Menopause Care from a Sex Therapist in Los Angeles
The hormonal transition during menopause can be a beautiful experience as it signals a new chapter in life. But menopause can have us feeling physically confused and emotionally whiplashed. This time is also closely aligned with the negative social stigmas and harmful biases that this natural process incurs. It's time to view menopause through the lens of self-love and include mental health therapies to help you navigate this transition.
My practice is uniquely experienced in helping women discover how menopause is a new beginning and allowing them to uncover new facets of positive sexual health.
Changing the Negative Narrative About Menopause with Sex Therapy
Menopause is not the end of sexual health; in fact, it can be a fresh start to your relationships with your partner and yourself. Changing bodies may need new routines, creative and fun exploration, and coaching on how to reignite desire and positive sexual feelings. Menopause is not the end of a fulfilling sex life and should not follow any antiquated societal narratives.
You may also find that the end of menstrual cycles gives you more freedom to explore. Decreasing fertility can give you the power to play with sex as a purely pleasurable experience.
You have the power to reframe this time in your life. Your gynecologist and medical team can address your body and the physical changes, while a mental health expert and sex therapist tend to your emotional needs. Together, you will have support as you find sexual freedom and happiness.
As a Certified Sex Therapist and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I understand your fears, frustrations, and hopes surrounding menopause and provide a safe place to regain your sexual power and pleasure.
Understanding Menopause and the Impact on Your Sexual Health and Intimacy
Menopause signals the decline of ovarian hormones, resulting in the absence of menstrual cycles. This can happen due to aging, medications, or if previous surgeries remove the ovaries.
Your body can express symptoms of menopause like hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, decreasing libido and low sexual desire, difficulty reaching orgasm, and increasing vaginal dryness. Weight, strength, skin, and hair changes also layer into the menopausal transition.
The impact on mental and sexual health
As our bodies morph and swing into a new way of being, we experience emotional reactions to these changes. The full spectrum of emotions from elation to depression and anger are valid reactions to menopausal changes and a varying sex drive. Feeling isolated and withdrawn from partners is not unusual, as previous sexual desires and positive experiences are no longer accessible.
Your experiences do not need to match anyone else's or societal expectations. My role as a sex therapist is to help you unravel your emotional responses, improve your mental health, and reclaim these physical changes as opportunities to explore, play, and enjoy your sexuality.
The Role of a Certified Sex Therapist and LMFT in Menopause Treatment
Common sexual obstacles during menopause include low sex drive, painful intercourse, and reduced arousal. As a therapist, collaboration with your medical team creates a holistic healing environment. Working with a Certified Sex Therapist allows you to:
Navigate the emotions connected to menopause and the associated sexual dysfunction.
Reaffirm self-love and embrace your miraculous body to alleviate body image concerns.
Overcome communication difficulties with partners
Release the traditional patriarchal script surrounding menopause.
Find new ways of achieving physical intimacy.
Activate your libido, find pleasure instead of pain, and boost your desires.
You deserve to find a healthcare team that can treat the whole of you in an empowering manner. I will collaborate with you and your medical practitioners to develop a sexual health plan without judgment, allowing you to be safe, supported, and excited about your body.
Moving through menopause with a partner
For partners, menopause can narrow previously open communications. Women are often portrayed as the gatekeepers of sex, with their partner in pursuit. It's time to reframe this damaging narrative into a collaboration between partners to include honest dialogue, fun experimentation with intimacy, unlearning unhealthy gender roles, and looking toward a future of love, vulnerability, and sexual health.
I can help you and your partner enhance your relationship with new communication techniques that create a stronger bond and allow for healthy sexual expression. Including your partner in your menopause journey is an opportunity to find a more profound understanding and connection.
Navigating Menopause When Single
Navigating menopause when single brings its own unique set of challenges. As your body changes, so might your sexual desires, your self-image, and how you relate to others in your life. As a sex positive therapist, I support clients in embracing their sexuality and navigating menopause with confidence.
I can help you find your new, erotic self by guiding you comfortably through the emotional and physical changes. I encourage you to find fulfillment with healthy self-care and sexual exploration while redefining culturally entrenched relationship scripts that may impede your sexual journey. It's time to release ageist stereotypes and find your new, authentic self.
Sex therapy and sex coaching for menopause offer guidance and strategies to maintain intimacy and cope effectively during the years surrounding menopause. Seeking care is a positive step towards confidently embracing this new phase of life.
There are menopause care resources in Los Angeles.
Schedule a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation to explore if sex therapy can help you transition through menopause.
I am happy to meet in person at my Los Angeles office. Telehealth services are available for clients in California, New Mexico, and Florida. Thank you for reaching out, and I look forward to meeting you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the first steps in seeking sex therapy for menopause?
The first steps in seeking menopause care involve scheduling a consultation with a healthcare provider or a certified menopause practitioner. They will assess your symptoms, guide treatment options, and develop a personalized care plan to address your individual needs.
How does menopause affect relationships, and how can therapy help?
Menopause can affect relationships due to changes in sexual function, desire, and mood. Menopause care from a sex therapist can help address these issues by providing a safe and supportive space for open communication, relationship counseling, and guidance on maintaining intimacy and sexual satisfaction.