Chronic illness and the treatments for it can have a negative impact on sexual pleasure and function. This can stem from physical issues such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, limited range of motion, discomfort, and loss of libido to psychological issues stemming from anxiety, fear, or shame.
People experiencing chronic illness often feel unattractive, hopeless, and overwhelmed, which can contribute to an inability to fully enjoy sexual encounters. Therapies focus on providing several strategies to optimize sexual function and reduce ongoing psychological strain.
Learning how to communicate changing needs to your partner, exploring self-stimulation, and enhancing intimacy through nonsexual touching can help you move closer to a more fulfilling and pleasurable sexual life.
Heart disease, diabetes, ulcerative colitis, endometriosis, Crohn’s, and Parkinson’s are just a few of the illnesses that can affect libido or make having sex more difficult and less pleasurable. However, with the proper support, partners can learn to reconnect and rediscover the pleasure of intimacy.
Therapies can be conducted individually or with partners and can include working closely with your treatment team (specialist, family doctor, physical therapist, nutritionist, etc.) to develop a plan that provides the best outcome.
Focuses include increasing intimacy, exploring new ways of giving and receiving sexual pleasure, and dealing with the many emotional issues that stem from moving through a chronic illness.
I focus on providing a positive, affirming space to explore what still feels good and what needs to be modified for a better, more pleasurable sexual experience.
I can work closely with your treatment team to fine-tune protocols for better sexual function and help you find new ways to communicate what feels good to your partner.
For those suffering from anxiety, depression, or worry surrounding their illness or the loss of their sexual intimacy, I provide guidance to help you develop coping skills and reduce fear surrounding the sexual experience.
Depending on what works best for you, we can work through issues surrounding sex and your illness through talk therapy, bodywork, expressive arts, or a mix of modalities to help you recreate a new and healthy sex life.
Sandra is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Texas and founder of Instilling Hope Counseling Services. With a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Arabic Literature from The University of Texas at Austin and her Master of Science in Counseling from Southern Methodist University, Sandra sees individuals ages 13 and up, couples, and families.
As a therapist, Sandra's personal goal is to help eliminate the negative stigma that surrounds mental health and to encourage inclusivity and positivity across a wide range of personal relationship choices.
