Online sex therapy is the natural evolution of clinical treatment. Years ago, many people suffering from sexual dysfunction would avoid visiting a therapist because of embarrassment. Now, however, you can seek help online, in the comfort of your own home, even without a webcam.
Discreet online therapy can help tackle issues like “dead bed,” communication with your partner, or even more advanced sexual health issues. In this discussion, we’re going to discuss the best online sex therapy sites and what specific services they offer to clients who might have questions.
Best Online Sex Therapy Sites 2021
1. Regain
Regain is an online counseling platform that solely focuses on relationship issues. It has a convenient, affordable, and very discreet system that connects users to licensed sex therapists. You are matched with a counselor according to your chosen objectives, preferences, and various issues that the counselor has experience in treating. You are assigned a private chatroom where you can send messages to your therapist and get a reply once every day. You also have the option to schedule live video session once every week.
Counselors at Regain are Ph.D./PsyD psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), or licensed professional counselors (LCC) with a minimum of Masters Degree and over 3 years of experience.
Regain counselors have a specific interest in dealing with couples and relationship issues. They can help you identify the root cause of the intimacy issues and put a treatment plan in place to get you back on the road to enjoy sex again.
Regain costs between $40 to $70 per week depending on the length of the package you choose. You can send unlimited messages to your therapist and also schedule live sessions weekly.
2. Talkspace
Talkspace is one of the largest online counseling platform with a robust network of therapists specializing in dealing with mental health and sex issues. Talkspace covers several sexual issues including sexual dysfunction, performance anxiety, libido, and many others.
You are matched with a therapist on Talkspace after chatting with the consultation therapist. You can choose your therapist from the recommended matches based on your initial consultation.
Clients can interact with their therapists in a private chatroom. You can send unlimited text, audio, and video messages and get replies usually once every day. Therapist will assign you worksheets to complete which could also be accessed from your Talkspace dashboard.
Talkspace basic individual sex therapy plan costs $260/month without any live session. Sex therapy for couples cost $396/month with unlimited messaging. Live Video with a therapist can be added at $65/session for 30 mins. Read our detailed Talkspace Review.
3. BetterHelp
BetterHelp is the largest e-counseling website in the world, with numerous counselors available for chat. In addition to general mental health treatment, they offer individual sex theyapy and also counseling for sex addiction.
You can indicate during the intake that you are seeking therapy for sexual issues. Betterhelp algorithm will match you with a therapist that is experienced in mental health and sex therapy.
While the site employs many counselors, each one has a public profile, and all staff members are doctors, licensed marriage or family therapists, or clinical social workers. You also have the option to change your therapist if you feel your system matched counselor is not a good fit. You can browse the therapist profiles and indicate to the support staff your preferred choices.
Betterhelp does not offers couples therapy that is available on its sister site Regain. But you can get individual sex therapy that would cost $260/month. You can send unlimited messages and also schedule weekly live video sessions with your therapist under this plan.
You will get your own personal dashboard at Betterhelp after the sign-up where you can chat and access other online tools like worksheets and homework. Your treatment plan devised by the therapist for improved sex life could be easily accessed from this dashboard. Read our detailed BetterHelp Review.
Haven’t found what you’re looking for? Check our below guides:
4. Center for Love and Sex
The Sari Cooper Center for Love and Sex was founded by Cooper in hopes of providing sex therapy to couples or individuals. The New York-based practice takes a multi-disciplinary approach to sex therapy.
Founder Sari Cooper is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist. She focuses on important issues for her clients like sexual avoidance, ejaculation issues, low libido, past trauma, communication, affairs, mood disorders, and depression. Cooper is joined by other LCSWs Marsha, Heather, and April, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
The Center combines sex therapy with more traditional therapeutic techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, psychodynamic family communication, and mindful meditation.
The online therapy sessions are conducted by live video using HIPAA compliant telehealth software. You can talk to the intake coordinator by a phone call or email to book the session. Clients receive a free initial call to discuss the problem for approximately 5-10 minutes.
Prices differ according to each licensed therapist but generally run about $250 a session. Sari Cooper charges more, up to $475 per session. The company does not work with insurance networks. However, for anyone using out-of-network benefits, reimbursement may be possible. Payment can also be done online via credit/debit card or PayPal.
5. My Counselor Online
MyCounselor Online provides Christian faith-based sex therapy online worldwide and also in-person in some states of US. The online counseling is provided using HIPAA compliant telehealth video software with end to end encryption. The video conferencing software can be accessed on Apple, Android, or Windows devices.
While staff members are Christian, they are also Certified Sex Therapists. Some have worked as pastors or missionaries, and others have had clinical experience with schema therapy, emotionally focused therapy, and psychodynamic therapy.
Founder Josh Spurlock is a Certified Sex Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, and MA graduate who also studied with the Institute of Sexual Wholeness, a Christian-based therapy training program. He is certified with the American Board of Christian Sex Therapists.
My Counselor Online includes over 20 Christian counselors who are all licensed mental health professionals and experienced in sexual talk therapy. The company has offices in Springfield, Missouri, but it also provides home-based counseling online.
Frequently discussed sexual problems include miscommunications between couples, painful intercourse, recovery from PTSD, a lack of sexual desire or inability to orgasm, prostate surgery, and gender confusion.
