Frequently asked questions
What is sexology? What is sex therapy? How much does it cost?
What is sexology?
Sexology is the study of human sexuality. It is a multifaceted area that explores feelings, meanings and behaviours related to sex and intimacy. A sexologist is a practitioner who has completed specialised training in the field of sexology, sexual counselling or sex coaching. A sexologist may provide sexual education, counselling, coaching or may also work in related areas such as advocacy and policies around sex, pleasure, relationships and consent.
What is involved in sex therapy?
Sex therapy sessions are a non-touch and talk based. Sessions are a confidential space where our sex and relationship practitioners work collaboratively with you to build a more supportive and sustainable relationship with sex, pleasure, intimacy, relationships, sexuality, or gender.
The first session usually involves taking a sexual history, where your practitioner will ask questions to understand the bigger picture, explore what you want support with, how you’d like to be supported, and help you set intentions and create a plan to work toward. Sex therapy is similar to other forms of counselling or therapy but with a specialised focus on sex and sexuality, guided by a practitioner with the expertise to support you more deeply in these areas.
Do you offer Medicare rebates or private health cover?
Unfortunately embodied counselling, sex coaching or sexology are not covered under private health or Medicare. Mental Health Care Plans (MHCP) are also not covered as these are only accessible by a psychologist or social worker. You do not need a referral to work with our team.
Do you offer concessions?
We recognise that therapy is expensive and this cost can be a barrier to accessing support. In congruence with our values, we want sexual support to be equitable, accessible and affordable for many. Placements are limited and a waiting list is available if there are no current availabilities. To join the wait list please visit https://forms.gle/stVsFwtd6ccJdHTY6
How many sessions of sex therapy will I need?
This can be a tricky one to answer as it really depends on your unique situation, what you’re hoping to get out of therapy, and the intentions you’re working toward. On average, this can be somewhere between 5-10 sessions. Some find what they need in fewer, while others choose to engage in regular, ongoing support over a longer period. It’s really about finding what feels right for you.
How frequently should I book sessions?
This is a personal choice and factors like affordability, available time to prioritise this work and other commitments may influence your decision. Many people find that weekly, fortnightly or three weekly sessions work best, as this allows time to reflect, practice the skills we’ve discussed and keep the momentum going at the beginning to create a solid foundation to get grounded in the changes you’re wanting to make. Being intentional, reflective, and engaged between sessions is often more impactful than booking sessions more frequently.
Do you have evening or weekend appointments available?
Yes! Kass offers evening sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and Coby has availability for evening sessions Monday - Friday.
We don’t currently offer weekend appointments.
What to expect from relationship sex therapy?
Couples sex therapy is a type of relationship counselling that supports people in relationships to focus on setting shared goals and imagining what kind of sex life, what sorts of intimacy or what relationship they want to have. Instead of wanting, needing or expecting your partner to change, we’ll focus on helping each party understand what their role is - what are you doing that is keeping you stuck and what what choices can you make that can help you have more of the kind of relationship that you want to have. Together we’ll decide on our direction to work towards, create a plan, talk through the barriers, be curious and understand your different perspectives, build skills, tools and find strategies to make the changes you want to see to have a closer, more connected, supportive and pleasurable relationship, however that looks.
Are you covered by the NDIS?
If you’re self-managed or plan-managed under the NDIS, sex therapy sessions with Kass may be covered. There are a few details we’ll need to go over before booking, so if this applies to you please get in touch.
How much does sex therapy or sex coaching cost?
A standard 60 minute individual session with Kass is $220 (inc GST) and a relationship/couples session is $295 (inc GST). A standard 60 minute session with Coby is $180 for individuals and $210 for relationship/couples sex therapy.
Why is there a price difference between individual sex therapy and relationship sex therapy?
Working with a couple or more than one person in a session often requires additional skills and greater mental and emotional energy to hold space and support for multiple experiences and dynamics. People in partnerships also tend to have certain social and economic privileges that are not afforded to individuals. For this reason, individual therapy is offered at a lower rate to account for these factors and to reduce inequity and barriers that individuals are more likely to experience.
How do I get my partner to come to couples sex therapy?
The best outcomes of sexual support or relationship sex therapy happen without pressure and when everyone who is attending wants to be there. If you recognise that your relationship could benefit from your partner attending some sessions, lead with your feelings, why this feels important to you and the benefit you believe it could have on how you connect with each other. Get curious about how they feel about it and be open to what their concerns or fears might be. Most importantly, focus on talking about how you feel it could support you and your relationship. Steer clear from blame, judgement or expecting your partner to change. Pressure or ultimatums often push people further away from the support.
Are there risks with confidentiality and online services?
There are several confidentiality risks associated with online services that are less likely to be present during in-person sex therapy. While all online services are encrypted, secure and protected, data shared online could be accessed by outside parties, including anyone who has access to your device(s), has knowledge of passwords or who may be at your location during the session or thereafter.
You are responsible for your own confidentiality when you’re in your own space. To protect your privacy in your space, please ensure you secure your devices with passwords, avoid sharing passwords and accounts, find a private area for meetings and use headphones during sessions. Please complete the contact form or email me if you have any concerns or for more info and resources on how to reduce the risk of confidently breaches when accessing online support.
How do you remain accountable?
The field or sexology and counselling are self-regulated industries. This means it’s the responsibility of the professionals practicing in this area to maintain their training, skills and knowledge and hold themselves accountable to provide ethical and legal support for all those they work with. I remain accountable through regular supervision, updating my skills and knowledge through professional development, training and the latest research. I also remain accountable by seeking feedback from every person I work with. I take this feedback on board and develop or change my approach in response. I engage in the lifelong practice of challenging my beliefs and assumptions, unlearning cultural and social messages and relearning accurate beliefs that align with my values. I also do regular individual supervision (every 3 weeks), group supervision (every month) and peer supervision (every month) which is an ethical and legal requirement of my work as a sexologist and embodied counsellor.
I don’t live in Australia, can I work with you?
Unfortunately, we’re only able to offer sex therapy to Australian citizens, residents and people currently based in Australia or New Zealand.
Have another question? Get in touch.