Psychotherapy of sexual disorders and sexology are terms that do not mean the same thing. However, there is a connection between the two. It happens that a sexologist is also a psychotherapist, but he does not have to be one.
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What is psychotherapy for sexual disorders?
In psychotherapy of sexual disorders, we focus on problems that have a psychological basis. Many sexual disorders are the result of trauma and fears. This applies primarily to victims of sexual violence, but not only. Fear of intimacy can be the result of a negative image of one’s own body or upbringing in an environment where sexuality was perceived as something bad, sinful.
During psychotherapy, we help the patient to work through traumatic experiences and change incorrect thinking patterns. We also work on communication skills that make it easier to build good relationships.
What is sexology?
Sexology is a science that deals with a person’s sexual life. It covers sexual disorders, but does not focus solely on their psychological basis. Some problems related to the sexual sphere have biological causes – they can be the result of, for example, abnormal hormone levels, diseases, taking certain medications or stimulants. It is worth using the help of a sexologist when the patient does not know the sources of sexual disorders he is struggling with. In this situation, we recommend starting the process with a series of tests to confirm or rule out the biological basis of the problems. It is the sexologist who issues the appropriate referrals, and then – based on the results – decides whether psychotherapy or pharmacotherapy or other treatment methods should be used.