FeelingatEase.org Urgent help

Therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp. We will earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you use our links to purchase.

Therapists for Sexuality Concerns and Support

This directory page lists therapists who focus on sexuality, including sexual identity, desire, intimacy and sexual function. Browse the listings below to explore profiles by approach, credentials, languages and experience.

Understanding Sexuality and How It May Affect You

What sexuality encompasses

Sexuality includes a broad range of human experience - your sexual orientation, gender expression, desires, interests, values and the way you relate to others. It also touches on biological responses, emotional needs and cultural messages about sex. For many people sexuality is not a single issue but an interwoven part of relationships, self-image and wellbeing. You might experience changes in desire over the course of your life, shifts in how you identify, or questions about what feels right for you. Those changes can bring up practical concerns as well as deeper emotional material.

How sexuality can influence daily life

When aspects of sexuality feel confusing, distressing or out of sync with your values and goals, they can affect sleep, mood, communication and relationship satisfaction. You may find yourself avoiding intimacy, feeling shame or anxiety around sexual topics, or struggling with mismatched desire in a partnership. Sexual experiences can also be affected by life transitions, medical changes, trauma history, cultural expectations and stress. Understanding sexuality as multidimensional helps you identify where support might help you feel more connected to yourself and to others.

Signs You Might Benefit from Therapy for Sexuality

Emotional and relational indicators

You might consider seeking therapy if sexual concerns are causing ongoing distress in your life or relationships. Persistent worry, shame, avoidance of intimacy, or conflict with a partner about desire and boundaries are common reasons people reach out. If questions about identity or orientation feel overwhelming, or if you are navigating a recent change in how you identify or present, therapy can provide a space to explore these shifts. Therapy can also help when sexual difficulties interact with depression, anxiety or past experiences that continue to influence your present.

Practical and functional indicators

Practical signs that you may benefit from a specialist include trouble achieving satisfaction, unwanted sexual behaviors, performance concerns or pain during sex. You might be seeking clearer communication skills with partners, wanting to expand your sexual knowledge, or working through the aftermath of a sexual boundary violation. If any of these issues are affecting your quality of life or relationships, a focused therapeutic approach can help you identify goals and try new strategies in a deliberate way.

What to Expect in Therapy Focused on Sexuality

Initial conversations and assessment

Early sessions usually involve an exploration of what brought you to therapy, your goals and relevant background information. Your therapist will ask about relationship patterns, sexual history, health factors and any emotional or behavioral concerns that intersect with sexuality. You and the therapist will discuss priorities and establish a plan that fits your pace and values. Expect a collaborative process where you guide what feels most important to address, and the therapist offers knowledge, skills and a framework for making change.

Ongoing sessions and work outside the room

Therapy for sexuality often blends education, emotional processing and practical exercises. You may practice communication skills, experiment with new ways of connecting, or learn techniques that address physical aspects of sexual response. Sessions can include discussions about consent, boundaries and pleasure, as well as attention to cultural and social influences on your sexuality. Some therapists suggest gentle homework between sessions so you can apply what you learn in real life, although the pace and content will be tailored to your needs.

Common Therapeutic Approaches for Sexuality

Integrative and specialized methods

Therapists who work with sexuality draw on a range of approaches. Some use cognitive behavioral strategies to address unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that affect desire or performance. Others emphasize emotion-focused work to explore attachment patterns and how emotional closeness shapes sexual expression. There are therapists who list sex therapy or sexuality-focused frameworks among their approaches, which often include psychoeducation about anatomy, response cycles and communication techniques. Somatic approaches may attend to bodily sensation and the relationship between physical states and sexual experience.

Considerations when reading therapist profiles

When you review profiles, you will see a variety of terms and modalities. Therapists may list mindfulness, psychodynamic, couples therapy or trauma-informed care among their approaches. Keep in mind that listing an approach indicates interest in that method rather than a guarantee of a particular credential. If an approach resonates with you, you can read profiles for how a therapist describes working with sexual topics and whether their language feels inclusive and respectful of your identity.

