Sexuality is a natural state. First of all, despite the guidance of an entire society, the social structure, and environmental factors, it must be understood that sexuality is a natural state. As sexuality is turned into a taboo, a person may shut themselves off from learning about it. However, people fear what they do not know. Trying to know, to learn, and to improve ourselves regarding elements labeled as “shameful,” as in every area of life, is also very important in matters of sexuality.
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Sexuality is a holistic state that should not be addressed only through sexual organs. Sexuality should be considered together with the beliefs embedded in our social environment from the moment we are born, thoughts about sexuality, and feelings related to sexuality. Naturally, problems that arise regarding sexuality can be treated in a healthy way through an evaluation that includes all factors playing a role in the formation of these problems. Sexual therapy appears as practices that aim to evaluate sexual problems in detail in line with all factors.
Sexual therapy aims to treat the problem by addressing in detail, in line with the practices carried out, the reasons why the sexual problem emerged and the factors that caused this problem to become established.
What Is Sexual Therapy?
Techniques that aim to resolve the emotional and behavioral problems observed in individuals regarding sexuality and to develop and improve people’s sexual—and therefore psychological—health are called sexual therapy.
Sexual therapy can actually be defined as a specially conducted form of learning. Through the learning process of sexual therapy, spread over time, the person is enabled to discover their own body, identity, and therefore themselves. Sexuality does not emerge only as a physical problem. In this respect, drug treatment of a sexual problem may be applied as a part of sexual therapy.
The basic starting point of sexual therapy is the identification of the sexual problem. Accordingly, the first question that needs to be answered is whether the sexual problem is a real dysfunction or a condition stemming from a lack of information.
The practice of sexual therapy has been applied since the 1970s. With sexual therapy practice; success is achieved in many cases of vaginismus and premature ejaculation, and many sexual dysfunctions such as low sexual desire, arousal and orgasm disorders in women, and erectile problems in men can largely be treated. The success of sexual therapy varies depending on the type of sexual problem and the couple experiencing the problem. With sexual therapy practice, while problems resolved quickly in two sessions can be observed, cases can also be encountered in which improvement is achieved through long-term treatments lasting 1–2 years.
Determining the Aim of Sexual Therapy
The aim of sexual therapy is determined by the roadmap created on the basis of defining the problem. In identifying the sexual problem, the extent to which the person or couple is influenced by cultural, social, or religious factors holds an important place. The situation defined as a problem may in fact be the result of effect mechanisms formed by various factors without being consciously recognized. At this point, the evaluations carried out during sexual therapy constitute the key point in terms of determining and applying the aim correctly.
We can list the fundamental questions that should be sought answers to during the sexual therapy evaluation as follows;
- What is the degree of the sexual dysfunction observed in the person?
- Does the sexual dysfunction show a course that emerges depending on the situation, or does it have continuity?
- Does the sexual dysfunction appear as a primary problem? Or does it emerge as a secondary problem resulting from another already existing psychiatric disorder or marital problem?
- Is there a secondary sexual problem accompanying the sexual dysfunction?
- What is the role of psychological and biological factors affecting the emergence of the sexual dysfunction?
- Is there a sexual problem observed in the partner as well?
In line with the evaluations made, the expectations of the person or couple from therapy should be questioned. Thus, expectations regarding sexual therapy are ensured to be realistic and more successful results can be achieved.
What Are the Characteristics of Sexual Therapy?
Sexuality is energy. It is an active energy that has effects on our mental and physical health throughout our lives. Ignoring this energy and suppressing it by labeling it as “shameful” makes various problems inevitable. In this respect, sexual therapy is carried out by specialized, knowledgeable, and objective therapists in the relevant field.
At the core of sexual problems lies the social and cultural structure in which one lives imposing and projecting its own values onto the person. Sexual therapies are applied by reliable therapists who do not project their own values. Therapists are people who have no other relationship with the person, and are therefore more unfamiliar and impartial individuals.
Before making a diagnosis in sexual therapies, a sufficient history should be taken from the person and necessary examinations should be carried out. In line with this, the patient should be informed about the possible treatment options determined, and a roadmap should be established in line with the patient’s opinion. Thus, by laying solid foundations regarding the patient’s expectations and the functioning of therapy, the practice can be carried out more effectively.
The counseling or treatment relationship carried out during sexual therapies is based on the confidentiality of all information obtained about the patient. The information obtained during sexual therapy must be kept confidential unless it poses a clear danger to the life or safety of the patient or another person.
