Rachael Lindberg, LPC, SXI, CCTP
Afterglow Counseling & Coaching, PLLC
Addressing sexual health is an emotionally and physically vulnerable experience. We often aren’t aware of the options and resources that are available to talk about sexual health, including difficulties with differences in libido, difficulty with orgasm, pain and/or anxiety with sex, communicating with our parents about sex and intimacy, and shame with sex. It is still considered a shameful, private, and taboo topic despite the recent progress in sex-positive attitudes. The majority of people, especially those who grew up in the purity culture of the mid-late 90s and early 2000s, struggle with shameful beliefs about the function and enjoyment of sex as they experienced a lack of comprehensive sex education that was not abstinence-focused. However, sexual health is a public health issue and is very intertwined with our physical, emotional, mental, and relational health, thus making it an important topic to address in counseling or sex therapy.
Introducing: Rachael Lindberg, certified sex coach and board-certified sexologist
As a therapist who specializes in relationships, both in individual and couples/relationship counseling, I found it unavoidable to talk about sex with clients. Clients reached out to work on anxiety with sex, improving intimacy with their partner(s), learning more about safer sex practices, and embracing sexual empowerment. So, to meet this need, I completed a 300-hour certification course that enabled me to learn specialized techniques for working with sexual health concerns in therapy. I completed this training through the Sexology Institute in San Antonio, TX, and this credential allowed me to seek certification as a board-certified sexologist. A sexologist is someone who researches and studies areas of sexual health including desire, arousal, dysfunction, sexual identity and orientation, and relationships. A sex coach puts this study into practice with solution-focused techniques. As a licensed professional counselor, I can apply these concepts and strategies to the context of individual and couples/relationship counseling.
Most importantly, as a disclaimer, a sex therapist or sex coach DOES NOT participate in physical touch or sexual intercourse with clients. This is an incredibly important boundary and is needed to maintain professionalism and expectations about the function and goals of sex therapy and sex coaching. Sex coaching or sex therapy is a modality of treatment for sexual health and relationship concerns and can be provided for either individuals or relationships/couples. As a licensed mental health professional, I incorporate coaching strategies into my therapy practice, rather than as a separate service. I use coaching strategies as part of solution-focused, present-oriented treatment techniques as not all sexual health concerns involve digging deep into past relationships or childhood experiences.
Sex therapy can address concerns such as difficulties with orgasm, emotional or sexual intimacy, painful sex, erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction, relationship conflicts, body image, sex education, and kinks/fetishes. I utilize a two-pronged approach in working with sex concerns in therapy: 1) talk therapy to discuss beliefs, past experiences, and emotions related to sex and 2) homework exercises to practice activities such as communication skills, touch exercises, or books/podcasts. Referrals to a gynecologist, urologist, PCP, or pelvic floor therapist may be recommended to rule out physical or medical health conditions. My goal is always for the client to feel comfortable when sharing about these vulnerable issues, so I try my best to be welcoming, gentle, sex-positive, and open-minded about your experiences.
What to Expect
The first session is a general intake session to assess your current concerns, learn more about past sexual and relationship history, and begin to explore your thoughts and beliefs about sex. We will then collaboratively set goals for counseling and address any potential barriers such as shame or fears of being vulnerable. The length of sex therapy can vary from person to person, with some only needing a few psychoeducational sessions and others needing more extensive treatment. I only provide virtual sex therapy, as research has found that virtual therapy is just as effective as in-person counseling and depends on individual preferences. I hope to build a collaborative relationship in the first few sessions so we can safely and respectfully dig deeper into the concerns you would like to address through virtual sex counseling.
All consenting adults are deserving of healthy, pleasurable sex. When difficulties with sex negatively impact our mental health or relationships, it can be very beneficial to address this through counseling. A non-judgmental and welcoming therapist can help you explore sexual health and relationship concerns in an emotionally safe, collaborative way. I encourage you to reach out to a sex therapist to see if it would enhance and empower your life!
Interested in individual counseling, sex therapy, or relationship counseling? Submit a Contact Form to schedule a free 15-minute initial phone consultation!