Support for Sexuality, Intimacy and Connection
Sex and intimacy can be deeply personal parts of our lives, yet they are often some of the hardest things to talk about.
Maybe something has changed in your relationship. Maybe desire feels different than it used to. Or perhaps you have been carrying questions, concerns, or experiences around sexuality that you have never had a comfortable place to explore.
At Avery Therapy Centre, we offer inclusive, trauma-informed sex therapy in Vancouver and online. Our therapists support individuals and people in relationships with concerns related to sexuality, intimacy, desire, communication, identity, and sexual wellbeing.
You do not need to know exactly what is wrong before starting. Therapy can begin with what you are noticing and what you would like to better understand.
What Is Sex Therapy?
Sex therapy is a specialized form of talk therapy focused on sexuality, intimacy, relationships, and sexual wellbeing. It can help you explore the emotional, relational, physical, cultural, or past experiences that may be affecting your sex life.
Sex therapy does not involve sexual or physical contact with your therapist. Sessions are conversational and focused on understanding your concerns and working toward goals that matter to you.
Reasons People Seek Sex Therapy
There is no single reason to see a sex therapist.
For some people, there is a specific concern they want help with. For others, something simply does not feel the way they would like it to, and they want a space to better understand why.
Desire and Sexual Functioning
Sex therapy may support concerns such as:
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Changes in sexual desire or interest
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Differences in desire between partners
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Difficulty with arousal or orgasm
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Erectile or ejaculation concerns
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Performance anxiety
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Pain or discomfort during sex
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Relationships and Intimacy
Sometimes the concern is less about sex itself and more about what is happening around it.
You may also want support with:
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Difficulty communicating about sex
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Feeling emotionally or physically disconnected
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Different needs, expectations, or boundaries
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Rebuilding intimacy after infidelity
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Changes in intimacy after parenthood or other life transitions
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Dating and sexual confidence
Identity, Sexuality and Emotional Wellbeing
Sexuality can also intersect with how we see ourselves, our bodies, and our relationships.
Therapy can provide space to explore:
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Sexual orientation or gender identity
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Kink, BDSM, or sexual interests
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Consensual non-monogamy and polyamory
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Shame or anxiety related to sexuality
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Body image, chronic illness, or disability
Sex Therapy for Individuals and Relationships
You do not need to be in a relationship to come to sex therapy.
Individual therapy can help you explore your sexuality, desires, concerns, boundaries, confidence, or relationship patterns in a space that is focused entirely on your experience.
If you attend with a partner, sessions can create room for conversations that may have become difficult, avoided, or emotionally charged at home. The focus is not on deciding who is right or wrong, but on understanding what each person is experiencing and what may be getting in the way of connection.
We welcome people across a wide range of identities and relationship experiences, including:
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LGBTQ2S+ individuals and relationships
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Monogamous relationships
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Polyamorous and consensually non-monogamous relationships
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Kink and BDSM communities
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People of diverse genders, sexual orientations, backgrounds, and abilities
Our Approach to Sex Therapy
Relationships, identity, culture, health, past experiences, and the messages we have received about our bodies can all shape how we experience intimacy.
Our approach is trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and compassion-focused.
Therapy is shaped around your comfort, values, and goals rather than a particular idea of what sex or intimacy should look like. Depending on what brings you in, sessions may explore communication, boundaries, desire, shame, consent, or connection.
What to Expect from Sex Therapy
Starting a conversation about sex can feel vulnerable, particularly if you are used to avoiding the subject or have struggled to put your experience into words.
Your first sessions are an opportunity to talk about what brought you to therapy and what you hope to get from the process. Your therapist will ask questions to better understand your experiences, relationships, concerns, and goals.
Depending on your needs, sessions may include education, guided conversations, communication strategies, personal reflection, or optional exercises between sessions.
The process is collaborative and moves at a pace that feels appropriate for you.
Specialized Experience in Sex Therapy
Avery Therapy Centre founder Bruce Avery also owns Stellium Sex Therapy, a separate practice focused specifically on sexuality, relationships, and intimacy.
Avery Therapy Centre and Stellium Sex Therapy share office space and counsellors, bringing additional specialized experience in sex therapy to the Avery team.
Frequently asked questions
Find Support for Sex and Intimacy
You may have been thinking about these concerns for a long time, or you may only recently have noticed that something feels different.
Either way, you do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out. Our team can help you find a therapist who fits what you are looking for and begin the conversation from there.
