Psychosexual Therapy

Sometimes sex doesn’t work the way we want, the way everyone says it should, or the way it used to. It’s not enjoyable. It hurts. Some body part is not doing what it should. It makes us feel anxious or even ashamed. We just don’t feel like doing it anymore.

It’s sometimes hard to know who to talk to about this problem. GPs can do physical examinations and rule out medical problems, but what next? Psychologists tend not to have training in this area (unless they have a special interest). Psychosexual therapy can address these problems.

The sort of problems that patients bring to therapy are low desire for sex, painful sex, difficulty getting aroused, being unable to orgasm, erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. There are a whole lot of other problems that feel harder to define, like feeling uneasy and unable to enjoy sex the way everyone else appears to do. Also, some people want a safe and non-judgemental place to talk about issues around their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Dr Jo Wright is both a GP and a trained Psychosexual Therapist. She came to this from her interest in mental health, training in Systemic Therapy (Family and Couple Therapy) and then further training in psychosexual work, combined with her medical knowledge. Jo loves General Practice as it is often focused on that interface between the physical and psychological, and there is no better example of this than sexual problems.

Psychosexual therapy sessions are usually 50 mins. Jo says it’s helpful to see your regular doctor for a medical check before seeing her for Psychosexual therapy. It’s a good idea to exclude medical problems first. After that it’s all about talking (and sometimes laughing or crying). Often homework is given in between sessions.

It can take quite a bit of courage to come and talk to someone about things we don’t usually talk openly about. Jo’s patients say her warmth, non-judgemental and compassionate approach make this easier.

You don’t need a referral to see Dr Jo but it can be helpful to have a letter from your GP with your medical history. Also, Dr Jo can see patients referred under a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan, which would require a referral from your GP.