Sex Therapy

Immediate appointments available
Psychologists Online across Australia for counselling, testing and groups - Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart, Perth and Canberra

How can we help?

You are not alone. Almost everyone encounters sexual problems at some point in their lives. One of the most frequent comments we hear from those that have sought sex therapy is that they cannot believe they waited so long to get help.

These problems may relate to stress or tiredness or physical illness. Some cases can arise from mental, relationship, or lifestyle issues.

Many people experience sexual problems from time to time but if they persist or get worse over time, it is time to seek help

This may include one or more of the following:

• One-on-one counselling
• Psychological testing
• Group therapy

One-On-One Counselling

Individual counselling provides people with a safe place to work through their personal or psychological problems, knowing that everything they say is confidential. It includes a series of 1-hour online or face-to-face consultations with an experienced psychologist.

The thought of seeing a psychologist for sexual issues can be scary. Most people find it difficult to talk about sex, but our experienced team understands this and will help you to feel comfortable discussing sex.

They will identify any underlying causes, explore various options and recommend solutions to improve your sexual satisfaction.

Partners can have quite different ideas about sex, such as frequency of sex, desire, technique, preferences, and life stage that can contribute to their difficulties.

You will be able to see your therapist by yourself or with your romantic or sexual partner.

Our team of experienced psychologists are skilled in working with a range of sexual issues and use a variety of treatment approaches, which you can read about below.

Partners can have quite different ideas about sex, such as frequency of sex, desire, technique, preferences, and life stage that can contribute to their difficulties.

You will be able to see your therapist by yourself or with your romantic or sexual partner.

Psychological Testing

Before your first session, you will receive a psychological assessment to identify the sexual issues you may have and guide your psychologist in developing a treatment plan for you.

This may include, but is not limited to, performance anxiety, sexual health, sexual dysfunctions, sexual disorders, and gender diversity, as well as, ageing and sexuality and disability and sexuality.

Depending on your results, further testing may be required.

Group Therapy

Our Sex Therapy group is helpful for people who want to learn and understand more about sexual satisfaction and how to achieve it.

Group work is an alternative, effective treatment for people with sexual problems that includes working with others with similar challenges.

People often feel alone and like they are the only ones struggling with anxiety. It can be a huge relief to hear others discuss what you are going through.

You can join a group on completion of your one-on-one counselling or as a stand-alone treatment.

For more information about our Sex Therapy groups or on any of the above, please contact our Reception team on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.

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How does a Sex Therapy Assessment work?

Before your first session you will receive a series of online screening tests to help identify the type of sexual issues you are experiencing and identify the right treatment for you.

In this session your psychologist will:

• conduct a full clinical history to try to understand the possible sources of your sexual problems.
• discuss the results and implications of your psychological tests and whether further testing is required.
• discuss the outcomes you want to achieve.
• answer any questions you may have.

After reviewing your tests results, your psychologist may recommend:

• further testing if the results are not clear enough;
• a series of one-on-one counselling sessions
• group therapy.

For the best results, you need to complete these tests well before the session starts.

For more information about our Sex Therapy groups or on any of the above, please contact our Reception team on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.

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How does One-on-One Counselling work?

Psychology Melbourne's small team of sexual health psychologists provide in-person and/or online counselling for sexual issues. They are available six days a week, both before and after working hours and on Saturdays.

The thought of seeing a counsellor for sexual issues can be scary. Most people find it difficult to talk about sex, but our experienced psychologists understand this and will help you to feel comfortable discussing sex.

Your psychologist will review your clinical history taken in your assessment and ask further questions such as about your health, your sex education and beliefs about sex, and your specific sexual concerns. Counselling generally involves 5 – 15 sessions for one hour every week or every other week.

Our sensitive, supportive psychologists have done extra training in helping people with the mental or emotional aspects of sex-related issues. They have helped hundreds of individuals and couples overcome the difficulties that prevent them from having a satisfactory sex life.

They use a variety or combination of evidence-based treatments in working with sexual issues, including:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Sensate focus therapy
• Couple's communication techniques
• Mindfulness practices
• The Gottman Method
• Psychodynamic therapy
• Psychoeducation around sexual health
• Interpersonal psychotherapy
• Somatic sex education (SSE)

One of the most important first steps is learning how to communicate about sex, as this is still a topic that makes many people uneasy. However, good communication can help work through common disagreements about issues such as sexual frequency and mismatched sex drives.

