Psychosexual Therapy Service

Psychosexual Therapy Referral (GP Referral Only)

The Psychosexual Therapy Service offers brief psychological-based sex therapy interventions to help address sexual problems experienced by individuals and couples over 16 years of age. The Psychosexual Therapy Service is accessible by GP referral only.

The short-term model of therapy we offer is delivered by a team of Psychosexual Therapists accredited with the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists. We are commissioned to provide a maximum of 6 sessions of therapy following an initial assessment. Our service is inclusive, and we recognise and work with gender, sexual and relationship diversity.

We can accept referrals for:

• Loss of sexual interest or desire (Loss of Libido)
• Erection problems 
• Premature and delayed ejaculation
• Dyspareunia and Vulvodynia
• Vaginismus
• Orgasm problems

We are unable to help with:

• Medical assessment and treatment of erectile dysfunction - refer to local Urology Department
• General relationship issues - refer for individual or couple counselling (e.g. Relate)
• Sexual addiction, porn addiction, sexual compulsive behaviour and or sexual offending- useful links below
  • Association or the Treatment of Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity
  • Specialist Treatment Organisation for the Prevention of Sexual Offending
  • College of Sexual and Relationship Therapy
  • Relate - The Relationship People
• Historical sexual abuse and or sexual assault - useful links below
  • Portsmouth and East Hampshire: Portsmouth Abuse and Rape Counselling Service (PARCS)
  • Portsmouth, Havant, Petersfield, Gosport, Fareham, The Isle of Wight, Southampton, Eastleigh, The New Forest: Sexual Trauma and Recovery Counselling (STAR)
  • Southampton: Yellow Door
  • Winchester: Sexual Trauma & Abuse Restorative Therapies (START)
  • Basingstoke: Sexual Trauma & Abuse Restorative Therapies (START)
• Gender and Sexuality Identity
  • Gender Identity Clinic
  • NHS Choices
  • Pink Therapy
  • LGBTQ+ Switchboard
  • Beyond Reflections

Referral checklist

Before referring to our service, please check to ensure

• Your patient is aware of and consents to a Psychosexual Therapy Service referral
• Your patient is registered with a GP in Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth, or the Isle of Wight
• Your patient is over 16 years of age
• Your patient is aware that if they are currently engaged in psychological therapy and or counselling, starting another therapy is not usually recommended
• Your patient is ready and able to commit to a course of therapy lasting several months
• Your patient has undergone the recommended tests/investigation/ examinations prior to referral and details are included with your referral
• Your patient has experienced this problem for at least 6 months, it occurs 75-100% of the time and causes significant distress
• Please confirm, in your medical opinion, that any differential diagnosis has been considered and excluded
• Your patient is psychologically stable and any underlying mental health issues have been diagnosed and appropriately treated and managed prior to referral
• Your patient is not dependant on drugs or alcohol
• Your patient is aware that our service does not provide trauma related therapy and if they have experienced recent or historical trauma including rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, or abuse, please consider if a referral to a specialist service would be more appropriate in the first instance
• Your patient’s issue is not related to sexual and or porn addiction or sexual offending
• Your patient’s presenting issue is not primarily related to sexual orientation or gender identity

As a psychological based service, it is essential that all physical causes of sexual problems have been excluded prior to starting psychological therapy (even when a psychosexual issue is suspected). It is important the following investigations and or tests are undertaken prior to referral and that detailed results are included at the time of referral.

Men

• Genital Examination
• Weight, waist measurement and BMI
• Blood pressure and heart rate
• Lipid Profile
• Fasting glucose
• HbA1c
• Assessment of CVD risk and appropriate management of identified risk factors
• Fasting total testosterone (to be taken between 7 and 11am) [If total testosterone result is less than 12nmol/l, other tests are required, please refer to British Society for Sexual Medicine (BSSM) Website (BSSM.org.uk) including the guidelines: ‘Management of Erectile Dysfunction in Men’ and ‘A Practical Guide – On The Assessment and Management of Testosterone Deficiency in Adult Men’]
• Consider DRE and measuring PSA and thyroid function tests if clinically indicated
• Sexual Health Screening if appropriate

 Women

• Genital examination
• Thyroid function
• Fasting plasma glucose
• HbA1c
• Serum prolactin
• FSH
• LH
• Testosterone
• Gynaecological causes
• Sexual Health Screening if appropriate