Sex and Intimacy Counselling in Vancouver
Support for couples who want to improve sexual connection, intimacy, and comfort around physical closeness. Strengthen communication, reduce anxiety, and reconnect in ways that feel safe, respectful, and mutually satisfying.
Understanding Sex and Intimacy Counselling
Sex and intimacy are shaped by emotional safety, communication, stress, life stages, and past experiences. Changes in desire or sexual connection are common over time, especially during periods of stress, parenting, illness, burnout, or relationship transitions.
Sex therapy focuses specifically on sexual connection and physical intimacy, while recognizing that emotional and relational factors often play an important role. Rather than treating intimacy difficulties as a personal failure or a sign that something is wrong with the relationship, counselling offers space to understand what is happening and how to move forward together.
Common Focus Areas in Sex and Intimacy Counselling
Desire Discrepancies: When partners experience different levels or types of sexual desire, leading to frustration, pressure, or distance.
Loss of Sexual Connection Over Time: Feeling disconnected, routine, or unsure how to reintroduce intimacy after it has faded.
Pain, Avoidance, or Anxiety Around Sex: Experiences of discomfort, fear, or shutdown that interfere with physical closeness.
Difficulty Talking About Needs and Boundaries: Struggling to communicate preferences, limits, or concerns openly and safely.
Shame or Self-Criticism: Feeling embarrassed, inadequate, or disconnected from one’s body or sexuality.
How We Can Help: Our Approach to Sex and Intimacy Counselling
Creating Safety and Open Communication
We focus on helping partners talk about sex and intimacy in ways that reduce defensiveness and pressure. Building safety allows for more honest conversations about needs, boundaries, and expectations.
Understanding Patterns Around Desire and Intimacy
Sex therapy explores how stress, emotional connection, past experiences, and relationship dynamics influence desire and sexual engagement. Understanding these patterns helps reduce blame and confusion.
Supporting Emotional and Nervous System Regulation
Anxiety and avoidance often show up in the body. We work to support regulation and reduce pressure around intimacy, helping physical closeness feel more accessible and less fraught.
Counselling Fees & Accessibility
We believe everyone should have access to relationship and intimacy support. We offer two pathways for couples counselling to ensure financial barriers do not stand in the way of care.
Low-cost counselling ($75 – $110 / session)
Work with our skilled practicum student counsellors. These therapists are in the final stages of their graduate training and are closely supervised by highly experienced therapists. Rates are sliding-scale based on your resources.
Full-cost counselling ($185 / session)
Work with our Associate Counsellors. These are fully qualified professionals who have completed their training and bring specialized expertise to the practice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Sex and Intimacy Counselling
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No. Many couples seek sex and intimacy counselling before problems escalate. It can be helpful for strengthening connection, improving communication, and addressing concerns early.
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That is common. Counselling can still be useful even when partners feel differently about starting. Sessions can help explore concerns at a pace that feels respectful to both people.
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Not always. Some work may happen together, while other sessions may focus on individual experiences within the relationship. This can be discussed during the consultation.
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Yes. Long-standing intimacy challenges are common and often shaped by stress, habits, or past experiences. Counselling can help create new understanding and open up different ways of relating, even after many years.
