Sex Therapy
Are You Struggling To Connect Sexually?
ArDoes a lack of desire, mismatched libidos, or arousal difficulties reduce the intimacy and physical connection you once shared?
As intimacy fades, has more conflict and avoidance emerged, causing further isolation and disconnection between you?
Do sexual challenges shatter your self-confidence and make you feel like you’re failing yourself or your partner?
Perhaps your sexual activity has decreased because one or both of you has lost your desire for intimacy. Or maybe physical factors—such as erectile dysfunction or difficulty achieving orgasm—prevent you from giving and receiving pleasure. These issues could trigger shame and embarrassment, causing you to turn away from your partner at a time when you could use their love and support.
A Lack of Physical Connection Could Negatively Impact Your Relationship
If intimacy has waned with your partner, it may lead to more distance or friction in your daily interactions. You may worry that talking about it could make things worse, choosing to avoid the subject of sex altogether.
If you’re the partner with lower desire or arousal concerns, you may feel ashamed or broken. Perhaps you go through the motions, thinking of sex as an obligation rather than something you take pleasure in, which only serves to firmly cement a negative association with sex in your mind. If you’re the higher-desire partner, you may be struck with grief or panic as you wonder whether you’ll ever experience sexual fulfillment again.
The good news is sex counseling provides a confidential space to openly discuss your concerns with a therapist who can provide knowledge and guidance about the challenges you face. Sex therapy offers effective strategies you can use to increase intimacy and restore a deeper connection.
Our Culture Often Distorts or Condemns Sexuality
Our country’s social mores surrounding sex often favor the puritanical. Many of us are exposed to negative messages about human sexuality growing up and are never provided with adequate sex education.
Some religions espouse purity until marriage and brand sexual pleasure as sinful, leading to internalized shame that we carry into adulthood. These beliefs can hinder us from engaging in healthy sexual relationships.
Additionally, we are often bombarded with unrealistic societal narratives about sex that can foster performance anxiety and unhealthy comparisons to what “great sex” is supposed to look like. Together, these influences can contribute to inhibited desire, difficulties with arousal, and a fragmented or conflicted sexual identity.
The Reason We Struggle to Improve Our Sex Lives
Oftentimes, the roots of sexual dysfunction are deeply embedded in our personal, cultural, and relational histories. When we try to "fix" the symptom by applying surface-level solutions—like increasing physical intimacy—we fail. Instead, we must address the underlying emotional and psychological conflicts responsible for our challenges, such as shame, fear, and vulnerability.
Fortunately, sex therapy is a safe, reflective space to access self-awareness and relational healing. In counseling, we can explore deeper issues such as intimacy, erectile dysfunction, female orgasmic disorder, or sexual trauma and tailor treatment to fit your needs.
Sex Therapy Can Help You Bridge the Divide and Rediscover Intimacy
Sex is a complicated facet of human behavior, influenced by inherent emotional, physical, and psychological factors. When desire ebbs and we move away from intimacy with our partners, it can be beneficial to enlist the help of a qualified sex therapist to help you unravel the multi-layered reasons that contribute to disconnection.
In sex therapy, we work with you to explore early attachment experiences, family dynamics, and the development of your core beliefs about self-worth, love, and sexuality. We will examine internalized messages from culture, religion, and media, as well as relational patterns and emotional defenses that may impact sexual expression. By discovering answers in an accepting, supportive environment, you can achieve a more satisfying sex life.
What To Expect In Sex Therapy
Sex counseling sessions are usually geared toward couples but can also be attended individually if concerns such as sexual trauma or difficulty with arousal prevent you from sustaining healthy relationships. In addition to challenging internalized beliefs that contribute to shame or self-doubt, you will gain practical tools that support emotional regulation, foster self-awareness, and help you and your partner identify and express needs and desires more clearly.
