Menu
Whether addressing relationship challenges or individual concerns, our starting point varies. Factors such as mental and physical health, addictions, conflicts, shifts in family dynamics, breakups, blended families, stress, financial and work-related issues, age, cultural influences, religious and spiritual beliefs, technology, social media, and timing can all play a role.
Diverse Situations
These diverse dynamics, experienced at any age or stage of life, can impact my approach to sex, whether on an individual level or within my relationship. The enjoyment, pleasure, or lack thereof, influenced by these factors, may sometimes disrupt the balance, leading to contrasting and unfamiliar territory in the realms of sex and relationships. This shift can result in temporary or lasting challenges, creating mismatches and disconnections that demand attention and resolution to restore comfort and harmony.
Personalised Approach
As a trained/accredited sex therapist, Simona uses a personalized approach to sex therapy, understanding that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Your self takes center stage, as we work through any concerns you may be facing. While symptoms and similarities might seem alike, the crucial element lies in acknowledging your blueprint. Together, we work to accept your sexual well-being, bringing up the key needs.
Learning about my self is the key to understanding how my sex and relationships work. It’s important to know my self and my relationships better. Simona is here at Sex Therapy Maitland and Cessnock Australia to help me understand and accept my sexual wants, needs, desires, and how different relationships can affect me. I want to explore and understand these aspects together.
- Female Lack of Intimacy
- Male Sexual Desire
- Other: Asexuality
- LGBTIQ
- Sexual Abuse
- Dating Apps
How does Simona prepares for our session?
She stays informed by keeping up with the latest evidence-based research, technology, and trends in the field of Sex and Relationships, covering all ages, genders, and sexual orientations. If I struggle in any aspect of sexuality, relationship dynamics, or sexual health, whether mentioned below or not, or if I simply want to have a chat, I will feel free to reach out to her.
Self-esteem, Body image and Sex
Body image is both the mental picture I have of my own body and how I see myself when I look in the mirror. Body dissatisfaction occurs when I have persistent negative thoughts and feelings about my body. It is an internal emotional and cognitive process and is influenced by external factors such as pressures to meet a certain appearance ideal. Body dissatisfaction can drive people to engage in unhealthy weight-control behaviours, particularly disordered eating, and sex dissatisfaction. This places them at heightened risk for developing a sex disorder.
Self-esteem dictates how I value and respect myself as a person which can impact every aspect of life and contribute to happiness and wellbeing.
How I feel about myself and my body can impact how satisfied I am with my sex life. If I have good self-esteem and feel positive about my body, it’s likely to contribute to a more satisfying and enjoyable sexual experience. On the other hand, if I struggle with self-esteem or body image issues, it might affect how comfortable and satisfied I feel in intimate situations. Building positive feelings about myself and my body can enhance my overall sex satisfaction.
In the therapy setting, I discuss:
- Eating disorders
- Body image and appearance-related concerns
- Weight loss goals
- Sex dissatisfaction
Life Stressors and Sex
When I evaluate environmental demand as beyond my ability to cope successfully, I may feel stressed. This may include elements of unpredictability, uncontrollability, and feeling overloaded. Life stressors will diminish when I learn how to manage adjustments to changes in life, both good and bad.
Life stressors, like problems at work, family issues, or health concerns, can affect how satisfied I feel with my sex life. When I am dealing with a lot of stress, it might be harder to enjoy and feel content in my intimate moments. Stress can create challenges in feeling connected and satisfied in my sexual experiences. Taking steps to manage stress can positively impact my overall sex satisfaction.
Grief and Loss and Sex
When I experience sadness or loss, it can affect how satisfied I feel with my sex life. Grief might make it challenging to engage in intimate moments or find pleasure in them. Emotions from loss can create a barrier, making it harder to connect with my partner or enjoy sexual experiences. Taking time to grieve and communicate with my partner about my feelings can help navigate these challenges and eventually contribute to improving my sex satisfaction.
Grief is a natural response to loss. It’s the emotional suffering I feel when something or someone I love is taken away. The more major the loss the more intense the grief seems to be.
Grief can be expressed in many ways and it can affect every part of my life such your emotions, thoughts and behaviours, beliefs, physical health, my sense of self and identity and my relationship with others. Grief can leave me feeling sad, angry, anxious, shocked, regretful, relieved, overwhelmed, isolated, irritable or numb.
Trauma and Sex
Trauma could be defined as a physical injury, a wound, a hurt, a defeat, or/and an unpleasant experience that causes abnormal stress.
Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. defines trauma as “not the story of something that happened back then, but the current imprint of that pain, horror, and fear living inside.” Such events may leave us stuck in a state of helplessness and terror, and it results in a change in how we see danger.
If something really bad or upsetting has happened to me, it can affect how happy I feel about my sex life. Trauma might make it difficult to enjoy intimate moments or feel comfortable with my partner.
On the positive side, having a satisfying and good relationship with myself or my partner can help heal the hurt from trauma. When I feel safe, loved, and connected, it can gradually make the bad feelings from the past start to fade away. Building a positive and supportive connection with myself or my partner can be a way to heal and improve how I feel about sex.
Concerns we address:
- Lack of Intimacy
- Low Sexual Desire
- Changes in Libido
- Female Sexual Aversion
- Asexuality
- Cultural Diversity
- Dating
- Relationship difficulties
- Compulsive behaviours: masturbation, pornography, internet sexual behaviours
- Erectile Dysfunction - inability to achieve & maintain an erection
- Social Media
- Performance Anxiety
- Female Sexual Arousal
- Parenting
- Infidelity
- Ageing
- Menopause
- Sexual Phobias
- Premature Ejaculation
- Retrograde Ejaculation
- Painful Ejaculation
- Anejaculation
- Sex during and after childbirth
- Sex Therapy with Ageing Adults
- Sexual Health STI’s, HIV, Aids
- Alternative Sexual and Relationship Lifestyles - Polyamory, Swinging, Swapping, Fetishes, Kink, BDSM
- Religious and cultural background Diversity and Inclusivity
Contact
Email us to book 20 minutes free chat or fill the form below
"*" indicates required fields
