Best Sites for Online Sex Therapy
We write our honest reviews but this page may contain affiliate links, with some of the partners mentioned, to support this website. Read more here
- John S. - Editor in Chief
- Last Updated:
Intimacy lies at the core of a healthy and functional relationship, and sex is one significant way that couples express this intimacy toward each other. When a couple has a healthy sexual relationship, they are more emotionally in tune, experience less stress, and are able to forge a deeper, more satisfying bond together. When a couple experiences disequilibrium in their sex life, the stability of the relationship may be at risk. Online sex therapy for couples seeks to guide couples through the physical and emotional challenges in their intimate life that may be eating away at their overall relationship.
Best Platforms for Online Sex Therapy
How We Calculate Score
Our rating system assigns brand scores on a scale of up to 5. To arrive at these scores, we use a weighted formula that considers TrustPilot ratings, User Engagement scores, and our staff’s experience with the platforms.
BetterHelp
Ratings-
Easy to Use
-
Personalized Service
-
Confidential
-
Text, Video or voice session
-
Licensed therapists
Grow Therapy
Ratings-
Easy to Use
-
A lot of Insurance Coverage
-
Affordable
-
Online or in-person therapy
-
Licensed therapists
Online-therapy.com
Ratings-
Unlimited messaging
-
8 section CBT program, incl. 25 worksheets
-
Daily worksheet replies Mon-Fri
-
Change therapists with one click
-
Secure & confidential platform
TalkSpace
Ratings-
Convenience
-
Personal
-
24/7
-
Confidential
-
Text, Video or voice session
What Is Online Sex therapy?
Online counseling for sex pairs individuals and couples with an experienced sex therapist in order to discuss and work through their sexual issues. In regard to couples’ therapy, these sexual difficulties can involve either or both partners and can range anywhere from sexual dysfunction and unmet sexual desires to unpacking past sexual trauma. The online sex counseling format allows all content, including sessions, to be conveniently delivered through any or all of the following mediums – face to face video chat, phone calls, or a text messaging platform. Many of the larger online counseling networks also offer full integration via mobile app.
Who Is Online Sex Counseling For?
Online sex therapy for couples is for any couple who has not only identified that one or more sexual problems is affecting the health of their relationship, but is also willing to have an open and honest conversation about these intimate matters. Authenticity is of utmost importance; after all, the insight that certified sex therapists can provide only goes as deep as the conversations their clients are willing to have.
When Is the Right Time to Start?
The need for sex therapy is generally one that builds over time, especially given that couples tend to wait up to several years before seeking any form of relationship help. Sex therapy is more than a surface-level issue, and problems that relate to sex often have their own non-sex related root causes or are embedded in other issues in a couple’s relationship. If a couple realizes that they have hit a proverbial wall when the topic of sex is on the table, they are encouraged to seek one of the many available online couples’ therapy resources to begin the path to healing their relationship.
Messages
Phone calls
Video Chats
Overview of The Best Online Sex Therapy Platforms
Best for Trauma, Anxiety and Support Groups
BetterHelp therapy is one of the top-rated online therapy providers as of today.
- 30000+ licensed therapists
- Live video calls, phone calls, and messaging.
- Provides counseling in specialized areas of treatment such as anxiety, depression, and many others.
Pros
- Multiple communication methods
- Enables access to professional and experienced board-licensed therapists
- Transparent on pricing
- 24/7 availability
- Patients can switch therapists at any time and as many times as needed
Cons
- No free trial
- No psychiatric care is available
- Only one subscription plan is available with the prices varying
Best for Using Insurance for Therapy
Grow Therapy is that it offers both virtual and in-person therapy sessions. This gives you the flexibility to choose the type of therapy that is most convenient and comfortable for you.
Grow Therapy accepts most major insurance plans, making it an affordable option for many people. However, even if you do not have insurance, Grow Therapy offers affordable rates for out-of-pocket payments.
Pros
- Choose your own therapist
- Virtual and in-person therapy sessions are available
- Accepts most major insurance plans
- Affordable out-of-pocket rates
- Wide range of specialties
Cons
- Newer platform
- Technical issues: Some users have reported technical issues with the Grow Therapy platform
- Customer service: Some users have also reported mixed experiences with Grow Therapy customer service
Best for Medication Management Services
TalkSpace is an online therapy platform, that offers private counseling with the help of a network of licensed therapists. Customers can avail special features like unrestricted texting and access to registered as well as qualified therapists without requiring prior appointments.
Pros
- Three payment plan options
- Talkspace does accept insurance
- Offers teen therapy services
- Includes psychiatric services and medication management
- Possibility to choose a therapist.