The long-term goals of sex therapy will be developed collaboratively, often shifting from your initial concerns toward deeper self-understanding and relational growth. Goals may include cultivating sexual agency, developing boundary-setting skills, and fostering a secure sense of self. By expanding the definition of sex beyond merely penetrative, you can take the pressure off while opening yourselves up to new possibilities.
Sex Counseling Provides Tangible Tools to Help You Connect
We often incorporate somatic awareness into sex therapy—particularly in relation to desire, safety, and consent—while also addressing any shame, guilt, or trauma associated with past sexual experiences. Shifting focus away from unhealthy patterns that hinder intimacy and getting in tune with physical touch will help you become more present and receptive to giving and receiving pleasure.
Utilizing evidence-based approaches like Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) will help you communicate your needs effectively, identify your values, and empower you to create a sex life that reflects your values and desires. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) will challenge internalized beliefs that contribute to shame or self-doubt. Additionally, we will incorporate anxiety management techniques, such as mindfulness practices and grounding techniques, to get out of your head and stay more connected with your body.
When it comes to desire and sexual connection, it's normal to sometimes feel stuck without a clear path forward, especially if you've carried shame for a long time. But this doesn’t have to be your permanent story. With the right support, you can reconnect with your body, understand your needs more clearly, and experience intimacy in ways that feel safe, authentic, and empowering.
Is Sex Therapy Is Right For Me
I feel like needing sex counseling means that I’m broken in some way.
You are not broken. What you’re experiencing is a normal human response to your experiences, your relationships, your body, your stress levels, and more. Desire isn’t one-size-fits-all, and there’s no universal way it’s “supposed” to look or feel.
Will we have to talk about things in sex counseling for couples we’re not ready to share, either with each other or a therapist?
No, not even a little bit. You are the boss of what happens in sex therapy. You get to decide what we talk about, when we talk about it, and how deep we go. If something feels too raw, too personal, or just too soon, we can wait. Consent doesn’t just apply to sex—we honor it throughout every step of the process.
Healing doesn’t happen by force—it happens in safety. We’ll move at your pace, with kindness, curiosity, and zero pressure. You never have to share more than you’re ready for, and we’ll build trust one conversation at a time.
How can sexual counseling really help us?
Sex therapy isn’t just about fixing a problem—it’s about understanding your story: how you relate to intimacy, desire, and connection. We look at what’s getting in the way—whether it’s stress, shame, past experiences, or relationship patterns—and start creating more space for pleasure, curiosity, and confidence. It’s not about what's wrong with you but about discovering what’s possible for you.
Sex Therapy Can Bring You Closer to Yourself and Partner(s)
Don’t let shame or embarrassment prevent you from achieving the intimacy you desire! If you find yourself needing support around your sex life, our skilled therapists at Authentic Connections Therapy and Wellness can reconnect with your sexuality and grow your intimacy with your partner.
We encourage you to get to know a little bit about our therapists, their specializations, and their credentials. Get to know our therapists here.
If you think Sex Therapy is for you, reach out to us! You can use our convenient online therapy scheduling.
Begin the exciting journey of understanding your sexuality and centering your intimacy around pleasure!
We hope to hear from you soon!
[1] https://www.postpartum.net/learn-more/
Sex Therapy Blog Posts
In-person and Remote Options for Sex Therapy, in Denver, CO
Our offices are conveniently located on the North (Lower Highlands) and South (Denver Tech Center) ends of the Denver metroplex. Can’t make it into the office? No worries – we’ve got you covered with virtual therapy.
Sex Therapy in Denver Tech Center, Greenwood Village Co
Our Denver Tech Center (DTC) office is located at 5350 S Roslyn St in Greenwood Village. It shares a parking lot with the Landmark near Comedy Works South, Hapa Sushi Grill and Sake, and JING Denver.
Sex Therapy in the Lower Highlands, Denver Co
Our Lower Highlands office is located at 2460 West 26th Avenue in Denver. It is right on i25, across the street from the downtown REI, and a few blocks from the Empower Stadium, The Downtown Aquarium, and Elitch Gardens