She Wanted a Baby. Her Body Said No.
Vaginismus is an involuntary tightening of the pelvic floor that can make vaginal penetration painful or impossible, even when a woman genuinely wants intercourse. For women trying to conceive, especially those with histories of sexual trauma, pressure to "just relax" or push through painful sex can reinforce the fear-pain-guarding cycle.
The Psychology of OnlyFans Gangbangs
When British OnlyFans creator Lily Phillips became internationally known for highly publicized, large-scale sexual events involving many male participants, the Internet predictably divided itself into familiar camps. Some called it empowerment while others called it exploitation. Some treated it as a spectacle while others asked whether a woman who participates voluntarily in extreme sexual experiences can genuinely enjoy them.
The 50/50 Myth: Why Equal Doesn't Mean Doing the Same Things
Many couples fight about chores, but the real issue is usually fairness and feeling unseen. Splitting every task exactly in half tends to backfire, because both partners keep score and every responsibility stays psychologically shared. A better approach is equal ownership rather than identical tasks: each partner fully owns specific responsibilities, which removes reminding and supervising and reduces resentment.
Why Group Therapy May Be the Most Powerful Therapy You've Never Considered
Most people assume healing happens one-on-one with a therapist, but many struggles tied to relationships, trust, rejection, and connection are best explored with others. Interpersonal group psychotherapy uses the real relationships that form between group members as the engine for change.
Can Couples Get "In Sync" Sexually?
Sex therapists have traditionally treated sexual difficulties by focusing on the individual or on the quality of the relationship. Researcher Marieke Dewitte's work on sexual synchrony offers a third lens: arousal during partnered sex unfolds between two people, not within one. Synchrony is not about matching desire or timing perfectly. It is about responsiveness, noticing where a partner is and adjusting. The most satisfying couples move flexibly in and out of synchrony, balancing attunement to a partner with attention to their own sensations.
Three Women, Decades of SSRIs, and One Question: Can Early Antidepressant Use Affect Orgasm for Life?
A sex therapist consulted sexual medicine physician Dr. Irwin Goldstein about three women who have never experienced orgasm despite stable mental health, strong relationships, and a positive view of sexuality. What they shared was decades of SSRI use that began in childhood or adolescence. One hypothesis discussed is that long-term SSRI exposure may disrupt the afferent nerve pathways that carry the sensory information needed to reach orgasm, pointing to insufficient neurological excitation rather than psychological inhibition. This remains a clinical hypothesis, not established science, but it suggests a broader lens for assessing lifelong anorgasmia.
Beyond Dysfunction: Why Sexual Pleasure Deserves a Central Role in Therapy
Sex therapy has historically centered on treating sexual dysfunction, with less attention paid to the nuanced experience of sexual pleasure. New research and the World Health Organization's definition of sexual health make a strong case for placing pleasure at the center of clinical practice. Sexual pleasure is multidimensional, spanning physical sensation, psychological meaning, and relational connection, and reframing it as part of treatment can support sexual confidence and satisfaction even when dysfunction is present.
Climate Change Indicators Predict Sexual Violence Across Countries
Research has shown climate change to be associated with an increased prevalence of sexual violence. Learn more from Kimberly Keiser’s recent APS presentation.
Sex Education & Sex Therapy: Support for Sexual Functioning
How did you learn about sex? Learn more about sex education in the U.S. and how sex therapy can support healthy sexual functioning.
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