FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is sex therapy?

What are the benefits of counselling?

Sex Therapy is a speciality area within psychotherapy that can help resolve various sexual issues. It is a type of talk therapy. Talking about sex and intimacy may seem daunting and awkward, this is why talking to a trained and experienced sex therapist is critical. Sex therapists provides a confidential, safe, accepting space to explore, understand and enhance people's relationships in all areas.

The goal of sex therapy is to support people to move through and past physical and emotional challenges to have a satisfying relationship and a pleasurable sex life.

Sexual concerns may arise due to confidence, trust, relationship difficulties, trauma (abuse or childbirth), pain, beliefs around sex, physical issue, lack of education, compulsions, mental illness, medications and many other causes. A sex therapist begins by understanding your issue, history in an in-depth physical, social, psychological, cultural context. Sometimes clients need only session, through understanding their issue, the cause and some helpful tips is enough. For other clients support with communication, building confidence, working through some relationship issues, understanding old beliefs is useful. For clients who suffer pain or have experienced trauma a longer term, holistic approach, often working closely with doctors and physios can support clients to heal.

Some clients will be given exercises and activities to complete and practice at home, some clients might be encouraged to add some tools to their practice.

Here are some issues that people seek specialist support for:

∙ Enhancing an existing relationship

∙ Concerns around desire or arousal

∙ Painful intercourse

∙ Healing from trauma

∙ Recovery from childbirth or surgery

∙ Difficulty reaching orgasm

∙ Erectile dysfunction

∙ Premature ejaculation

∙ Impulsive or compulsive sexual behaviour

∙ Concerns about sexual orientation

∙ Low confidence

∙ Education for all people including children & teens

A fulfilling sex life is healthy and natural. The effort, patience and sometimes difficult conversation are well worth the pleasure and benefits that come (pun intended!)

 ·        Improving overall well being and a more positive view of the world

·         Increasing self esteem

·         Improving communication and comprehension skills

·         Positive physical, emotional and social development

·         Fostering imagination and creativity

·         Establishing deeper, more positive relationships

·         Encourages confidence and concentration

·         Helps to make friends

·         Fosters safe risk taking behaviour in learning and life

·         Gives strategies to cope with difficulties in life and accepting what cannot be changed

What is the difference between counselling, psychology and psychotherapy?

There is some overlap between counselling, psychology and psychotherapy.

Counselling generally is short- term and supports specific issues or conditions. 

Psychotherapy is more long- term and involves exploring deeper issues and aims to promote awareness and insight resulting in long term changes and improvements. The Psychotherapist is more involved in the therapy process and often uses the relationship between themselves and the client to highlight patterns that may be occurring outside of therapy.

Psychotherapy safely explores issues at a deeper level, examining how they relate to each other and underlying patterns and meanings. For this reason Psychotherapists are more highly trained than a counsellor.

Psychology is based on a more medical- orientated model, using an evidence based scientific approach, usually cognitive- behavioural therapy. 

The overriding body that governs psychotherapists, PACFA has published a draft document that explains the role of a psychotherapist.

Definition of Psychotherapy

Do I need a referral?

Clients can refer themselves and their children directly to the Practice.

Prue also welcomes referrals from general practitioners, psychiatrists, health and community services, physiotherapists and other professionals. Prue appreciates the importance of collaboration with other health professionals so that children and families will gain the most experienced, expert support.

All enquiries about referrals to the Practice should be made to:

Prue Chambers
0416 274 375

or go to the contact page

Prue also welcomes informal enquiries.

Is psychotherapy covered by Medicare?