Psychosexual therapy supports individuals and couples in navigating a wide range of sexual difficulties, including low desire, performance anxiety, painful sex, and challenges around intimacy or sexual identity.
EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) can offer effective, trauma-informed support. Whether delivered in person or through online therapy, EMDR helps reprocess emotional blocks, and reduce symptoms that affect sexual and relational wellbeing.
What Is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR therapy is a trauma-informed modality that helps individuals reprocess unresolved emotional experiences. By using bilateral stimulation—such as eye movements or tapping—EMDR supports the brain in processing distressing memories that continue to affect present-day emotions, behaviours, and self-perceptions.
When integrated with psychosexual therapy, EMDR can reduce emotional reactivity, build a healthier sense of self, and transform the way clients relate to their sexuality, body, and relationships.
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How EMDR Works in a Psychosexual Context
EMDR targets unprocessed memories that continue to influence current emotions, behaviours, and self-perceptions. By reprocessing these memories using bilateral stimulation (such as eye movements, tapping, or audio tones), EMDR helps clients to reduce emotional distress and form more adaptive beliefs about themselves, their bodies and their relationships.
Some key areas of support that EMDR can address include:
- Sexual TraumaSexual Trauma Experiencing sexual trauma can have profound and lasting impacts on an individual's mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Psychosexual... More about this therapy and Abuse
EMDR can be particularly helpful in processing:
• Childhood sexual abuse or adult sexual assault
• Trauma-related responses such as dissociation, numbness, or pain
• Shame, guilt, or negative self-beliefs related to sexual victimisation - Performance Anxiety and Sexual Dysfunction
When sexual difficulties involve anxiety or self-doubt, EMDR may address:
• Underlying fears of rejection, inadequacy, or humiliation
• Traumatic or embarrassing past sexual experiences
• Emotional blocks contributing to issues like erectile dysfunction or loss of arousal - Pain and Psychosomatic Sexual Symptoms
For difficulties such as vaginismus or dyspareunia, EMDR supports:
• Reprocessing trauma-based or fear-based physical reactions
• Reducing anticipatory anxiety and body tension
• Rebuilding trust in one’s body and comfort in intimacy - Shame and Sexual Self-Image
Early life messages around sexuality can lead to internalised shame or confusion. EMDR can help:
• Reprocess experiences of judgment, fear, or stigma
• Challenge beliefs learned from family, culture, or religion
• Support a more positive, confident sexual identity - Compulsive or Avoidant Sexual Behaviours
Sexual behaviours sometimes develop as coping strategies. EMDR supports clients in:
• Understanding and healing the trauma underlying compulsive or avoidant patterns
• Addressing internal conflict or emotional regulation difficulties
• Developing healthier, more balanced sexual expression - Identity, Orientation, and Relational Trauma
EMDR can assist individuals in processing:
• Trauma related to coming out, rejection, or discrimination
• Emotional wounds from marginalisation or lack of acceptance
• Strengthening self-acceptance and relational resilience - Fear of Intimacy or Emotional Closeness
When intimacy is affected by past attachment experiences, EMDR can help:
• Reprocess relational wounds and abandonment fears
• Reduce emotional avoidance or hypervigilance
• Increase capacity for trust and emotional connection
EMDR Therapy in an Integrative Psychosexual Framework
EMDR is most effective when used as part of an integrative therapeutic approach, alongside talking therapy. Psychosexual therapy may also include:
– Attachment and relational therapy
– Somatic awareness and body-based techniques
– Psychoeducation around sexual functioning and intimacy
– Cognitive reframing and narrative therapy
– Couples therapy, when appropriate
This holistic integration ensures deeper, longer-lasting healing.
Online Therapy Options Available for Psychosexual EMDR Therapy
We offer online therapy for individuals and couples seeking discreet, flexible access to psychosexual therapy and EMDR therapy. Sessions are conducted securely and sensitively to meet your therapeutic goals from the comfort of your own space.
To learn more about EMDR therapy, click here.
To learn more about Psychosexual talking therapy, click here.
Clinical Expertise and Safety First
Working with sexual trauma and psychosexual difficulties requires skilled, sensitive care. Our EMDR therapists are fully trained in EMDR and our psychosexual therapists are trained psychosexual talking therapy and are CORST accredited, ensuring ethical, trauma-informed treatment that honours your pace and boundaries.
We place strong emphasis on:
• Careful pacing and client readiness
• Building a safe therapeutic relationship
• Attuning to dissociation or complex trauma symptoms
Book EMDR Therapy
Sexual challenges can feel isolating—but with the right therapeutic support, meaningful change is possible.
Whether you’re dealing with trauma, anxiety, shame, or confusion around sexuality, psychosexual talking therapy combined with EMDR offers a structured, evidence-based path forward.
Meet our team of EMDR Therapists.
Meet our team of Psychosexual Therapists (talking therapy).
Contact us to learn more or book an initial consultation.
- About the Author
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Co-founder and director of Leone Centre, 20+ years of experience supporting people, and offering valuable knowledge through Couples Counselling and Individual Counselling. Before becoming a therapist, I worked in the financial sector.
