What is sex therapy?

Sex therapy refers to the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of sexual dysfunctions and disorders by a licensed mental health professional.

William Masters first used the phrase "sex therapy" in a study proposal in 1958, and fully emerged in the 1970s as a form of psychotherapy. Initially, it appeared to be nothing more than a practical method to help people with sexual performance issues by providing various education and behavioral treatments.

The field has advanced since then, however there is no cohesive underlying theory, distinct collection of methods, or effective therapeutic result that defines Sex Therapy. Although there are certain common therapeutic techniques that are useful for helping men and women who are experiencing sexual issues, there is no uniform strategy that can be classified as Sex Therapy.


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