Sex Therapy, Intimacy & Sexual Health

Navigating Intimacy and Sexual Wellness
All relationships involve challenges, but when it comes to intimacy and sexual health, these difficulties can feel particularly isolating. At Listening Ear Counselling & Consultancy Pte. Ltd., we recognise that the shame and fear surrounding sexual concerns can make it even harder to seek help, often leading to feelings of loneliness and disconnection. Yet, these issues are vital to overall well-being. Our service offers a safe, confidential, non-judgmental, and professional space where individuals and couples can explore and resolve these deeply personal matters, helping you move past the fear and find a path toward healing and connection.

Understanding Sexual Health Issues
Sexual health is not just about physical well-being; it’s intricately connected to emotional and psychological factors. Whether it’s a sudden issue or a concern you’ve carried for some time, our approach is holistic, empathetic, and focused on fostering deeper connections and improving your overall quality of life.

Understanding Sex Therapy: What It Is and How It Can Help
Sex therapy is a specialised form of counselling that addresses sexual and intimacy issues, focusing on the psychological, relational, and emotional aspects rather than the physical. Our approach is holistic, recognising that sexual issues are often connected to a broader context of relationship dynamics, self-esteem, and emotional well-being.

Whether you’re struggling with performance anxiety, mismatched desires, communication barriers, or past traumas, sex therapy can provide a tailored path toward resolution and healing. Our process is inclusive and non-judgmental, serving individuals and couples across different backgrounds, including LGBTQIA+ and diverse relationship structures.

What Can You See a Sex Therapist For?
Sexual activity (including intercourse, outercourse, and masturbation) is a complex experience involving emotional, mental, and physical components. If you desire sexual connection, healthy sexual function is an important contributor to your quality of life, influencing physical and mental well-being and relationship satisfaction.

Healthcare providers and sex educators often break sexual activity down into four phases, known as the sexual response cycle:

• Desire (libido)
• Arousal (excitement)
• Orgasm
• Resolution

Sexual issues can arise at any point during this cycle. Understanding how you respond mentally and physically during each phase can improve your sexual experience and help identify the causes of sexual dysfunction.

A sex therapist can help with the mental and emotional aspects of various forms of sexual dysfunction, including:

• Lack of desire or libido.
• Lack of arousal.
• Difficulty having an orgasm (anorgasmia).
• Pain during sex (dyspareunia) such as from vaginismus.
• Difficulty getting or keeping an erection (erectile dysfunction).
• Premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation, or other ejaculation issues.

Sex therapists can also help you work through challenges such as:

• Sex education and correcting miseducation.
• Sexual trauma.
• Feelings of anxiety, fear, or shame related to sex.
• Issues related to gender identity and/or sexual orientation.
• Issues around cultural, religious, and societal views of sex.
• Improving communication about sex and intimacy between you and your partner(s).
• Mismatched sexual desire between partners.
• Relationship issues stemming from sexual difficulties.
• Poor body image and its relation to sex.
• Coping with and living with sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
• Hypersexual disorder (sex addiction).
• Pornography addiction.

Types of Issues Addressed in Sex Therapy
At Listening Ear, we provide expert support for a wide range of sexual and intimacy-related concerns, including:

• Erectile Dysfunction and Performance Anxiety: These issues can cause stress and diminish confidence. Our therapy addresses both the psychological and relational aspects of performance anxiety and erectile dysfunction.
• Low Libido or Sexual Aversion: A decrease in sexual desire can stem from stress, relationship issues, or underlying health problems. We help identify and address these factors to restore intimacy.
• Premature or Delayed Ejaculation: Concerns related to ejaculation can be distressing and impact self-esteem. Our approach is to explore contributing factors and develop effective techniques for improvement.
• Pain During Intercourse (Dyspareunia or Vaginismus): Physical discomfort during sex can be linked to emotional, psychological, or medical factors. We work compassionately to address these concerns and enhance comfort and intimacy.
• Phimosis: A condition where the foreskin is too tight to be pulled back over the head of the penis, leading to discomfort, pain, or complications during intercourse. Our therapy offers both psychological support and guidance on seeking appropriate medical treatment if needed.
• Healing from Sexual Trauma or Abuse: Sexual trauma leaves deep emotional scars that can affect intimate relationships. Our trauma-informed therapy helps clients process their experiences and move toward healing.
• Exploration of Sexual Identity, Orientation, or Kink: Sexual identity and preferences can be complex and challenging to navigate. We provide an open, judgment-free space to explore these aspects safely.
• Relationship Counselling to Enhance Intimacy: Intimacy issues often stem from communication problems or unresolved conflicts. Our relational counselling helps couples reconnect and rebuild trust.
• Strategies to Address the Psychological Effects of Sexual Health Conditions, Including STIs: Conditions like STIs can lead to stigma, anxiety, and relationship strain. We help clients manage these psychological impacts and maintain healthy relationships.

