All About Sexual Performance Anxiety and How to Overcome it with Psychological Therapy & Counselling

What is Sexual Performance Anxiety?

Sexual Performance Anxiety is what you experience when you worry about how well you perform “in-bed” with a partner.

As with most forms of anxiety, much of the problem is created by anticipating what might happen before it actually does!

This anticipatory anxiety can have a direct and negative effect on your ability to perform (in any circumstances) often leading to avoidance of the sex act.

It is compounded by the worry that your lover will find you inedequate and want to terminate the relationship as a result.

In this respect, sexual performance anxiey has much in common with social anxiety, the fear of being judged negatively.

At worst, it can lead to a fear of sexual intercourse known as Genophobia.

What can Cause Sexual Performance Anxiety?

As with almost all psychological conditions there can be many different factors that result in these feelings:-

Early Character Development – During your character forming years you may have been low in self-confidence which you carry with you into adulthood.

Early negative sexual experiences – if your early sexual experiences did not go too well they can lead to overcompensation and the development of Anxiety about sexual performance.

Social & Cultural views on Sexuality – If you grew up in an environment where sex, for example, was regarded as ‘dirty’ or ‘wrong’ then you may approach sexual encounters with excessive guilt or fear.

Counselling for Sexual Performance Anxiety

We offer a number of different types of therapy and counselling for Sexual Performance Anxiety and related problems.

Choosing the most suitable therapy depends on a number of different considerations including factors such as:

• How long you have had the problem.
• Your personal preferences.
• How your problem is affecting you today.

You can read more about the different types of therapy for Sexual Performance Anxiety on the following links:

• CBT for Sexual Performance Anxiety
• Counselling for Sexual Performance Anxiety
• Pluralistic Therapy for Sexual Performance Anxiety

Although all therapies use slightly different approaches, the one thing they all have in common is the relationship that is formed between the client and therapist.

Research suggests that this therapy relationship may be the most important factor in achieving a good therapy outcome.

Behaviour Change Framework – BCF

All of our counselling sessions and programmes are enhanced by applying the Behaviour Change Framework (BCF).

This scientifically proven protocol clearly defines the incremental stages of behaviour change that you need to go through in order to achieve long lasting and sustainable change.

Drawn from the Transtheoretical Model of Behaviour Change (TTM), the framework provides a roadmap that not only gauges the current stage of progression through the change process, but also indicates if more change is required before entering the next phase of therapy or coaching.

In this way, we are able to ensure that you get the best possible level of support in overcoming your problems as well as ensuring that we don’t terminate the change process prematurely.

You can read more about the Science of Change here.

Arrange your FREE initial consultation here.

If you’d like to find out more about overcoming Sexual Performance Anxiety or recovering from any of your mental health problems then why not arrange a free initial consultation with us.

During this consultation we will discuss your particular issues and the different types of mental health counselling we offer (including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – CBT) without you having to commit to any counselling going forward.

The consultation lasts around 50 minutes and is a great opportunity to meet with either Paul or Joan and decide if you would like to proceed with any support.