Sex Therapy in Chicago, IL

Create a Fuller, More Satisfying Sex Life

Whether you are seeking treatment as an individual or a couple, sex therapy can help you. Get started on improving connection, acceptance, and satisfaction in your sex life and intimate relationships.

So many people start seeing a therapist in Chicago, IL feeling frustrated, confused, hopeless, or just plain tired. They believe that they’re broken, weird, or abnormal for having their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. When sexual issues arise, they can permeate so much of people’s lives. It affects their relationship satisfaction, mental health, self-esteem, and more. As a sex therapist, I have seen sex therapy help clients increase confidence and acceptance in themselves. Intimacy improves and communication gets a little easier in their relationships. Additionally, people start to feel hopeful about the options available to them moving forward. I’m hopeful that through starting sex therapy, you’ll discover many of these same benefits.

What is Sex Therapy?

What is sex therapy, really? It’s talk therapy with an added focus on sexual issues and how they connect to the rest of your experience as a whole human being. We’re often not talking JUST about sex, because so many parts of your experience can contribute to your current concerns and goals. Some of these things that may be part of the conversation include:

• experiences of trauma

• family history

• illness and medical issues

• myths/beliefs/expectations about sexual functioning

• relationship satisfaction

• self-esteem

• symptoms of anxiety and depression

• stress and life transitions

• and more!

Gain Knowledge About Your Sexual Health

Sex therapy can be educational at times. You will learn about yourself and your relationships. Along with the beliefs and myths about sex that do and don’t serve you. As a sex therapist in Chicago, IL, I’ll provide you with access to accurate information about sexual health. In our society, many people didn’t (and still don’t) have access to comprehensive sex education. Often leading to unrealistic expectations and myths about sexual functioning and relationships. Starting sex therapy can help you better understand your sexual health and functioning (the way your body works and responds to sexual input) and figure out your needs and goals (it’s ok if you’re not sure). With guidance from a sex therapist, you’ll learn where to look for more resources that describe your specific concerns or goals. I frequently recommend relevant intimacy counseling resources and homework that will help you explore your questions further.

Improve Communication About Intimacy

Many people describe discomfort and awkwardness when talking about their sexual experiences. You might feel more or less comfortable when talking with a romantic or sexual partner, a friend, a family member, or a healthcare professional. As you explore your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to sex and sexuality, you’ll acquire vocabulary over time to describe your experience. Whether you’re starting sex therapy in Illinois as an individual or as a couple, you’ll practice talking about your experience just by being in session. As a sex therapist, I’ll support you in articulating and exploring your experiences, needs, and preferences.

My Approach as a Sex Therapist in Chicago, IL

I understand that talking about sexual concerns can be uncomfortable, especially with a therapist who is new to you. Oftentimes, the most difficult part is getting started. It gets easier with time as you start reflecting on your own experiences and get comfortable verbalizing your concerns and goals. I always try to ask questions at your pace and only when relevant. Creating sensitivity to any questions or concerns you have about the process.

What to Expect for the First Few Sessions

I spend 2-3 sessions thoroughly assessing for any sexual concerns, medical conditions, relationship dynamics, your family of origin, and cultural influences on sexual beliefs. While also discussing current beliefs, expectations, and your story of how you got here. This sounds like a lot, and we never get to all in the first couple of sessions. It’s also a conversation that unfolds as you reflect more and more about your experience. From there, we’ll discuss a treatment plan for addressing your goals: what we’ll focus on first, and how we’ll do that. When needed, I collaborate with and refer to physicians, pelvic floor physical therapists, and other therapists in the area.

Other Services Offered Out of My Chicago, IL Office

Having and building healthy intimacy takes work and healthy communication. Every one of your relationships has one thing in common and that is you which is why individual therapy is so important. This is why we offer individual therapy for setting boundaries and relationship issues. Healthy intimacy looks different at all stages of a relationship. For this, I offer several different options to Michigan and Illinois residents including premarital counseling and couples therapy. All services are offered through online therapy in Illinois or teletherapy in Michigan.

As a therapist, there are several additional resources I like to suggest to my clients. They can be used along with therapy to enhance your relationship with intimacy. These resources range from blogs, books, and podcasts.