Women's Sexual Wellness
Female Sexual Interest
Female Orgasmic Disorder
Genito-Pelvic Pain / Vaginismus
Postpartum Depression
Infertility Counseling
Women can experience a number of conditions and concerns that may affect their ability to have, connect, or fully embrace their sexuality.
Women's Sexual Wellness, Female Sexual Dysfunctions, and Reproductive Concerns
Female Sexual Dysfunctions
Both men and women can suffer from a variety of sexual dysfunctions. These disorders can significantly interfere with an individual’s ability to enjoy or experience sex. Individuals who are affected may feel inadequate, depressed, frustrated, and often ashamed. Dysfunctions in women include female sexual interest/arousal disorder, female orgasmic disorder, and genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder sometimes referred to as Vaginismus. All of these disorders may occur during the normal course of a person’s sex life, but they become diagnosable once they have been identified as persistent and recurring problems, usually marked by a period of at least 6 months. These disorders interfere with one or several stages within the sexual response cycle which constitute physiological and psychological components including desire, excitement or arousal, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. For individuals who suspect or have ruled out underlying medical conditions, sex therapy may be an appropriate treatment.
Sexual wellness programs at Love Discovery Institute encompass a holistic view of the female self and considers each individual’s thoughts, feelings, emotions in regards to their sexual wellness. We consider a woman's health, her body’s functioning, and the comfort she may feel within her own body. In addition, we explore relationships, societal expectations, spirituality, cultural factors, previous experiences, and the overall psychological associations to sex. We also provide therapy services surrounding some of the most challenging struggles women face around womanhood such as infertility issues, postpartum depression and women's sexual life transitions.
Sex is an experience that requires a holistic embodiment of mind, body and spirit, not just the functionality of our sexual organs.
Societal pressures around womanhood and its expected roles can create stress and anxiety throughout a woman’s life and influence how she may feel about her body and her sexual world.
Sexual Dysfunctions
Obtaining sexual satisfaction or dysfunction differs for everyone. Many factors influence sexual response, including how you feel about yourself, your body, or even your partner. Here are the most common disorders that affect women.
Female Orgasmic Disorder Therapy
Women who experience orgasmic disorder experience the following symptoms: delay in, or absence of orgasm, reduced intensity of orgasmic sensations or have never experienced an orgasm under any situation. In addition to these symptoms, they experience a low sense of sexual self, shame, judgement and relationship pressure and stress. Additionally, this often leads to sexual performance anxiety, low self-esteem, anxiety with themselves and in relation to their love life. Through the process of sex therapy women may find that their orgasmic disorder is also related to depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which may come from earlier events whether we are conscious of them or not. Through the process of sex therapy women are able to uncover the root causes of what's preventing them from experiencing orgasm and even more so, enjoying their bodies and their love life.
Female Sexual (Desire) Interest/Arousal Disorder Therapy
Women who experience desire/arousal disorder experience the following symptoms: Absent/reduced interest in sexual activity, sexual thoughts and/or fantasies, sexual excitement/pleasure during sexual activity, genital or nongenital sensations during sexual activity, and reduced initiation of sexual activity and may typically be unreceptive to a partner’s sexual initiations. These symptoms can be related to sexual distress and dissatisfaction, anxiety and depression. Furthermore, these symptoms also cause relationship or partner avoidance leading to relationship issues, feelings of guilt, sadness, self-judgment, anger and anxiety.
Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder Therapy
This disorder which is also sometimes known as vaginismus can make it nearly impossible to have intercourse. Women who experience pelvic pain/penetration disorder experience the following symptoms: Vulvovaginal or pelvic pain during vaginal intercourse or penetration attempt, fear and anxiety about vulvovaginal or pelvic pain, difficulty having intercourse, pelvic pain, fear of pain, tension of the muscles, pelvic pain, fear of pain, tension of the muscles, Pain in any situation (i.e. penetration, gynecological exams, tampon insertion), Tensing and tightening of the pelvic floor muscles. As a result to any of these symptoms, women additionally experience relationship distress, trauma, self-esteem issues, sexual performance anxiety, anxiety, depression, anger, fear, shame and frustration.
Other Female Reproductive Concerns
Motherhood can be filled with joy but it can also be an emotionally devastating and isolating experience. Sometimes carried with shame and guilt driven by societal pressures and expectations. The truth is that society has still not gotten comfortable enough in talking about the challenges women sometimes face in the roles of becoming mothers. At Love Discovery Institute our trained therapist helps women everyday navigate through the challenges they face around motherhood.
Postpartum Depression Recovery Therapy
Postpartum depression is a condition that occurs before giving birth or any time in the first year of your baby’s life. Many women begin experiencing feelings of sadness, loneliness, and guilt and find it difficult to care for their baby. Postpartum depression can occur for a number of reasons which can be uncovered during the process of therapy. If you feel unresolved during the pregnancy or thereafter. Discussing your fears or unsettled feelings with a trained therapist can help you resolve the unresolved, teach you the tools you need to feel better about yourself, and feel better about the role as mother you are now taking. Facing depression can be scary when the responsibility of caring for another being is now on you. Making the time to discuss your feelings is critical to your mental and emotional health and can greatly support and nourish the life of your new baby.
Infertility Counseling
Women experiencing infertility issues within themselves or in their relationship may experience stress, a decrease in self esteem, self-doubt, jealousy, shame, and helplessness. In some cases, they may also experience a miscarriage or pregnancy loss leading to a greater sense of helplessness and grief. Women’s hopes and dreams for having a child and starting a family may be a shattering and isolating journey. Women may find it hard to talk to their partner, friends and family sometimes about what they are experiencing. When they do, they may not feel fully understood or often judged. For women experiencing infertility, it can often feel like they are on a roller coaster of emotions. Our trained therapists help women navigate through this process in a loving and compassionate way so that the journey can be less painful and more present to discovering kindness, love and connection. To learn more, visit our page dedicated to infertility counseling.
Love Discovery Institute offers treatment for women’s cognitive, emotional and sexual wellness issues in a safe and non-judgmental environment. For those who are struggling in any area of their women’s life journey. Talk with an experienced therapist, make an appointment with one of our psychotherapists today. Still unsure about how we can help? Call us at 305-605-LOVE for a free consultation. We are here to support you.
