Frequently Asked Questions
- Who pays for your services?
- What kinds of problems are appropriate for sex therapy and when should I seek help?
- What can I expect in sex therapy?
- What does it mean when a sex therapist is AASECT certified?
Who pays for your services?
Dr. Marshall accepts cash, checks, or credit cards for payment. Insurance plans vary and you may be able to submit your own insurance claim directly with your carrier. Please consult your insurance carrier for details.
What kinds of problems are appropriate for sex therapy and when should I seek help?
Typically people having concerns about arousal, performance, or satisfaction are likely to benefit from sex therapy. Included in these concerns are: Decreased or increased desire for intimacy, or in the case of a couple, mismatched or discrepant desire or interest in sexual intimacy. Both men and women can experience concerns related to arousal, and there are many causes and options for solving these problems. At any age, performance skills can be of concern, as can issues related to orgasm and satisfaction.
Additionally problems related to sexual trauma in one’s background, medical conditions that affect one’s sexuality, sexual pain disorders, concerns about gender identity or sexual orientation, and issues around sexual compulsivity or addiction are frequent concerns that people explore in sex therapy.
What can I expect in sex therapy?
Dr. Marshall will meet with the individual or couple in an office setting where an extensive history of the concerns will be taken. She will note both the psychological and the physical components and will establish one or more diagnoses. After the diagnostic process, a treatment plan will be developed with your input. In some instances, Dr. Marshall may work closely with the person’s physician, nurse, or other therapist or counselor to establish causes and remedies for the problems.
Depending on the diagnosis, she will educate the person or couple about the issue and about options for change. This educational process may occur through reading suggested materials, watching educational audio-visual materials, discussing various topics, attending workshops, or any combination thereof. Sometimes having more information will allow the problem to resolve. Sometimes more specific or intensive therapy will be needed.
If more specific therapy is needed, Dr. Marshall may suggest a regular schedule of office appointments. Often, homework exercises to be practiced individually or as a couple in the privacy of their home between office appointments will be suggested. The homework may be as general as communication exercises or as specific as actual sexual experiences, depending on the progress in therapy and the person’s level of comfort with accepting direction.
In no instance will Dr. Marshall engage in any kind of sexual activity with a therapy patient, whether in the office or in any location. To do so is a breach of ethics, and in some states and provinces is a crime.
What does it mean when a sex therapist is AASECT certified?
In most states and provinces, sex therapy is not a separately licensed or regulated profession, just as child psychotherapy or geriatric psychotherapy is not government regulated beyond granting the basic license to practice therapy. AASECT stands for the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists, which is the only credentialing organization for sex therapists in this country. Certification is awarded after extensive training in sexuality and therapy have been attained and approved by the organization. Certified sex therapists meet a rigorous set of requirements to be granted certification. Therapists who aren’t certified have not necessarily met these standards.
Dr. Marshall is here to help with improving sexual, physical, spiritual, emotional health and fitness.
If you’re ready to take action to have a fuller, healthier, and happier life:
Call 812-345-5114 or to make an appointment.