How Online Therapy Works for Sexuality Concerns

Format and practicalities

Online therapy makes it possible to work with a therapist from your home or another personal setting. Sessions commonly happen by video or phone, and some practitioners offer messaging or email options. You should plan a comfortable, interruption-free space where you can speak openly. Technical issues can arise, so it helps to check that your internet connection and camera or phone setup meet your needs. Time zone differences and privacy considerations make it useful to confirm logistics and how the therapist manages notes and records before beginning work.

Adaptation of techniques to a virtual setting

Many of the same therapeutic techniques used in person translate well to online sessions. Psychoeducation, communication practice, and some somatic awareness exercises can be guided remotely. For work that is highly body-focused or that requires in-person assessment, a therapist may discuss how to adapt the process or refer you to local resources. You should feel empowered to talk about what works for you in a virtual format and to request adjustments to pace, session length or methods.

How to Choose the Right Therapist for Sexuality Work

Questions to guide your choice

Start by noticing what matters most to you - is it experience with sexual diversity, strength in couples work, knowledge of sexual response, or a trauma-informed approach? Use those priorities to narrow profiles by credentials, listed approaches, languages and any population specialties. Read therapists' descriptions to sense their tone and whether they use inclusive language about gender and orientation. You might look for references to consent, boundaries and respect for your values as indicators that a therapist will work in a collaborative way.

Trusting your responses and refining your search

When you encounter multiple profiles, choose one that feels aligned enough to begin a conversation. It is normal to try more than one therapist before you find a good fit - what matters is that you feel heard, understood and able to set goals. Pay attention to how comfortable you feel discussing sexual topics with that person and whether their explanations of methods make sense to you. Selecting a therapist is both an intellectual and an emotional decision - trust your instincts while also weighing practical factors like communication style, languages spoken and the populations they emphasize working with.

Working with a therapist about sexuality can offer clarity, skills and new ways of relating to yourself and others. Whether you are exploring identity, addressing functional concerns, healing from past experiences or improving intimacy, thoughtful matching and an informed approach help you get the most from therapy. Take your time reviewing profiles, note the approaches that resonate, and choose someone whose descriptions reflect the respect and perspective you want in a therapeutic relationship.

Browse therapist profiles by location

Alabama

99 therapists

Alaska

8 therapists

Arizona

102 therapists

Arkansas

58 therapists

Australia

252 therapists

California

680 therapists

Colorado

159 therapists

Connecticut

70 therapists

Delaware

19 therapists

District of Columbia

19 therapists

Florida

718 therapists

Georgia

169 therapists

Hawaii

29 therapists

Idaho

49 therapists

Illinois

265 therapists

Indiana

124 therapists

Iowa

35 therapists

Kansas

45 therapists

Kentucky

115 therapists

Louisiana

142 therapists

Maine

23 therapists

Maryland

122 therapists

Massachusetts

119 therapists

Michigan

256 therapists

Minnesota

99 therapists

Mississippi

67 therapists

Missouri

174 therapists

Montana

43 therapists

Nebraska

44 therapists

Nevada

49 therapists

New Hampshire

19 therapists

New Jersey

171 therapists

New Mexico

31 therapists

New York

457 therapists

North Carolina

274 therapists

North Dakota

7 therapists

Ohio

200 therapists

Oklahoma

137 therapists

Oregon

41 therapists

Pennsylvania

259 therapists

Rhode Island

14 therapists

South Carolina

133 therapists

South Dakota

21 therapists

Tennessee

107 therapists

Texas

763 therapists

United Kingdom

1668 therapists

Utah

66 therapists

Vermont

19 therapists

Virginia

116 therapists

Washington

94 therapists

West Virginia

28 therapists

Wisconsin

116 therapists

Wyoming

19 therapists

Find a therapist