We can only offer psychosexual services to people living in areas covered by Oxfordshire County Council (find your local council on the GOV.UK website). If you live outside this area, please contact your local sexual health service instead.
What is psychosexual therapy
Some people experience difficulties with sex which can be difficult to talk about. We provide a talking therapy service which can help with a variety of sexual problems.
For example:
- Painful sex and / or difficulty with penetration, including fears and anxiety about sex
- Premature ejaculation
- Delayed or absent ejaculation
- Erectile dysfunction
- Loss of libido (sex drive)
- Difficulty getting aroused and / or reaching orgasm
- Problems with sex due to other illness or medications, for example cancer treatments
Access to psychosexual therapy
Please book a telephone appointment. We can then arrange a referral for assessment with the psychosexual therapy service if appropriate.
Alternatively, you can ask your GP or practice nurse to refer you to the psychosexual therapy service. Please note, you cannot self-refer to this service – an initial assessment or GP referral is necessary.
Assessment of erectile dysfunction
We are not able to do a physical medical assessment regarding the causes of erectile dysfunction or prescribe medication for this.
Your GP can help and may wish to do the following:
- Blood test for: 9am Testosterone level, TSH (thyroid), Prolactin, HBA1c, Lipids
- Blood pressure
- Cardiovascular risk assessment
- Genital examination
- A trial of the medication Sildenafil (Viagra), if it is suitable for you
What to expect from psychosexual therapy
We provide a service with both medical and psychological expertise and can integrate these skills to help resolve people’s sexual problems. You will meet with an experienced clinician with expertise for a specialist assessment to determine what is likely to be most helpful for you. We provide short-term focused psychosexual therapy on an individual or group basis, to individuals and couples.
What we are not able to offer services for
- Sexual addiction and sexual compulsion problems, including porn use
- Questions around sexual orientation
- Questions around gender identity
- Relationship problems
But we can signpost you to services / help.
Useful links
Sexual function and sexual problems
- College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT) – factsheets has a range of information on psychosexual and relationship therapy, including:
- An advice sheet on common sexual problems
- Sex and relationships affected by cancer
- Sex and relationships affected by disability
- Come As You Are podcast – Pushkin
- The Sexual Wellness Sessions podcast – Best Podcasts UK
- Ferly
Painful sex for people with a vulva and vagina, vaginismus, vulval pain
- Vaginismus – the NHS website
- Hope&Her
- Vulvodynia (vulval pain) – the NHS website
- Vulval Pain Society
Lack of desire and / or arousal
- We’ve stopped having sex – Relate
- Low sex drive (loss of libido) – The NHS website
- TEDx talk: The surprising truth about desire everyone needs to know (Dr Karen Gurney) – YouTube
- TEDx talk: The secret to desire in a long-term relationship (Esther Perel) – YouTube
Erectile dysfunction
Ejaculation problems
Difficulty having an orgasm
Sex and cancer
- Sex and cancer – Macmillan Cancer Support
- Sex – Shine Cancer Support
- Pleasure & Intimacy: A guide for people living with cancer – Cancer, Sex & Intimacy project – Issuu
- Untold Pleasure podcast – Cancer, Sex & Intimacy project – Listen Notes
Questions about gender identity or sexual orientation
What is sex therapy? Will it help me?
- What is Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy (PRT)? – College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT)
- Sex Therapy – Relate