One of the hardest things for couples to talk about is sex.  Why is this?  Many individuals feel uncomfortable, or embarrassed, to bring up the topic.   They may feel awkward asking for what they want, or describing intimate details.  Or, they may be afraid of hurting the other person’s feelings;  after all, sex is a sensitive subject.   And perhaps they feel powerless, thinking that the quality of one’s sex life with a particular partner is simply unchangeable.

Sometimes, there is a difference in each person’s libido–or sex drive.  One person may have a higher sex drive than the other, and thus may feel continually frustrated… or rejected.  The other partner may have less of a drive to have sex, and then may end up feeling guilty that they are disappointing their mate, feelings of constant pressure to have sex… or worried that their mate may cheat on them.

Often, there are emotional issues which get in the way of a healthy sex life.  If either partner is angry, or resentful, or hurt, that individual may not feel like getting close to his, or her, mate in an intimate manner.   There may be an awareness of the negative feelings which are causing the “sexual wall” — or that person may be unaware, simply thinking that they have somehow lost desire.

Pornography overuse or addiction can present a problem for some couples.  Occasionally, couples will want to open up their sexual relationship to others, and parameters need to be identified.  In other cases, a couple may come into therapy reeling from the discovery of an unwanted affair — hoping to work through it and continue the relationship, or trying to get clarity whether or not to stay together.

Therapy can address an entire range of sexual issues, from specific sexual desires, to differences in libido, to emotional blocks, to pornography addiction, to alternative lifestyles, to affairs– and to sexual dysfunction such as premature ejaculation or impotence or vaginismus.

Couples Counseling Center of Los Angeles is a safe place to discuss these very sensitive issues.   Each partner will be gently guided and assisted — and will soon be able to communicate  true feelings, thoughts, and sexual needs.