Pricing is arranged according to tiers of service. Advanced practice includes sessions with the most experienced counselors, with prices starting at $145 per session. The next level is for licensed counsels at $115, and then provisionally licensed personnel for $95 per session.
The $45 online scholarship package comes with one free session from a qualified counselor. The first session is free to try, though there is a cancellation deposit required to get back after canceling. The online option not only offers a free guarantee but also scheduling software to help you get appointment reminders.
6. SexTherapy-Online
Sex-Therapy Online, based in Austin, Texas, has been using an online platform for over 13 years. The company, which treats sexual dysfunction and addiction, is led by Rhiannon C. Beauregard, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist & Supervisor. She is also an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist.
Services include sex education, clinical supervision, professional mentoring, and relationship or individual counseling. Users can schedule an appointment online or by phone and then take a 90-minute Initial Sexual Assessment Session.
The session determines if therapy is appropriate for both partners. Rhiannon is the primary therapist on staff that makes contact and provides the treatment.
Rhiannon maintains a small client list to provide the best possible service, including more advanced options like Collaborative Therapy Model, Solution-Focused Model, Narrative Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
New clients must make a non-refundable deposit of $100 to schedule the 90-minute online assessment session. This site’s main feature is email coaching, between 500 and 1000 words for the therapist’s response.
New clients begin the process by making an online appointment, and also have their choice of questionnaires and assessment tests that help identify key issues for therapy.
7. Life Process Program Sex Addiction Therapy
The Life Process Sex Addiction Therapy Program specializes in treating clients with sex addiction. Dr. Stanton Peele’s exclusively online program is inspired by the Sexaholics Anonymous 12-step program but with a more discreet home option that doesn’t involve public meetings.
The service aims to help clients find ways to address sex addiction with available paths, and particular backgrounds and values for their comfort. Meetings are still held but available online as well as discussion forums. This ensures a helpful group dynamic with more privacy.
Clients can also buy more one-on-one sessions with a coach and watch self-help videos by Dr. Peele. Peele, a psychologist, author, and pioneer of addiction counseling, helps clients through self-reflection, values, motivation, rewards, resources, support, maturity, and goal-setting.
Founder Dr. Peel founded the program, which is a combination of correspondence course material and personal coaching.
You can choose a basic Self-Help plan for $19 a month, which includes coaching sessions, a Premium plan for $39 a month, including access to online meetings, and a Coach Led plan for $89 a month, which includes more one-on-one time with a personal life coach, including customized modules and exercises.
Frequently Asked Questions
In case you’re wondering how online sex therapy works, we’ve answered some of the most commonly asked questions.
How does online sex therapy work?
Online sex therapy follows the same basic principles as clinical sex therapy – except for a more discreet system that allows for more privacy and comfort. Clients can chat anonymously, or via phone or web camera, rather than meeting publicly with a therapist or group of other people.
Much like in-person therapy, online sex therapy can be customized to an individual. Eventually, a counselor or online therapist learns each client and the best way to help them grow as individuals or couples.
While individual counsels offering online therapy tend to customize their service, large online therapy sites standardize the process, offering dozens of available therapists/counselors who log in and answer questions. Users, however, have 24-7 access to their private chatrooms with counselors to communicate their feelings.
Is there free sex therapy online?
Most business models cannot afford to provide free therapy, though some do offer free trial sessions. While there are free discussion forums and articles online, the difference for paid sex therapy is that you receive customized attention and an advanced learning program that has science to back it up.
How much does online sex therapy cost?
While some high-profile counselors charge up to $500 per session (usually via live webcam chat or email), many online sex therapy websites charge weekly rates up to $50-$175 per week, billed monthly.
For a reduced price, you can talk to a licensed counselor via chat and get personal correspondence. Some services even allow you to schedule “live chats” for faster responses.
Is online sex therapy effective?
There are studies that conclude that online therapy is as effective for depression, panic, and social anxiety disorders, and generalized anxiety as face-to-face treatment. Online sex therapy is also as effective as in-person therapy although the “feel” could be different.
Online sex therapy is relatively new, but there has been renewed interest in recent years, not only because of social distancing, but also a more internet-connected culture.
Clients like the easy accessibility, the option of anonymous chat, the option to avoid the waiting room, and the ability to naturally chat about sex in a relaxed, professional, and safe setting.
In the modern era, the flexibility of schedule is another important feature. Many today work long hours and do not operate a typical day job’s hours. Clients want to find a therapist that can work according to their schedule. Since many therapists can log in at various shifts throughout the day and be more accessible, flexibility is one of the best features of online sex therapy.
How to find a good sex therapist online?
There are many sex therapists to search online, some linked with a major city, and others that provide nationwide chat therapy.
While most successful businesses have licensed counselors, doctors, and therapists (as state requirements are usually stringent), not all practices provide customized attention to the client.
In choosing a sex therapist that’s right for you, remember the importance of flexibility, not only in scheduling but in understanding your background and viewpoints. Make sure to choose someone you’re personally comfortable with since you will be confessing and explaining sensitive issues.
Not only is state licensing important, but certification and experience with sexual healing should not be ignored. Additional accreditations should also be considered, like being a member of The American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists,
Conclusion
Online sex therapy is a useful option for modern consumers who are too busy to make in-person meetings, too shy to confess sensitive subject matter, and who want a more customized treatment plan.
If you’ve wanted to have a better sex life but felt hesitant about reaching out, the low cost and low-stress levels of online therapy could help.