I am an AASECT certified sex therapist in Central Kentucky, a credential that ensures the public that I am uniquely qualified to treat a broad variety of sexual & relational issues. AASECT certification protects patients by distinguishing those therapists who have achieved rigorous standards and demonstrate depth in clinical competence.
Sex Therapists treat a broad range of difficulties related to sexuality, including erectile dysfunction, rapid ejaculation, vaginismus, anorgasmia, and dyspareunia. 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. Although the discussions between the couple and the therapist in the context of sex therapy are of an intimate nature, the therapy itself never involves physical examination or contact, of any sort, between the therapist and the patient. I value collaboration with other health care providers to provide holistic, coordinated care for my clients.
Frequently, individuals and couples bypass a physician’s office and make their initial contact with a psychotherapist, seeking treatment for relationship difficulties and intimacy issues. The therapist may begin their work by obtaining a comprehensive psycho-sexual history from the patient and/or couple, whereby the sex therapist learns about the origin of the symptoms and related information regarding emotions, past history and current sexual functioning.
Through this process, the therapist may discover emerging or persistent symptoms of a sexual dysfunction, which may or may not be a symptom of an underlying disease. In order to rule out a biological cause, such as diabetes, neurological disorders, hypertension, endocrine disorders, the therapist may decide to refer the patient to a competent physician for a proper medical diagnosis and course of treatment.
Once a diagnosis has been made, or physiological etiology of the dysfunction has been ruled out, the therapist continues their work through talk therapy and may assign specific sexual homework tasks to the individual or couple, to be completed in private, between sessions.