Services
Goals around intimacy, sexuality and pelvic health can sometimes feel overwhelming, exciting, messy, awkward and everything in between. Let me help you sort through what is right for you! Here are the services I offer:
Individual Sex Counseling
You don’t have to be coupled to want a better or different relationship with intimacy and sex. This would be ideal if you are:
Someone who wants to learn more about their own needs, wants, curiosities, boundaries and how to communicate those things.
Someone who wants to learn more about your body, anatomy, desire, arousal, orgasm, hormones, nervous system and how all those body systems and responses change as we age or go through major life transitions (hello postpartum and peri/post menopause!)
Someone who has experienced unwanted pain or other unwanted sensations during sex and want to know how to finally achieve not just pain-free intimacy but pleasurable intimacy
Someone who may be curious about their sexuality and wants an open, judgement-free and therapeutic space to discuss and process
Service offered in-person and virtually
Couples/Relationship Sex Counseling
We’re often not taught about sex, let alone, how to talk about sex and this can lead to many issues that couples face around overall intimacy and connection. During sex counseling sessions in a couples or relationship format, we will address your emotional and interpersonal needs within the relationship. The conversation will be led by your individual concerns regarding sexual health, functioning and fulfillment in order to achieve the goals you have within the relationship. This would be ideal if you are:
A couple or in a relationship where you are experiencing challenges around desire discrepancy
A couple or in a relationship where you try to bring up your issues around sex and intimacy however it seems to always lead to a fight or nothing seems to change
A couple or in a relationship where you find yourself avoiding sex or conversations about sex because you are unsure of how to communicate your desires or needs without feeling uncomfortable
A couple or in a relationship where you feel like you want your intimate life is more expansive than just the typical “wham bam” that is has been for the past few years but you’re unsure what to do
A couple or in a relationship where sex feels like a “have to” instead of a “want to” and no longer is a source of connection and pleasure
Service offered in-person and virtually
Pelvic Health Physical Therapy
Your pelvic floor plays a major role in your overall function, and if you’ve ever had an issue with your pelvic floor, you know how much that can impact your life. As a pelvic health physical therapist, I help educate you about the anatomy and function of your pelvic floor and how that integrates with your whole body including how you breathe, your digestion, your nervous system, myofascial system and overall musculoskeletal system.
Often too much tension or weakness in the pelvic floor can lead to issues with the bowel, bladder or sexual function. This can also lead to aches and pains related to chronic lower back, hip, SI joint, sciatica, lower abdominal and other musculoskeletal issues.
This would be ideal if you are:
Someone who has pain with sex, arousal, orgasm, erection, post-ejaculation, or persistent pelvic or genital pain
Someone with a history of endometriosis, PCOS or other condition leading to painful periods
Someone dealing with bladder issues such as urgency, frequency, leaking, trouble emptying your bladder, frequent UTI’s or infections
Someone with pelvic organ prolapse symptoms
Someone who is prenatal or postpartum
Someone who is peri/postmenopausal
Particularly pain with sex, often due to excess tension in the pelvic floor muscles, can lead to a hypervigilance during sex and ultimately avoidance or even fear of sex. Pelvic floor tension can be the cause or effect of a multitude of issues including a history of painful periods, trauma, bladder or bowel pain syndromes, other chronic pain conditions etc. In order to even begin to address goals around sexual health (decreased desire/low libido, inability to orgasm, inability to achieve arousal etc.), we have to first address the underlying pain and tension. Pelvic physical therapy can help with that!
Service offered in-person, virtually and mobile (mobile option may add to base cost per hour depending on travel distance)
FAQs
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For individual sex counseling:
Initial sessions and all treatment sessions are 60 minutes. Sessions can be in-person or virtual.
For couples/relationship sex counseling:
Initial sessions are 90 minutes and subsequent treatment sessions are 60 minutes. Sessions can be in-person or virtual.
For pelvic health physical therapy:
Initial session and treatment session are 60 minutes. Sessions are virtual only.
All clients are welcome to a free 15-mintue consultation call to discuss needs and any questions. Please call or email to schedule your session or your free consultation call.
480-231-2855 | lauren@rootedtherapyphx.com
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Sex counselors are trained professionals who often come from varied professions, including medical backgrounds. According to AASECT, “counselors assist the client to realistically resolve concerns through the introduction of problem-solving techniques of communication as well as providing accurate information and relevant suggestions of specific exercises and techniques in sexual expression”.
Due to my medical background as a physical therapist, I am able to take into consideration your medical history and how that may or may not be impacting challenges you share in regard to your sexual health. Frequently, sex therapists/counselors may refer to pelvic PT’s and vice versa. With my background, I am able to combine those areas of expertise to give you the most well-rounded information, tools and suggestions to help your specific concerns without you having to see two different providers!
Sex therapists are licensed mental health professionals who are trained to assess, diagnose and provide psychotherapy with specialized education to treat clients with sexual health concerns. They can provide intensive psychotherapy when appropriate.
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That’s a great question and the answer could be it depends or maybe both would be helpful! That’s why having a sex counselor who is also a pelvic physical therapist and vice versa is so helpful. Pelvic floor or pelvic health issues often lead to or contribute to sexual health issues and I can help you address everything together. Depending on your specific needs and goals, we can create an individualized plan that addresses the whole picture so you don’t have to spend the extra time and money going to two different providers. If you are unsure, schedule a consultation call and we can figure out a plan.
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I am an out-of-network provider. This means that I am not contracted with any insurance companies. Out-of-network does not mean no coverage. Every insurance company’s out-of-network policy is different and you’ll need to check with your insurance company to determine your out-of-network benefits and reimbursement requirement.
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Prior to your first visit, I will send you confidential forms to fill out to help me know a little more about you and your concerns. During your first visit, we will go over the information you share in those forms and further expand on the information.
Each session is truly as unique as each client so no session in turn is alike. I will ask you questions about your medical history, your symptom history, how your concerns/challenges/symptoms are impacting your life, your goals and ideally what you would like to see different or change. You are always the boss however, so if there is information you are not comfortable sharing, you are welcome to say that or you are welcome to share only what you would like.
Building a comfortable and open rapport can take time and although it is always my intention to help clients feel they are in a safe and non-judgmental space with me, I fully understand and respect your boundaries in what you do and do not feel comfortable sharing on any given session.
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I understand that what you share during our sessions is often information you may not feel comfortable sharing with most, if not any, other people. I value your privacy and confidentiality as much as you do, which is one of the reasons I do not contract with 3rd party payors (insurance companies). As an out-of-network provider, my notes and records cannot be requested by insurance companies. Additionally, privacy and confidentiality is integral to the medical training of a physical therapist and the practice of medicine. I also hold myself to the AASECT Code of Ethics, which includes privacy standards.
Contact me!
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