What Happens During a Sex Therapy Session?
During sessions, you and your sex therapist will work together to identify and change thoughts and behaviours that are interfering with your sexual life. You may see your therapist by yourself or with your romantic or sexual partner(s).

Your therapist may ask you questions about your:

• Health and sexual background.
• Sex education.
• Beliefs about sex.
• Specific sexual concerns.

Talking about sex can be awkward or uncomfortable. Sex therapists recognise this and do their best to make you feel comfortable. As conversation is the main part of psychotherapy, you need to be actively involved in the therapy. The trust and relationship between you and your therapist are essential to working together effectively and benefiting from the therapy.

Your sex therapist may assign homework — activities and exercises that you do in the privacy of your home. This may involve experimentation, such as role-playing or exercises to build trust and intimacy — whether with yourself or with your partner(s).

It’s important to know that sex therapy sessions don’t involve any physical contact or sexual activity between you and your therapist. If you feel uncomfortable with any aspect of therapy, you should tell your therapist or stop seeing them and file a complaint.

Common Approaches in Sex Therapy
Our therapy is grounded in evidence-based techniques tailored to each client’s needs:

• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): Especially effective for couples, EFT focuses on healing relational wounds and fostering secure emotional connections.
• Narrative Therapy: Helps clients reframe their sexual and relational narratives, allowing for healthier perspectives and new possibilities.
• Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR): Particularly beneficial for those dealing with sexual trauma, EMDR helps reprocess traumatic memories to reduce their emotional intensity.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Addresses unhelpful thought patterns that may contribute to anxiety, performance issues, or negative sexual beliefs.
• Somatic Approaches: Recognising that trauma and sexual issues can be stored in the body, somatic techniques help clients reconnect with and release held tension.
• Sensate Focus Exercises: A step-by-step approach for couples to rebuild intimacy through non-demanding touch, gradually restoring trust and connection.
• Mindfulness-Based Approaches: Help clients stay present and reduce anxiety during intimate moments, allowing for a more authentic connection.

Midlife Changes and Sexuality
For both men and women, midlife can bring challenges in sexual health due to menopause, andropause, or shifting roles within relationships. Whether facing hormonal changes, a shift in desire, or emotional transitions, our therapist can guide you through this time with strategies tailored to maintain intimacy, connection, and sexual satisfaction.

Preparing for Your First Session
To get the most out of your sessions, it’s beneficial to come prepared:

• Reflect on your goals: Consider what you hope to achieve, whether it’s overcoming a specific issue or enhancing your relationship.
• Be open and honest: The success of therapy relies on trust and transparency.
• Include your partner: If the issue involves your relationship, involving your partner from the start can lead to more effective results.

Why Choose Listening Ear Counselling & Consultancy Pte. Ltd.?
At Listening Ear Counselling & Consultancy Pte. Ltd., you are supported by a professionally trained and cross-culturally sensitive therapist who provides a consistent, personalised service. Unlike larger practices, there’s no “shopping around” or being passed to different therapists. You’ll work with a single, experienced professional who understands your unique challenges and can offer continuity and deep understanding.

We also appreciate that discussing sexual concerns can be daunting. That’s why we offer a compassionate and judgment-free space where you can feel safe, respected, and truly heard. Whether you’re an individual or a couple, in a long-term relationship, exploring connections, or navigating life transitions, our goal is to help you reconnect, heal, and thrive.