- Grief
- Anxiety and Depression
Reproductive topics we address include but are not limited to:
- Infertility
- Family planning
- Pregnancy and postpartum
- Miscarriage
- Termination decisions
- Menopause
- Pelvic and vulvovaginal pain disorders (endometriosis, dyspareunia, vulvodynia, etc.)
- Hysterectomy
When collaborating with clients, we utilize theoretical interventions that emphasize mindful self-awareness, freedom of choice, growth, and strengths. Together with your therapist, you will explore your thoughts, feelings, needs, and goals, while building knowledge, esteem, resilience, and the skills for wellness outside of therapy. Each person’s experience is sacred and will be honored. We strive to create connection with you in your sexual wellness journey, supporting you with insight, validation, pertinent information, and renewed hope. You are not alone. We will help you embrace the pleasure and knowledge you deserve!
PLEASE KNOW: While reproductive wellness is often specific to vulva owners, we see clients of all gender identities, sexual orientations, and relationship structures. Even if a client’s partner is not an active part of therapy, we can offer several sessions to both the client and their partner together, to provide additional information and insight. This is usually beneficial to reaching the desired goals.