Cons
- The basic plan doesn’t include live sessions
- Therapists take longer to respond
- No option for communicating with the therapist via phone
- Prices vary based on location and therapist availability
Best for People Looking Afforable Therapy
Online-Therapy.com is an affordable, convenient, and private online therapy website. It offers a variety of tools and resources to help users, such as worksheets, live sessions, and a journal.
Pros
- Pricing
- Safety, privacy, and confidentiality
- Plenty of licensed therapists to choose from
- Daily worksheet replies Mon-Fri
Cons
- Insurance is not accepted.
- You are matched with a therapist and not given the option to choose.
- Not available in all 50 states.
Benefits of starting sex therapy
Although sex is as old of an institution as humankind itself, it is still an awkward topic for many couples to talk about, and in some cultural contexts it is even regarded as taboo. Certified sex therapists are skilled at facilitating the candid dialogue necessary to get couples talking about their sexual issues and setting goals to create a richer, more intimate sex life. The convenience, accessibility, and privacy afforded by online sex therapy for couples makes it a viable option for couples looking for an accommodating way to get the conversation started.
Convenience and Accessibility
Online therapy in general is a great therapy option for those who otherwise may not have access to a traditional office-based licensed professional due to scheduling conflicts, the inability to foot a large therapy bill, or other personal limitations.
Online sex therapy for couples places control in the hands of the couple. With larger online mental health networks providing services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, couples are sure to find a time to accommodate their schedules, even if this means conducting sessions outside of normal business hours.
The subscription-based formats of many providers affords couples the psychotherapy they need, at a fraction of a cost to them relative to office-based therapy. Couples save money and time in having sessions at home, thus forgoing a commute, and many online-based certified sex therapists are able to price their services competitively since they do not have the overhead costs associated with a doctor’s office.
Privacy
The crux of a successful working relationship between a licensed sex therapist and a couple is honest communication rooted in trust. Online therapy allows couples to receive sex therapy sessions from the comfort of home, saving them from the potential anxiety of divulging their most intimate details in the unfamiliar, sterile setting of a therapist’s office.
Online vs. In-Person Therapy
Traditional, in-person sex therapy for couples involves couples finding a certified sex therapist of their choosing, scheduling an appointment, and attending regular sessions at the therapist’s office for the duration of their therapy program, as agreed upon by the couple and the therapist.
Arguably the starkest difference between the online and in-person experience is the face-to-face interaction afforded by in-person sessions; the unspoken, nonverbal cues that couples exude when in each other’s presence is something that a diligent therapist can use to gauge such aspects as the dynamic between the couple. While these cues can still be ascertained in an online session, they are much more palpable when experienced in person.
Nonetheless, online sex therapy for couples is still an efficacious option, and its premise is the same as in-person sessions, only with a myriad more options. Each of the major online counseling networks features many experienced counselors, pricing points for all budgets, 24/7 scheduling availability, and formats – video conferencing, phone calls, and text messaging – to suit all communication styles.
How Does It Work?
Intake
The most popular online therapy networks utilize a query-led approach in connecting couples to licensed counselors. Couples are able to guide their search using demographics relevant to their situation, such as areas of expertise and populations served, and are also able to specify in the matching platform the specific issues for which they seek help. The first session with the counselor of their choosing is very much part of the intake process – it is here that the couple and the licensed sex therapist are able to get an initial feel for each other, and the therapist is able to gather details about the couple’s sexual history.
Sessions
The therapy program begins once the couple and their trusted counselor have committed to regular sessions with each other. Each program is as unique as its participants – some couples only require a few sessions to fully address their concerns, while other couples with complex sets of issues may require more attention and a longer working relationship with their therapist. Methods involving both partners may be utilized, including but not limited to communication exercises, mindfulness techniques encouraging intimacy, and daily or weekly goal setting.
How to Choose the Best Online Therapist
Credibility and Interest in Sex Therapy
Some couples walk into their first sex therapy session knowing nothing more than that sex is a problem in their relationship, whereas others are able to pinpoint a specific issue, such as performance anxiety or lack of libido, from the very beginning. Regardless of the case, the chosen therapist should be excited and able to help the couple regain their intimacy, as well as adept at the proven methods in their industry. Couples should look for specific clinical experience in sex therapy, especially pertaining to specific issues they are already aware of, in addition to standard licensed therapist credentials. Memberships in professional sex-oriented member organizations are another way to certify a counselor’s interest and dedication to sex therapy as a discipline.
Personality Fit
Making certain the personality fit between a couple and a certified sex therapist from the first intake session is a sure-fire way to ensure that client and therapist alike get the most dialogue and in turn value out of their sessions. It is imperative that a couple feels thoroughly supported, heard, and acknowledged by their trusted sex therapy professional