You can find a sex therapist by checking four things: specialist psychosexual training, ideally on top of a core counselling or psychotherapy qualification; membership of a recognised professional body; experience with the difficulty you want help with; and whether you feel safe talking to them. You can go alone or with a partner, in person or online. The checklist below takes you through each step.
Finding a qualified sex therapist near you in Ireland
Most people find this search awkward, and that's normal. Sex is still hard to talk about in Ireland, which is one reason so many Irish adults struggle to talk about sex even with a partner. Five steps will get you from a vague search to a first appointment:
- Name the concern and the format you want. Write down what is troubling you and whether you'd prefer to go alone, as a couple, in person or online.
- Search trusted directories. The Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) directory lets you filter by county, issue and online sessions. The College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT) keeps a register of members who are trained in psychosexual work.
- Make a shortlist. Read each therapist's profile and look for psychosexual training and the issues they work with.
- Check credentials. Compare what the profile says with the professional body's own register.
- Arrange a first conversation. A short call or email tells you a lot about how a therapist talks about sex.
A GP, another qualified therapist or a sexual health clinic can also suggest names. Where you live matters less than it used to. If online sessions suit you, you can work with a trained therapist from anywhere in Ireland, and we have written about the role of online therapy in sex therapy if you'd like to know how that works.
A general web search doesn't help much either, and can bring up dating apps and adult sites rather than therapy. You'll get far better results by looking specifically for a qualified sex therapist or psychosexual therapist in your county.
| What to check | Why it matters | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist training | General counselling training may cover sexuality only briefly | Where did you do your psychosexual training? |
| Professional membership | Members follow a code of ethics and have a complaints process | Which body are you a member of, and are you on its register? |
| Relevant experience | Some difficulties need specific approaches | Have you worked with this kind of difficulty before? |
| Session format | Couples, individual and online work all differ | Do you see individuals, couples, or both, and online? |
| Fees and availability | Therapy works best with regular sessions you can keep up | What do sessions cost, and when could we start? |
The qualifications a sex therapist should have
"Sex therapist" describes a specialism, not one basic profession. Sex therapists usually first qualify as a counsellor, psychotherapist or psychologist, and then complete further postgraduate training in psychosexual and relationship therapy. You want to see both: a solid core qualification and the specialist training on top of it.
A counsellor or psychotherapist can be registered with the IACP, the Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy (IAHIP) or the Irish Council for Psychotherapy (ICP), and psychologists with the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI). COSRT, a UK-based professional body, accredits psychosexual and relationship therapy training and keeps registers of its members. No single membership is required of every practitioner, so ask what a therapist belongs to and check it yourself. The registers kept by the IACP, IAHIP, ICP and PSI are the most useful place to check a therapist's accreditation.
It also helps to know who does what. A general counsellor can help with stress, anxiety and relationships, but may not have training in sexual difficulties. A GP, urologist or gynaecologist looks at the physical side: blood flow, hormones, pain, medication. A sex therapist works with the thoughts, feelings and relationship patterns around sex. The two kinds of care often go together, and a good sex therapist will tell you when a medical check is worth doing. Our own sex therapists have trained on courses accredited by COSRT, and you can read each therapist's profile on our website to see who they work with.
Problems sex therapy can help with
Common reasons for coming through the door include:
- Erectile difficulties (ED), premature (PE) or delayed ejaculation
- Low desire, often referred to as low libido, or desire that has drifted apart between partners
- Difficulty with arousal or orgasm
- Pain during sex
- Anxiety, shame or guilt about sex
- Changes after illness, surgery, childbirth or menopause
- The effect of trauma or ongoing conflict on intimacy
Erectile difficulties are a common reason people look for help. They can have a physical cause, a psychological one, or both. The HSE's erectile dysfunction page advises contacting your GP or a sexual health clinic if erection problems keep happening, because they can be linked to other conditions, including heart and circulatory disease. We'd always suggest that GP check first, alongside therapy if you want it. Our guide what is erectile dysfunction (ED) goes into this in more detail.
Sex therapy should welcome you whatever your sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability or relationship style. It looks at your thoughts, emotions, communication and patterns between you and a partner, and it can include practical exercises if they suit you.
What happens in a sex therapy session
A first session is a conversation. Your therapist will ask about the difficulty, how long it has been there, your health, your relationship history and what you'd like to change. Together you agree goals, boundaries and a rough plan. You decide how much you share and when.
Later sessions might include information about how bodies and desire work, communication work, ways of noticing and changing anxious thoughts, and exercises you can try privately at home between appointments. There is more detail in our post on what is involved in the sex therapy process.
Many people worry about this, so to be clear: sex therapy never involves sexual activity, touching, undressing or a physical examination. It is talking therapy. If something needs a physical check, your therapist will suggest you see your GP or a specialist.
What you say is confidential, with limits. At the start, your therapist should explain the legal and ethical limits, such as a serious risk to your safety or someone else's. Ask about anything that isn't clear.
You can come on your own whether you are single or in a relationship, through individual counselling and psychotherapy. If the difficulty affects you both, couples counselling or joint sex therapy sessions can help, but a partner should never be pushed into coming. We'd rather one of you started than both of you waited.
Knowing whether a sex therapist is right for you
It is fine to ask questions before you book or in the first session. These are useful ones:
- What specialist training do you have in psychosexual therapy?
- Have you worked with this concern before?
- What approach do you use, and what might the work involve?
- Do you work with individuals, couples, or both?
- How do you protect my privacy, including online?
- What are your fees, cancellation terms and current waiting times?
Then notice how you feel. A good therapist is respectful and non-judgemental, explains things clearly and never pushes you to say more than you want or to try an exercise you haven't agreed to. Talking about sex with a stranger will probably feel uncomfortable at first, and that's expected. Feeling shamed or pressured is different. If the fit isn't right, you can say so, ask for a referral or try someone else.
Practical fit matters as well. Think about appointment times, travel, accessibility, a private space for online sessions and what you can afford over several months.
FAQs
How much does sex therapy cost in Ireland?
Fees vary between practices and with session length, so ask before you book. Our current rates are on our prices page. Some health insurance plans and workplace assistance programmes contribute towards therapy, so it's worth checking your policy.
Do I need a GP referral to see a sex therapist?
No. You can contact a sex therapist directly. Even so, seeing your GP is a good idea if you have physical symptoms such as pain, new erection problems or changes after medication, because some causes need medical treatment.
Is online psychosexual therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Many people find online sessions easier, because talking about sex from home can feel less exposing. The training and approach are the same either way. What matters most is a private, uninterrupted space and a therapist you trust. Our online therapy is available anywhere in Ireland.
How long does sex therapy usually take to work?
There is no set number of sessions. It depends on the difficulty, how long it has been there and how much of the home practice you're able to do. Your therapist should review progress with you regularly so you both know how things are going.
Speaking to one of our sex therapists
We offer sex therapy for individuals and couples in Dublin, Galway and online, and you can read our therapists' profiles to see their training and who they work with. If you're not sure where to start, contact our team and ask us about credentials, fees, locations, online appointments and who is available. There's no pressure. We're here whenever you feel ready.
If you are in crisis or at immediate risk, call 112 or 999, go to your nearest emergency department, call Samaritans free on 116 123, or see the HSE's urgent and emergency care page.