What is sex therapy?
Sex Therapy is a type of counseling that focuses on sexual functioning, intimacy, and the psychological, behavioral and emotional issues related to sex.

Who is qualified to provide sex therapy?
Sex Therapy is conducted by a licensed mental health professional that has received considerable training in the field of sex and sexuality.  A sex therapist who works with couples should also have extensive training and experience working with couples.

What does a sex therapy session look like?  
A sex therapy session will look like a typical therapy session in where a client or clients will discuss sexually based issues with their therapist.  Because sex therapy is also life therapy, other aspects of the client(s) life will be addressed as well.

What does a sex therapy session NOT look like?
Sex therapy is not done by a counselor with a little sexual therapy experience
Sex therapy is not hands-on or active coaching during actual sexual experiences
Sex therapy is not phone sex or erotic conversations.
Sex therapy is not surrogate partner therapy.
Sex therapy is not eroticized or sexual in nature.

What kind of issues does sex therapy treat?

Sex therapy and sex addiction therapy provides treatment for the following issues:

  • Sexual Desire Disorders
    • Low Desire
    • No Desire
    • Decreased Libido
    • No Libido
    • No Sexual Fantasies
    • Not wanting to be sexual (with oneself and/or others)
    • Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
    • Lack of interest or desire for sexual activity
  • Sexual Arousal Disorders
    • Difficulty obtaining an erection
    • Erectile Dysfunction
    • Difficulty feeling aroused
    • Dryness issues (in females)
  • Orgasm Disorders
    • Haven’t achieved an orgasm
    • Aren’t able to orgasm
    • Anorgasmia
    • Pre-orgasmic
    • Orgasmic Disorder
    • Premature Ejaculation
    • Delayed Ejaculation
    • Early Ejaculation
  • Sexual Pain Disorders
    • Pain during sex
    • Vaginismus
    • Dyspareunia
  • Asexuality
  • Sexual Aversion Disorder
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Sexual Trauma
  • Anhedonia
  • Gender Identity Issues
  • Questioning Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity
  • Fertility Issues and Sexuality
  • Sexual Issues related to parenthood
  • Sexual issues related to disease, illness, cancer, etc.
  • Relationship Issues Related to Sex
  • Lack of Confidence
  • Compulsive Sexual Behavior
  • Inappropriate sexual behavior on the internet
  • Therapy to clients who identify as kink or interested/active in the BDSM community
  • Counseling to clients who identify as polyamorous
  • Couples who participate in swinging activities

SexTherapy-Online is a poly-knowledgeable, poly-affirming practice, kink-knowledgeable, and kink-friendly practice.

What is SexTherapy-Online?
SexTherapy-Online is a distance therapy practice that serves clients that are looking for an experienced online sex therapist. All services are provided online or over the telephone and in office in Austin, TX.

How does online sex therapy work?
All services are delivered at a distance, meaning we do not meet in the same room. There are a variety of ways that this can occur but most commonly it is over the phone, using text therapy (such as live chat), or using video conferencing technology where we do see each other face-to-face using a HIPAA secure and encrypted video conferencing program.

Why would I want to do online therapy?
Distance therapy, although not “traditional” in the sense of face-to-face therapy, is a very beneficial modality for a variety of clients.  Distance therapy may be a good choice for a variety of clients, including but not limited to:

  • Clients that are not geographically close to a therapist or their partner
  • Clients who do not have access to a specialist (such as a sex therapist)
  • Clients who are unable to attend therapy sessions (due to illness, health issues, mobility issues, transportation issues)
  • Clients who may require an extra layer of confidentiality, privacy, or emotional safety
  • Clients with busy schedules that cannot make regular appointment times (clients who travel, commute, etc.)

Also, since some sexual issues occur on the internet with inappropriate internet behavior, it would make sense that the therapy provided would include a component over the internet!  Using Secure Video also allows for live chat, video conferencing, and screen sharing, which are great tools to therapy.

With our reality becoming increasingly more technologically savvy, it only makes sense that our therapy would advance technologically as well.

Who is Distance Therapy NOT Appropriate For?

Distance therapy would not be appropriate for clients who have severe mental illness, clients who are actively or recently suicidal, homicidal, or violent, high-conflict couples, clients with poor or challenging boundary issues, and clients who could be better served using a different modality.

Course of Treatment

Our therapeutic relationship will commence with a 60-minute assessment session that will take place over the phone, using video conferencing software, or using online chat.

If after the assessment session it is determined that a course of treatment with Rhiannon C. Beauregard, MA, LMFT, CST, S-PSB will not be appropriate, an appropriate referral (if available) will be made. Not all clients who schedule an assessment session are appropriate for a course of treatment with Rhiannon C. Beauregard, MA, LMFT, CST, S-PSB.

Assessment is an ongoing process and assessment might continue to unfold throughout the course of many follow up sessions. Unless a diagnosis would be therapeutically helpful, generally I avoid diagnosing the problem with a specific label. As a marriage and family and sex therapist, I generally aim to be brief in my work with a client, however, the length of treatment varies and I believe treatment lasts as long as it takes to resolve the issues and as long as progress is being made, which cannot always be predicted. Deeply engrained or longstanding issues take a significant time to resolve.

The course of treatment usually winds down to a period of maintenance and then termination. If and when this period approaches, Rhiannon C. Beauregard, MA, LMFT, CST will discuss maintenance and termination plans with the client.

How do I make an appointment?