What is Psychosexual Therapy and Relationship Therapy?
It is important to understand that I am still training in this field; however, I am classed as able to practice.
Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy explores the emotional, psychological, and interpersonal aspects of our sexuality and relationships. It goes beyond simply addressing sexual function to understand how our past experiences, cultural messages, and emotional states influence our intimate lives. Psychosexual and Relationship therapy helps individuals and couples uncover and overcome obstacles that hinder authentic connection and sexual satisfaction.
Who Might Seek Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy
This specialised therapy is especially beneficial for individuals and couples who face a range of challenges and are seeking to enhance their intimate lives. You might consider this approach if you:
Struggle with sexual shame or disconnection:
Feel guilt or disconnection from your erotic self that interferes with fully experiencing intimacy.Encounter relationship challenges:
Experience issues like infidelity, frequent conflict, or difficulties communicating intimate needs, which leave you yearning for greater trust and connection.Explore non-traditional sexual dynamics:
Are interested in kink, BDSM, or alternative sexual lifestyles, or have unique experiences as a sex worker that need validation and understanding.Face compulsive sexual behaviours:
Find that unregulated sexual behaviour is negatively impacting your personal well-being or relationship satisfaction.Cope with performance anxiety or sexual dysfunction:
Struggle with issues such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, or anxiety around sexual performance that have multifaceted causes.Feel isolated or disconnected:
Experience loneliness or a lack of authentic connection, whether due to personal, social, or cultural factors.
Work through body image issues:
Have concerns about your body that affect your sexual confidence or your ability to express your sexuality.Seek clarity on their identity:
Want to understand how your personal history, upbringing, and cultural background shape your sexual identity and desires, particularly if you’re questioning your sexual orientation or gender identity.Recover from past trauma:
Are healing from sexual trauma or abuse and want to rebuild a healthy relationship with intimacy and self-worth.Need help creating healthy boundaries:
Struggle to establish and maintain boundaries in intimate relationships, impacting your emotional and sexual well-being.Desire enhanced sexual satisfaction:
Are curious about exploring new ways to increase pleasure and creativity in your sexual experiences.Work through the aftermath of relationship crises:
Are looking to rebuild trust and intimacy following infidelity or other relational challenges.
If any of these experiences resonate with you, psychosexual and relationship therapy offers a way to uncover and overcome obstacles, build healthier, more authentic relationships, and ultimately create a deeper connection with yourself. I use two models to help support the work: The Biopsychosocial Model and Sexual Narrative Therapy model.
What is the Biopsychosocial Model and Why I Use It
The biopsychosocial model is a holistic approach that considers the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors in shaping our overall health and well-being. I use this model because I believe that our sexuality and relationships are influenced by much more than just physical factors. Our genetic predispositions, emotional states, cultural background, personal experiences, and social environment all play essential roles in our intimate lives.
By applying the biopsychosocial model, I work to understand the full context of your experiences - looking at how physical health, mental outlook, and social relationships interact. This comprehensive perspective not only helps to identify the root causes of your challenges but also guides us in developing personalised strategies that promote lasting, meaningful change.
What is the Sexual Narrative Therapy Model and Why I Use It
The Sexual Narrative Therapy model by Suzanne Iasenza, is an approach that focuses on the personal stories we develop about our sexuality and intimate lives. I use this model because I believe our current experiences are shaped by the narratives we gather—often implicitly—from childhood, adolescence, and past relationships. These stories, influenced by our personal history and wider cultural messages, form our unconscious understanding of sex, sexuality, intimacy, and relationships, affecting the connections we have and the ones we seek to create.
By applying Sexual Narrative Therapy, I work with you to uncover the dominant stories influencing your intimate life. We explore how these narratives surface when you connect with partners, and how a clash between different personal or societal stories can create tension. This perspective allows us to see challenges not as personal flaws, but as the product of conflicting or unhelpful narratives. Together, we challenge old or limiting stories and work to "re-author" new, more empowering ones that better reflect your values and desires, leading to greater confidence and more fulfilling intimate connections.