Sessions may include learning new capabilities, such as how to increase pleasure and arousal as an individual or a couple. You may need to learn ways to manage anxiety, including performance anxiety around sex. Often, they will set “assignments” for you to do at home, such as reading books about sexuality or trying new things or communication strategies.

If your GP has recommended any medication, they will discuss this with you as medication alone generally will not cure most sexual disorders.

Medication

If any medical or physical causes, such as low testosterone, urology, or gynaecology issues, are identified during counselling, your psychologist may recommend a visit to your GP may be recommended.

If medication is required, our psychologists will provide your GP with a report on your situation so they can be fully informed when prescribing medication.

Our psychologists can discuss with you some of the benefits, risks, and possible side effects of medications to help you make your own decision.

Please note that psychologists are not able to prescribe medication.

The Team of Sex Therapy Psychologists

For more information about our Sex Therapy groups or on any of the above, please contact our Reception team on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.

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Sex Therapy Group

Our Sex Therapy group is helpful for people who want to learn and understand more about sexual satisfaction and how to achieve it.

Group work is extremely rewarding and provides benefits that individual therapy cannot. It gives you valuable access to experienced psychologists at a lower cost than individual counselling.

In a group you can gain extra support from the group. Seeing other people tackle problems and make positive changes can teach a full range of strategies for facing your own concerns outside the therapy room. The group is online and led by an experienced psychologist with specialised sexual health training. You will be working with 6 – 10 people, with similar concerns for 4 sessions on a weekly basis.

For more information about our Sex Therapy groups or on any of the above, please contact our Reception team on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.

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What is Sex Therapy?

Sex therapy is an umbrella term that covers multiple issues such as performance anxiety, sexual health, sexual dysfunctions, sexual disorders, and gender diversity, as well as, ageing and sexuality and disability and sexuality.

Most sexual problems are temporary and generally last less than 6 months while a sexual dysfunction may last more than 6 months. If problems last, modern sex therapy offers a repertoire of psychological and physical techniques that can help.

Improving communication with your partner in dealing with your sexual problems can help with common issues such as disagreements about sexual frequency, lack of desire or the importance of sexuality which can vary between partners.

The stress of a new addition to the family and changes over the life cycle can also have repercussions in the bedroom.

Sexual issues can arise at any point during the sexual response cycle with desire (libido), arousal (excitement) orgasm and resolution. Understanding how you respond during each of these phases can help identify causes of sexual difficulties.

You will explore all areas of your sex life, including the psychological, emotional, gender and medical areas or a combination of these.

For singles, sex therapy can help with issues related to being single, such as feeling uncomfortable giving or receiving love, feeling numb during sexual encounters, fear of intimacy or trauma from a past relationship.

Sexual dysfunction is seen as an individual problem, but it can also be a couples’ issue.

For couples, sex therapy can help with issues such as lack of desire, communicating about sex, difficulty having an orgasm, pain during sex or inability to have penetrative sex.

Some common sexual issues that men and women may struggle with are:

• Performance anxiety
• Premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation or other
• Loss of desire & sexual boredom
• Poor communication about sex and intimacy
• Mismatched sexual desire between partners
• Misinformed or outdated sex education
• Feelings of anxiety, fear or shame related to sex
• Poor body image and its relation to sex
• Issues related to gender identity and/or sexual orientation
• Issues around cultural, religious, and societal views of sex
• Past sexual trauma & betrayal
• Lack of emotional & sexual intimacy
• Sleep disorders
• Ageing and sexuality
• Disability and sexuality
• Hypersexual disorder (sex addiction)
• Pornography addiction

Sexual dysfunctions can also be caused by many factors including psychological and sociocultural factors, lifestyle factors, and mental health.

These include:

• Obesity & cchronic diseases
• Side effects of medications
• Difficulty getting or keeping an erection (erectile dysfunction)
• Lack of or decreased interest in sexual activity
• Low testosterone & pharmaceuticals
• Pain during sex (dyspareunia)
• Menopausal issues
• Difficulty having an orgasm (anorgasmia)
• Paraphilia and paraphilic disorder
• Vaginismus and fear of having sex
• Coping with and living with sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

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How much does it cost?

Assessments

Enquire about our Sex Therapy Assessment with Reception.

When you purchase our assessments, reception will contact you to arrange an appointment time. Prior to your assessment, you will be required to fill in a battery of online psychological screening tests.

