One-on-one confidential therapy sessions focused solely on you. This is ideal if you’re single, if your partner is unable or unwilling to attend therapy, or if you have personal sexual concerns (like lack of desire, trauma, sexual orientation questions, etc.) that you want to work through individually. In these sessions, our therapist will use techniques suited to your situation – for example, CBT to reframe anxious thoughts, or sensate focus exercises you can practice on your own to build comfort with your body. Individual therapy helps reduce anxiety, build self-confidence, and establish healthy sexual functioning at your own pace.

Joint therapy sessions for you and your partner (any gender/orientation welcome). This format is great when the issue involves the relationship dynamic – such as desire discrepancies (one partner wants sex more often than the other), communication breakdowns, or when one partner’s condition affects both (like ED or vaginismus). The therapist acts as a mediator and guide as you two learn to talk openly about sex, express needs and fears, and practice exercises together at home. Couples often find that having a safe space to discuss intimacy rekindles their connection. You’ll work on aligning expectations, reigniting passion, and solving practical problems as a team.

CBT is a structured, practical approach that targets the unhelpful thoughts and behaviors sustaining your problem. For instance, performance anxiety in men (“I failed once, I’ll probably fail again, she’ll leave me…”) can create a self-fulfilling prophecy. CBT techniques help identify and challenge those negative thoughts, replacing them with realistic, positive ones. It also involves setting gradual behavioral goals – like attempting intimacy without pressure for intercourse, etc. We use CBT protocols for conditions like ED, premature ejaculation (to manage the worry that precipitates rapid climax), low desire (to reframe how one thinks about sex and increase responsive desire), and more. Practical strategies from CBT might include learning relaxation methods, keeping thought records, or gradually facing feared situations in manageable steps – all geared to break the cycle of dysfunction.

This is a classic sex therapy technique, especially useful for anxiety-related issues or to rebuild intimacy. Sensate focus is essentially a series of guided touch exercises for couples that remove the goal of intercourse or orgasm and instead focus on exploration and pleasure in a non-demanding way. Early exercises might involve simply taking turns touching and caressing each other’s bodies (excluding genitals) with the rule that intercourse is off the table – this relieves pressure and rebuilds physical connection. As the exercises progress over weeks, you gradually include more sexual touch, always focusing on sensations rather than performance. Sensate focus helps break performance anxiety, enhance trust, and teach couples to be present and mindful with each other’s bodies. It’s incredibly effective for conditions like ED, premature ejaculation, or lack of arousal due to anxiety.

If you have a history of sexual trauma or abuse that is impacting your current sexual life, our therapists are equipped with gentle, supportive techniques to help you heal. We proceed at your pace, ensuring you always feel safe and in control. Techniques may include grounding exercises (to manage PTSD symptoms), gradually processing traumatic memories if appropriate (often in collaboration with a trauma therapist or using methods like EMDR if needed), and then building a sense of safety around sexuality. The goal is to rebuild trust – both in yourself and (if applicable) in your partner – and to reclaim your body as a source of positive sensations. This therapy can be deeply transformative, turning past pain into a place of strength and renewed sexual confidence.

Sometimes, difficulties stem from simple lack of accurate information or harmful myths picked up over time. We provide thorough yet easy-to-understand education on sexual anatomy, physiology, and the sexual response cycle. We’ll teach you what’s normal (hint: a LOT more is “normal” than society admits) and explain any medical aspects of your issues. We find that demystifying things – for example, explaining that it’s normal for arousal to fluctuate, or how hormones influence sex drive – can greatly reduce anxiety. We also give guidance on technique, positions that might help in certain conditions (for instance, positions that reduce pain if you have endometriosis), use of lubricants or devices, etc. Consider it a private class on “Sex & Intimacy 101” tailored to your needs. Knowledge is power, and understanding your body and your partner’s body removes fear of the unknown.

Mindfulness has proven benefits in reducing anxiety and increasing enjoyment of experiences. In sexual contexts, being “in the moment” is key to pleasure, but many struggle with distracted thoughts or self-consciousness. We incorporate mindfulness practices – like breathing techniques, body scans, and sensory focus exercises – to help individuals/couples stay present during intimacy. We might, for example, train you in mindful breathing together, or have you practice focusing intently on touch sensations during sensate exercises, gently bringing your mind back when it wanders. Over time, this can enhance sensation, delay ejaculation, increase orgasm intensity, and generally make sex more fulfilling. Mindfulness is also great for addressing performance anxiety; it teaches non-judgmental awareness (so you don’t spiral into negative thoughts if something isn’t going perfectly).

We understand coming into a clinic might feel daunting for discussing sexual issues – or maybe you live far from Ann Arbor. That’s why we offer secure, HIPAA-compliant teletherapy sessions. You can engage in therapy from the comfort of your home via video call, which many find convenient and just as effective. We uphold the same level of confidentiality and warmth virtually as we do in person. So even if you have a busy schedule or live in a different Michigan city (hello, future Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills clients!), you can still work with our specialists. Don’t let logistics stop you from getting help.