People often ask whether they really need to see a therapist who’s specifically trained in sex and intimacy issues. It’s a fair question—especially in a city like Seattle, where there are many excellent therapists. So why might you need a sex therapist in particular?
The reality is that very few graduate programs offer in-depth training in sexual health. Most therapists graduate with minimal education around sex and intimacy—despite the fact that these are often central to a person’s well-being and relationships. Those of us who specialize in sex therapy undergo additional years of study, training, supervision, and certification through rigorous programs such as AASECT (The American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists).
Therapists who pursue certification often do so because we’ve seen firsthand how underserved clients are in this area. It’s humbling—many of us didn’t realize how little we knew until we began training to do this work properly. And now we can help clients navigate everything from mismatched desire to erectile difficulties to improving sexual communication.
What Sex Therapists Are Trained to Address
Below are common concerns clients bring to sex therapy in Seattle:
- Low or no sexual desire
- Sexless relationships or marriages
- Mismatched frequency between partners
- Premature or delayed ejaculation
- Orgasm difficulties (e.g., never had one, difficulty reaching with a partner)
- Difficulty talking about sex
- Erectile dysfunction
- Sexual pain, medical recovery, or trauma aftermath
- Shame or inhibitions around sexual pleasure
- Learning to enjoy different types of sexual touch (e.g., oral sex)
- Kinks, fetishes, or alternative sexual interests
- Porn or sex addiction concerns
- Feeling bored or disconnected during sex
- Desire for deeper erotic, emotional, or spiritual connection
What General Therapists May Miss
Even highly skilled therapists may feel unprepared to support clients with sexual concerns. That’s not a personal failing—it’s a training gap. Many avoid the topic altogether, or give subtle cues that discussing sex is “off limits.” A sex therapist can create the safety and competence needed to go deeper, helping clients explore identity, healing, pleasure, and agency.
The PLISSIT Model in Sex Therapy
We often use the PLISSIT model—a tiered framework that allows sex therapists to tailor support based on what each client needs:
- Permission (P): Offering a nonjudgmental space where clients are encouraged to talk about sex freely, often for the first time.
- Limited Information (LI): Providing accurate education to correct myths or fill in important gaps.
- Specific Suggestions (SS): Giving practical tools, exercises, and behavioral recommendations to improve sexual function or satisfaction.
- Intensive Therapy (IT): Addressing deeper emotional or relational dynamics, sometimes in coordination with other sexual health professionals.
It’s About More Than Sex
Often, what people seek from sex therapy goes beyond performance or technique. They want healing. They want intimacy, empowerment, reconnection, play, transformation. They want to move past trauma, or reawaken a part of themselves that’s gone quiet. The work can be deeply relational—and deeply liberating.
Explore Sex Therapy in Seattle
If you or your partner are seeking a different kind of support around sex, intimacy, or desire, we’re here. Book a session with one of our trained sex therapists. We also offer group therapy for desire and frequency concerns, in case you prefer learning in community.