sex therapy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Clinical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “sex therapy” mean?
A form of psychotherapy focused on addressing sexual dysfunction, improving sexual health, and enhancing intimacy between partners.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A form of psychotherapy focused on addressing sexual dysfunction, improving sexual health, and enhancing intimacy between partners.
Can refer broadly to any professional intervention aimed at resolving sexual issues, including medical, psychological, and relational approaches. May also be used metaphorically in non-clinical contexts to describe efforts to improve a troubled aspect of a relationship or system.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The professional titles of practitioners may vary (e.g., 'sexual psychotherapist' is common in the UK, while 'certified sex therapist' is a standard US title).
Connotations
Equally clinical in both dialects. Slightly less taboo in contemporary professional discourse than in past decades.
Frequency
Similar frequency in professional/clinical contexts. Rare in casual conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “sex therapy” in a Sentence
[Patient] sought sex therapy for [Problem][Therapist] provides sex therapy to [Couple/Individual][Issue] was addressed through sex therapyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sex therapy” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The sex-therapy approach is integrative. (Hyphenated when pre-modifying)
American English
- Their sex therapy goals were clearly defined.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Common in psychology, medicine, and social science journals discussing treatment modalities for sexual health.
Everyday
Used carefully in personal contexts, e.g., 'My partner and I are considering sex therapy.'
Technical
Precise clinical term within healthcare, following specific diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sex therapy”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sex therapy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sex therapy”
- Using 'sex therapist' to refer to a sex worker (a serious error). Confusing 'therapy' with 'therapy session' (uncountable vs. countable). Misspelling as 'sex-therapy' (hyphen is generally not used in modern English).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, sex therapy is also effective for individuals dealing with sexual concerns, such as arousal difficulties, past trauma, or understanding their own sexuality.
A sex therapist has specialised training in sexual anatomy, response, and dysfunction, while a general couples counsellor focuses on broader communication and relationship dynamics. They often overlap.
Yes, licensed therapists are bound by strict confidentiality rules, similar to other forms of psychotherapy, with specific legal exceptions (e.g., risk of harm).
Not necessarily. Therapy can address issues like body image, sexual identity, or recovering from trauma, which may not involve current sexual activity.
A form of psychotherapy focused on addressing sexual dysfunction, improving sexual health, and enhancing intimacy between partners.
Sex therapy is usually formal, clinical, academic in register.
Sex therapy: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɛks ˈθɛrəpi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɛks ˈθɛrəpi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A course correction for the bedroom”
- “Tuning up the relationship (metaphorical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Therapy' for 'Sex'-ual wellbeing. It's a compound noun where the first part specifies the domain of the second.
Conceptual Metaphor
SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP IS A MACHINE THAT NEEDS MAINTENANCE/REPAIR (e.g., 'tune up', 'fix', 'work on').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate description of a 'sex therapist'?