Psychosexual Issues

What are psychosexual issues?

Psychosexual issues are sexual issues that are psychological in origin rather than physiological. They may come about as a result of stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and other causes.

 

Sexual problems can vary in severity and intensity. Some can be minor and temporary whereas others may have been around for a long time.

Examples of psychosexual issues

  • Loss of sexual desire
  • Painful intercourse
  • Difficulties with orgasm
  • Arousal disorders
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Premature or delayed ejaculation
  • General breakdown in a couple’s sexual relationship

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Treatment for psychosexual issues

Therapy will help you understand the origins of your difficulties. Usually the focus will be on unravelling the underlying causes rather than the sexual difficulties themselves. That said, there will also be some guidance on strategies that can help you better manage the difficulties you’re experiencing.

 

Following your initial assessment, we will spend some time developing a psychological formulation of your difficulties so we can create a unique treatment plan. In some cases, we may refer you to a psychosexual therapist if we think this would be helpful.

Frequently asked questions

You should seek support for psychosexual issues if you find that you are struggling with your sexual performance or you are experiencing a lot of anxiety when it comes to sex and intimacy. If this area of your life is causing you stress or concern, it’s always beneficial to seek professional help as these kinds of difficulties can become an obstacle to enjoying an intimate relationship.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is typically the most effective therapy, as well as seeing a psychologist who has specialist training in dealing with psychosexual issues.

Whilst it’s always helpful to first see your GP to exclude any physiological issues, there are some signs that could indicate that your difficulties are psychological. If, for example, you are able to achieve sexual pleasure on your own, it is unlikely that there is something physiological at play. But if you find that you have a lot of anxiety when having sex with a partner then it is more likely to be psychological.

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Athena Lazaridou

Athena is a Pilates instructor with 8 years’ experience in the field. After completing a Power Pilates Mat Certification in Athens, she went on to complete the Full Comprehensive Classical Pilates Certification with Equinox in Kensington.  She has been teaching Pilates at Equinox for the past 6 years in addition to her own private clients who she trains both face to face and virtually.

Athena has a passion for helping people get stronger and fitter as well as helping those recovering from injury regain their strength and mobility.  Over the years, she has worked with athletes to incorporate Pilates into their training and improve performance. Athena has also worked with prenatal and postnatal women who may be experiencing depression or other mental health difficulties and used Pilates to facilitate a positive impact on their mental health.

Athena is very passionate about improving physical and mental well-being and has recently incorporated Sound Healing into her work, as she believes it to be one of the best ways of ‘letting go’ and releasing stale energy whilst increasing greater self-awareness.