I found that sex therapy assumes husbands of female sex abuse survivors are FULLY SEXUALLY…read moreEXPERIENCED MEN. In some cases such men have for many years accommodated abuse-related sexual restrictions and prohibitions which severely curtail the couple's enjoyment of sex. And in some cases (like mine) we did not fully understand that because we both met in our late teens and had had no other partners. My limited experience also led me to assume women generally don't like sex much at all, The assumption of lots of previous experience is also odd given that they preach monogamy, secure attachment, avoiding affairs and look down on casual sex. Where are you supposed to get the "corrective" actual experience? We wasted a huge amount of time in sex therapy (total of six therapists over 25 years, (including two at Awakenings Counseling for Couples and Sex Therapy which I employed individually) where the problem was treated too much like a simple desire discrepancy, with predictable remedies of better emotional communication and candlelight dinners -- none of which ever helped our sex life. We didn't have the experience perspective to see that her childhood sexual abuse was severely curtailing our sex life. We didn't know enough to bring it up, and they weren't insightful enough to ask. If you pursue sex therapy, ask very direct questions. Do not rely on the therapist to uncover fundamental issues. Be very explicit and forthcoming. I found that many sex therapists are surprisingly shy and reluctant to sound too "pornographic", and too often wave their hands with generalities, like responding to my specific question about what women in normal relationships do with a non-answer like "oh, women are all different". Save time by first getting a basic understanding of where sex therapists are coming from. Start by reading Dr. Laurie Watson's excellent book, "Wanting Sex Again".

I thoroughly thought long & hard about leaving this review but I do feel obligated that it's…read moreimportant to share my personal experience for those who are truly looking for a counselor to take into consideration. Only 1 star for the fact my partner is actively in sessions with Amanda Walker. We had Amanda from the beginning precisely for infidelity/couples therapy. I figured few sessions in the beginning is to get to know the couple after filling out extensive survey then I soon realize our sessions rarely even contained anything infidelity related, honestly was a completely unsuccessful/non effective expensive help. She never even helped us with healthier coping mechanisms, not even exercises for us to do as a couple about our communication. I even suggest her an exercise I read from a therapist for us to follow, just for 5 days later she didn't even remember it? So what exactly were you typing the entire time? It was seriously like hiring someone to say "Yeah, Yeahhhh, ok got it, I see, I'm sorry about that, I can't imagine" but just to my partner only 100xs for $130+an hour. It started to get highly uncomfortable especially since I'm the woman and the victim of infidelity but what really made it my last straw was when she verbally called me out and berated over and over insulting labels. She defined me as something so hurtful when she didn't even care to ask me to explain all she did was heard what He said then ignorantly attacked me. I was humiliated She reacted as if she took it personal it was negligent and borderline unethical instead of remaining neutral calm and professional. She later emailed him to apologize but it was too late and the damage had been done. I simply can't help how I respond to domestic violence but I was wronged for it, I felt so betrayed by her and traumatized I couldn't even get myself to go back. Just the thought of trying to be in a session with them made me cry, I had to email and discharge myself as a patient ASAP. I had a complete mental breakdown and hysterically sob in the ending of that session. Let me tell you this experience with her has left me so broken and made me fear seeking professional help again. I will have to independently build trust for when time is right to try someone else again, I hope no one has to go through what I had to it was horrific and just awful headspace to be. Again keep in mind not every counselor is for everyone. Her friendly relationship with my partner has made it easier for him to open up to her, so at least she's doing something with him. 1 star for that.