Sexual dysfunction in New York City
Address the underlying psychological and emotional factors contributing to your quality of intimacy.
What is sexual dysfunction?
Sexual dysfunction describes a range of issues that affect your ability to enjoy a satisfying sexual experience during any phase of the sexual response cycle. Our team prioritizes a thorough evaluation of the factors influencing your sexual experience in order to isolate and treat challenges associated with arousal, plateau, orgasm, or resolution.
Sexual dysfunction may be the result of biological changes in your body, anatomical issues, or an underlying medical condition that affects your sexual experience. Our team can help rule out physiological challenges for you during care, in collaboration with your primary medical team.
Our psychiatric team offers on-site and virtual evaluations to discuss your feelings about sex and intimacy. We can also address your fears, history of sexual abuse, relationship difficulties, and abuse of drugs or alcohol.
The interpersonal dynamics of any romantic relationship will have an effect on the sexual experience each partner has. During therapy, our team of trained couples therapists can help you explore your relationship dynamic in a safe environment to address any potential factors that are diminishing your level of sexual satisfaction within the relationship.
Emotional and psychological factors in sexual dysfunction.
A number of physical issues can affect your sexual health, such as erectile disorders in men or pain disorders in women. Our board-certified psychiatrists who specialize in sex therapy can help you address the physical health challenges you’re facing. We will also determine if you have underlying psychological or emotional factors contributing to sexual dysfunction.
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Low self-esteem
- Relationship issues
- Feelings of guilt
- History of sexual abuse
How is sexual dysfunction is treated?
Sexual dysfunction may feel discouraging and complex to solve, but most sexual challenges are highly treatable with the right lifestyle changes, medical support, or therapy. You don’t have to be embarrassed or ashamed of what you’re experiencing. Nearly half of all men and women experience some sexual dysfunction at some point in their life. With the right treatment, we can help you enjoy intimacy again.
Individual Psychotherapy
Through confidential therapy sessions, you can explore the mental and emotional barriers that prevent you from experiencing the sex life you desire. This may include exploring past trauma, addressing current stress or anxiety, or cultivating relaxation techniques to support your natural libido.
Medication Management
Our psychiatrists may prescribe medications that directly enhance your sexual arousal and performance. You may also benefit from medications for anxiety or depression that impact your mood. In some cases, mental health medications can have sexual side effects. We can adjust your treatment plan to find a medication that causes the least disruption to your sexual health.
Couples Therapy
Working through sexual issues with your partner in a safe environment can be a liberating experience. Through couples therapy with our expert marriage and family therapists, you’ll find shared language to describe sexual challenges, strengthen your relationship, and prevent conflicts that arise from sexual intimacy and performance issues.
Frequently asked questions.
Yes–sexual difficulties are quite common and do not represent a personal failure. Many people struggle with negative body image and sex, emotional intimacy issues, sexual avoidance, low libido, orgasm difficulties, sexual pain, erectile dysfunction, and more. Therapy and medication management can help.
Yes–there are many types of therapy that can help resolve sexual dysfunction. Our therapists at Healthy Minds NYC use trauma-informed sex therapy, EMDR, and CBT for sexual dysfunction. We also use mind-body approaches and couples therapy techniques to support you.
Yes–Sexual function is shaped by emotions, stress, relationship quality, and individual health. Your couples therapist can help you untangle the web of factors influencing your relationship when sex doesn’t feel the same anymore.
Both–most forms of sexual dysfunction are influenced by psychological and physical factors. Sex therapy will help you address the root cause, not just the symptoms.
