We can only offer psychosexual services to people living in areas covered by Oxfordshire County Council (find your local council on the GOV.UK website). If you live outside of this area, please contact your local sexual health service instead.
Waiting list for psychosexual therapy
The waiting list for psychosexual therapy is currently closed due to the volume of demand for therapy.
We can still offer you an assessment and signposting to self-help resources. Please get a referral if you would like this (see access to psychosexual therapy).
What is psychosexual therapy
Some people experience difficulties with sex which can be difficult to talk about. We provide a talking therapy service which can help with a variety of sexual problems.
For example:
- Painful sex and / or difficulty with penetration, including fears and anxiety about intercourse
- Premature ejaculation
- Delayed or absent ejaculation
- Erectile dysfunction
- Loss of libido (sex drive)
- Difficulty getting aroused and / or reaching orgasm
- Problems with sex due to other illness or medications, for example cancer treatments
Access to psychosexual therapy
Ask your GP or practice nurse to refer you to the psychosexual therapy service.
Please note, you cannot self-refer to this service – an initial assessment by a health care professional is necessary.
What to expect from psychosexual therapy
We provide a service with both medical and psychological expertise and can integrate these skills to help resolve people’s sexual problems. You will meet with an experienced clinician with expertise for a specialist assessment to determine what is likely to be most helpful for you. We provide short-term focused psychosexual therapy on an individual or group basis, to individuals and couples.
For further information about sex therapy, please visit the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT) – sexual and relationship therapy.
What we are not able to offer services for
- Sexual addiction and sexual compulsion problems, including porn use
- Questions around sexual orientation
- Questions around gender identity
- Relationship problems
But we can signpost you to services / help.
Useful links
Lack of desire and / or arousal
- Lack of sexual desire and / or arousal – Sexual Advice Association
- Female sexual problems – The NHS website
- TEDx talk: The surprising truth about desire everyone needs to know (Dr Karen Gurney) – YouTube
- TEDx talk: The secret to desire in a long-term relationship (Esther Perel) – YouTube
Erectile dysfunction
- Erectile dysfunction – Sexual Advice Association
- Erectile dysfunction when with a partner – Sexual Advice Association
- Erectile dysfunction (impotence) – the NHS website
- I have problems getting or keeping an erection – Relate
- Mojo Men
Ejaculation problems
Painful sex for people with a vulva and vagina, vaginismus, vulval pain
- Pain during or after sex – Sexual Advice Association
- Vaginismus – the NHS website
- Hope&Her
- Vulvodynia (vulval pain) – the NHS website
Difficulty having an orgasm
Sex addiction
- The Association for the Treatment of Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity
- I’m worried that I (or someone I know) might be addicted to sex – Relate
- Sex & Porn Addiction Help
- Your brain on porn