Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sex therapy?
Sex therapy, Psychosexual therapy or sex counselling is a specialised form of counselling experience where the client has identified their problem as a sexual one. Unlike other types of counselling, sex therapy focuses on human sexuality and intimacy, facets of our lives that are often difficult to discuss.
What happens in sex therapy sessions?
In your first session in sex therapy, I will evaluate and assess your presenting concern or concerns. This includes a sexual history, when you describe your sexual experiences. If you attend the session with your partner, I prefer to collect the sexual history of both of you (Any information you give or conversation you have with me will remain strictly confidential).
It is based on open conversation in a comfortable non-judgmental atmosphere where single and partnered individuals, no matter what their sexual orientation, can feel safe. I also need to analyse your medical and historical data, together with any other issues described by you to identify all the threads that lead into the current condition.
Through this process, a diagnosis will be made and a detailed treatment plan will be offered to you. The more you put into the treatment plan, the more you’ll get out of it. The work will go as deeply as you do.
Can I benefit from your sex therapy sessions?
Most of my clients believe they are the only ones having sexual problems. They think their friends and colleagues have great sex lives. The media does not help either, by portraying sex as easy and hot and making it look like everyone has lots of it, except them.
I help my male clients to resolve issues like premature or delayed ejaculation, erectile dysfunction or impotence, performance anxiety, sexual problems after illness, and compulsive sexual behaviours. This is not an exhaustive list, though. Likewise, issues for women include painful intercourse, difficulties experiencing an orgasm, loss of desire for sex. Both men and women may struggle with sexual orientation or gender identity. Through my sex therapy sessions, couples can discuss desire discrepancies, intimacy issues, jealousies, infidelities, lack of sex education and other related relationship problems.
What is a treatment plan?
Depending on the issue, the treatment will vary and it usually involves special exercises for each individual or couple. I walk the walk with you not just talk the talk. In each session, I will suggest new experiences for you to try in the privacy of your own. These at-home exercises are designed to take the pressure and worry out of sex.
In the following sessions, we would start off by discussing those exercises and any difficulties that you have explored. The exercises will help you “re-learn” more satisfying sexual behaviour. I then offer you more information, discuss the progress being made, address any barriers that may have arisen, and conclude with assigning more exercises to do at home. I will provide you accurate information about anatomy, physical response that is specific to your sexual concern. I may also recommend some books to read or educational videos to watch.
There will be no physical or sexual contact in our sessions, nor will I observe and critique any sexual contact between you and your partner(s). Consultations are strictly professional. I do not provide examination, diagnosis, assessment, or treatment of psychological disorders, medical or health conditions. If you need help, I am happy to refer you to a psychologist or family doctor in your area.
What does a couple therapy look like?
The first session for a couple usually takes more than an hour. We will discuss what you think the issue is, when the problem started, was your relationship once a happier one, why do you believe the problem happened, and have you tried to resolve it on your own? I also need to know, what do you expect to get out of the session?
When I have a counselling session with you and your partner, you both have the opportunity to talk about your issues with each other. These are often those issues that were unsolved by your own as it sometimes hurts, causes anger, disappointment, accusations and fighting and led you to stop talking about it altogether. In my counselling room, there is a sense of safety that allows you to open up and express yourselves rather than staying silent; even anger is allowed. Often couples start telling each other things they usually wouldn't, simply because I am in the room as the mediator.
After seeing you as a couple, I sometimes need to see each of you separately for a confidential session. This personal time alone often helps you answer the tougher questions more honestly and clearly. Anything discussed in this session is strictly confidential and won't be brought up in the next couple session, if you don't want it to be. In my practice, I rarely seen a problem between two people that I didn't feel was somehow workable and resolvable. I am a solution-focused therapist and often two to five sessions are enough to get excellent results.
Can Sex Counselling sessions be held online?
Yes. Online sex counselling is a great way to conveniently speak with me by simply using your mobile or personal computer, no matter where you are. I am currently using two platforms for that. Cyber Clinic and Skype. Contact me through the link for more information about these. In this way, you can have a video session with me where we see each other and talk with each other in a virtual face-to-face setting. You will need to schedule a time with me and pay the session fee in advance. Then at the appointment time, log in to your Cyber Clinic account (or Skype) and I will then prompt you to start the video session. After you confirm, you will immediately begin video chatting with me.
“Cyber Clinic is an Australian-made application for your mobile with a secure video conferencing platform wherever you go”.
What is the education of a sexologist? Are you a licensed sexologist?
Sex therapy is a subspecialty of psychotherapy, focusing on the specific concerns related to human sexuality. A sex therapist gains education and obtains a degree in a counselling or therapy related field with additional sex therapy training. This normally should follow by many hours of human sexuality education, clinical and supervised experience.
Yes. I obtained my Master’s degree in Sexology from the University of Sydney, School of Medicine in 2015 specialising in Sexual Health, HIV and STIs. Besides, I have received my Doctor of Medicine (MD) in 2002 in Iran and after few years of general practice, I joined Griffith University and been awarded with my Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in 2011.
I am an Accredited “Psychosexual Therapist” Member of the Society of Australian Sexologists Ltd (SAS) and a registered member at level 3 with the Australian Counselling Association Inc. (MACA). I am also, a full member of the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) and the European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM). I adhere to the Code of Ethics and and principles of good practice of these societies.
How much is a sex therapy session? Do you offer medicare rebate?
A sex therapy session is currently $150 and it is about 50 minutes to one hour.
Currently, there is no medicare rebate for sex therapy and it is a private sex counselling practice. However, some private health funds offer rebate for counselling services. You need to check with your private health fund to find out if you are entitled to any rebates. When speaking to them ask about counselling and psychotherapy services.