One-on-one Counselling

Psychology Melbourne’s fees for sex therapy counselling are as follows:

• Singles consultations with a clinical psychologist start from $270 and a Medicare rebate of $131.65 may apply for each session you attend, making an out-of-pocket fee of $138.35 per session.
• Singles consultations with a registered psychologist start from $220 and a Medicare rebate of $92.90 may apply for every session you attend, making an out-of-pocket fee of $127.10 per session.
• Couples' sessions with a clinical psychologist start from $300 and a Medicare rebate of $136.35 may apply for each session you attend, making an out-of-pocket fee of $163.65 per session.
• Couples' sessions with a registered psychologist start from $270 and a Medicare rebate of $92.90 may apply for every session you attend, making an out-of-pocket fee of $177.10 per session.

When working conjointly with a partner, only the person with a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) can receive a Medicare rebate.

The person with the MHCP must be present during the session if you want to claim a rebate.

Please note:

• The fees for consultations differ between in-person and online sessions. There is an additional fee of $10 for appointments scheduled before 9 am and after 5 pm weekdays, as well as for appointments throughout the day on Saturdays.
• Medicare rebates are available for 10 one-on-one counselling sessions per calendar year if you have a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP.
• To access funded services from a third party, such as Workcover or NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme), you must provide approved claim details 48 hours (about 2 days) before your first session. If, for any reason, approval is not provided, you will be responsible for full payment, or appointments may be cancelled. A gap fee of $20 per session may apply.
• A reduced fee is considered on request for clients under financial hardship with a letter from your GP confirming your financial situation.
• Fees can be paid by EFTPOS, VISA, or MasterCard. Please note that we do not accept American Express or Diners Club.
• Bulk Billing is not available at our clinic.

For more information about our Sex Therapy groups or on any of the above, please contact our Reception team on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.

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Sex Therapy Groups

The cost of the Sex Therapy group for all 4 sessions is approximately $50 per session. Groups are held online at various times but usually in the evenings.

• Groups run by a clinical psychologist cost $510 and a Medicare rebate of $34.60 applies for every session you attend, making an out-of-pocket fee of $309.30 or $50.40 per session.
• Groups run by a registered psychologist cost $450 and a Medicare rebate of $23.70 applies for every session you attend, making an out-of-pocket fee of $312.60 or $51.30 per session.

Please note:

• Medicare rebates are available for 10 1-hour group sessions per year if you have a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP.
• Rebates only apply to each session you attend if you are situated 15 km or more from where the group is being held.
• Most of our groups are 15 km from Melbourne. Our Reception team can help you with this.
• After pay is available for the initial cost of the group and rebates are sent to your nominated account after each session.
• Some private health funds offer refunds for one-on-one counselling sessions. Please contact your private health provider to find out more about your policy.

For more information about our Sex Therapy groups or on any of the above, please contact our Reception team on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.

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How do I make an appointment?

Individual Counselling appointments

For the Personal Matching and Assessment session, you can book online here, and reception will call you back to arrange your appointment times.

For individual counselling appointments you can book online or call our Reception team on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.

Reception will find an appointment time that suits you best and will reserve 3 future appointments so that you can keep your place in your psychologist’s diary. Appointments after that will be made between you and your consultant.

We understand that changes to your appointments are sometimes necessary, but we urge you to notify us as soon as possible to avoid cancellation fees. You will be sent an SMS reminder four (4) days before your appointment.

For in-person appointments we have strict precautions in place at all our locations for your safety. If you are feeling unwell, have any symptoms of fever, or have tested positive for COVID-19, we ask you to use our online counselling services until you are well again.

Please bring your Mental Health Care Plan to your first session or email it to us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au. Alternatively, you can ask your GP to fax this through to us on 03 9957 8122.

For further information, call our Reception team on 1300 161 639 or email us at info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.

Group appointments

For the Sex Therapy Group, you can purchase this on our website HERE

We require prepayment of all groups prior to the start date. You can purchase the group on our website or call our Reception team for assistance on 1300 161 639 or email them info@psychologymelbourne.com.au or use the chat box on this website.

Once you have enrolled in the group, you will be sent several forms to complete before the group starts. If you have any questions about forms, please speak to our helpful Reception team. The forms are required to be completed 24 hours before the group starts.

You will need to join the online group 10 minutes before it starts to ensure there are no technology problems. Assistance on the night is only available for 10 minutes before and after the start time.

Alternatively, we can show you how to join on the day prior to the group starting.

If you have any technology problems, please check your audio and video are working properly as well as your Wi-Fi connection. Refresh your browser if you are still experiencing problems.

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