Service overview
Our psychosexual service provides specialist therapeutic support for individuals experiencing a range of sexual difficulties. We offer care for concerns such as erectile dysfunction, where a man may have trouble maintaining an erection, particularly when psychological or emotional factors are involved alongside medical treatment.
We also support individuals with ejaculation disorders, which can be influenced by stress, anxiety, or relationship dynamics. Therapy may explore how communication with a partner can play a key role in improving sexual wellbeing.
Other areas we address include genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (previously known as dyspareunia and vaginismus), as well as orgasmic dysfunction or anorgasmia, where individuals may struggle to reach orgasm.
Accessing our service
To access our psychosexual service, a referral from your doctor is required. Before making the referral, your doctor will carry out a series of assessments to determine whether the service is appropriate for your needs.
Men experiencing premature or delayed ejaculation should expect a blood test to check testosterone levels and other relevant markers. Your doctor will also record your blood pressure, conduct a cardiovascular risk assessment, and may perform a genital examination. In some cases, a trial of medication, such as Viagra, which works by improving blood flow to the penis may be offered to assess whether symptoms improve prior to referral.
Women who experience pain during penetrative sex or are unable to engage in penetrative sex may also benefit from psychosexual therapy. However, a physical examination is required beforehand to rule out any underlying dermatological, gynaecological, or urological conditions. These conditions may need to be treated before therapy can begin.
Contact us and FAQs
Please contact your GP to be referred to our service. Once you have been accepted, we will provide you with the key contact information you need.
We can also help you with
Is there any information for friends, family and carers?
If you’re a family member/carer or you look after someone, there’s practical, financial, and emotional support available to you from a range of local communities and national organisations.
How do I request an interpreter?
We can provide language translation and interpretation support whenever you visit or contact us.
Tell our staff which language you prefer to use, and we will make sure the right communication support is in place for your assessment and treatment. Please let us know as early as possible so we can ensure the appropriate translation or interpreting support is available.
We offer a range of professional services to ensure everyone can understand and be understood:
- telephone interpreting
- video remote interpreting (VRI)
- face‑to‑face interpreting
- written translation
- British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting
How can I get information in an accessible format?
Anyone with a disability, impairment, or sensory loss has the right to receive information in a format that meets their needs. Under the Accessible Information Standard (AIS)—a legal requirement for all health and adult social care providers—we must ensure that people who use our services, including carers and families, can understand the information we provide and communicate effectively with us.
We can offer information in a range of accessible formats, including:
- British Sign Language (BSL)
- large print
- braille
- audio
- easy Read
- text message
- face‑to‑face support with a carer or advocate present
If you need information in any of these formats, please tell a member of our team and we will make sure your communication needs are met.
Are service dogs allowed to my appointment?
Yes. You are welcome to bring your registered service animal, such as a guide dog, hearing dog, medical alert dog, or other trained assistance dog to your appointment.
These animals are recognised as essential support and are permitted in most areas of our services.
To help us prepare, please let the team know before your appointment if you will be attending with a service animal. This allows us to make sure the environment is safe and comfortable for you, your animal, and other patients.
Please note that service animals may not be able to enter certain restricted clinical areas for safety or infection‑control reasons, but we will always work with you to find an appropriate alternative.
Treating our team with respect.
Respect is important.
We will be polite and kind and we expect that you treat our staff in the same way.
Abuse, hate and discrimination against our staff is unacceptable.
We will take strong action against anyone who is verbally, racially, physically, or sexually abusive to them.
This includes contacting the police to prosecute, and stopping future access to our healthcare services.
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