Sexual Relationship Therapy

Addressing issues, strengthening relationships

Having an active healthy sex life is important in most intimate relationships. Sometimes we may experience sexual difficulties in our relationships and Sexual Relationship Therapy offers help at those times.

Who Is It For

It is for individuals as well as couples in opposite or same sex relationships who have concerns about or are experiencing a sexual difficulty. We are a non-judgemental service and see people irrespective of age, gender or transgender identity, marriage or civil partnership, living together or living apart, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Who are the sexual therapists?

Our sexual therapists are experienced counsellors who have completed a specific training in sexual therapy to diploma level. All sexual therapists work to professional standards and have to go through an annual renewal process to demonstrate that they have met the required standards of supervision and Continuing Professional Development.

How Does It Work

Our therapists realise that sexual concerns are difficult to talk about and will do everything they can to put you at ease. They know that couples can often feel uncomfortable explaining their sexual problems to one another and will help you to overcome this.

What to Expect

The first time you meet a sexual therapist, you'll talk through your sexual concerns in detail within a confidential and comfortable setting. Individuals and partners have an opportunity to discuss their sexual concerns in an open and constructive way. This provides an opportunity to work towards a positive outcome and positive change. You will be asked about any health concerns and medical problems and what drug treatment, if any, you are taking.

When you come with your partner you will be seen together but may be asked to come for an individual session as well. This helps the sexual therapist to be aware of your individual differences and needs in order to offer you a realistic assessment and therapy plan. He or she will then recommend the most helpful way forward. As each couple or individual is different, approaches will vary, as will the number of therapy sessions.

Sessions last about an hour to an hour and a half. The service is available in Dundee and offered online across the whole of Tayside, too. From the 01 September 2026, we will be offering this service across Central Scotland too, including: Clackmannanshire, Stirling and Falkirk.

Is it confidential?

Yes. Our therapist are bound by a duty of confidentiality, unless circumstances suggest that the issues being discussed may pose a risk to clients or the wider community. Such issues include domestic abuse, child protection, money laundering and terrorism. In all circumstances, care is taken to protect confidentiality and no disclosure will be made without discussing the issues first, unless there is an urgent risk of harm. All our sexual therapists work to the ethical standards of the national professional bodies.

Some of the Things We Can Help With

• Men can often experience difficulties with: low desire, ejaculation, maintaining an erection, pain when having sex, difficulty reaching orgasm
• Women can often experience difficulties with low desire, painful intercourse, difficulty reaching orgasm, contractions of the muscles around the vagina (vaginismus) which make intercourse impossible.
• In sexual relationships couples often have different needs and levels of interest and may have stopped having sex
• Sometimes a previous sexual abuse experience begins to affect the current sexual relationship
• Physical and emotional ill health can also impact on an individual's sexual responses
• Use of internet sex may be causing difficulties for the relationship

To help overcome your sexual concerns, your therapist may give you some tasks for you, or you and your partner together to carry out at home. You will never be asked to undertake sexual tasks at a therapy session.

Specialist Services

Some addictive behaviours can have devastating effects on relationships and family life. This can also cause financial problems, difficulties at work, mental health such as stress and anxiety or problems coping generally.

Addictive behaviour can dominate and take over your life to such an extent that you are finding it difficult to function day to day. We can help with expert therapy if you want to address these behaviours including:

• Internet porn addiction
• Sexual addiction
• Addicted to casual sex (eg paying for sex, random meetings for sex via the internet)
• Excessive behaviours that are causing concern

NOTE: there are some issues around sexual addiction that we do not deal with e.g. if you are breaking the law.