Services
Sex Therapy in Nashville
Sex therapy at Music City Psych offers a supportive, shame-free space where our clients can talk openly about intimacy, desire, and sexual concerns. Many people come to therapy to address issues like mismatched desire, communication struggles, sexual dysfunction, sexual trauma, performance anxiety, or emotional distance that makes closeness hard.
Our clinicians create a warm, nonjudgmental setting for healing and growth. You can expect compassionate care from therapists experienced in relationship counseling and sexuality concerns. We welcome clients from Nashville, Brentwood, Green Hills, East Nashville, and the surrounding areas, and we serve individuals and couples across Tennessee through secure virtual sessions.
If you are worried about your sex life or your relationship, therapy can help you understand what is getting in the way of connection, then practice new skills that improve intimacy and trust. Whether you come by yourself or with your partner, we will move at a pace that feels safe, respectful, and collaborative.
Meet in-person or online. We offer the option to meet with your therapist online. Video sessions are held through a HIPPA-protected platform.
Featured Sex Therapists
Hope Spector, LPC-MHSP
Hope blends a structured, goal-oriented approach using techniques like Solution-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and others to help clients navigate life’s challenges. Fostering personal growth, she empowers individuals to build resilience, manage stress, and create meaningful, lasting change.
What is sex therapy?
Sex therapy is talk-based care that helps individuals and couples address sexuality, intimacy, desire, communication, and emotional connection. Sessions focus on understanding current patterns that are counterproductive and acquiring practical tools for change. There is no physical contact in sessions, no demonstrations, and no pressure to discuss anything before you are ready.
Sex therapy can support people of all identities and orientations. It is helpful for clients exploring sexuality, survivors of trauma who want safer and more connected experiences, and couples who want to rebuild trust or improve closeness. Many people also use therapy to maintain sexual health and keep their relationship strong over time.
Common challenges people bring to sex therapy
Many clients arrive unsure what to say or afraid of judgment. People seek help for many reasons, and you can bring any topic to the room. We work together to reduce shame, improve communication, and support a more satisfying sexual and relational life. Some frequent challenges we help with include:
- Low desire or mismatched desire that creates tension
- Pain with sex or sexual dysfunction that affects pleasure
- Past sexual trauma and its impact on trust and safety
- Shame, anxiety, or negative sexual experiences that linger
- Concerns related to porn or masturbation and how they affect intimacy
- Emotional distance or communication breakdowns that make closeness difficult
- Identity and sexuality exploration, including values and boundaries
- Relationship stress tied to intimacy or unresolved resentments
If you recognize your own experiences in any of these, you are not alone. Many people experience similar struggles, and real support is available. If you are ready to take the next step, reach out to schedule a consultation for sex therapy in Nashville, or request a telehealth appointment anywhere in Tennessee.
Live well, connect deeply, and build the relationship you want.
How therapy helps you heal and reconnect
Therapy begins with building trust so you can talk honestly without fear of judgment. Together we look at emotional and interpersonal patterns that shape intimacy in your relationships, then discuss tools to support healthier interactions. For many clients, this includes skills to name needs, set boundaries, and respond to conflict more effectively. If trauma is part of the story, we address that gently and collaboratively, using approaches that center consent, pacing, and stabilization.
For couples, therapy can help navigate differences in desire, repair lingering hurt, explore misunderstandings that hinder connection, and strengthen the partnership. Our goal is to support your sexual health and overall well-being in a way that fits your values. Greater confidence, more pleasure, and deeper self-understanding are commonly reported benefits of sex therapy.
Skills our clients build in sex therapy
Every intimate relationship is unique, and requires its own unique path to emotional and sexual fulfillment. Sex therapy is about building the necessary self-awareness and relational skills to successfully walk that path with another person. And while each journey is different, certain dynamics are common across relationships. Depending on your current challenges, therapy might focus on one or more of the following:
Understanding emotions, beliefs, and sexual scripts
- Explore how family, culture, and past experiences shape current intimacy and desire.
- Identify triggers and patterns that fuel anxiety, avoidance, or conflict.
Healing shame and rebuilding confidence
- Normalize common concerns about sexuality, then replace self-criticism with compassion.
- Practice gradual exposure to vulnerable conversations so confidence grows over time.
Strengthening communication and relationship skills
- Learn to express needs, boundaries, and expectations in clear and respectful ways.
- Build emotional closeness through active listening and joint decision-making.
Developing healthy, fulfilling sexual and relational habits
- Create habits that support curiosity and resilience to promote long-term relational growth.
- Practice ongoing, proactive communication that keeps intimacy connected to values and consent.
Why sexual concerns are emotional, not just physical
Sexual health is part of overall health, and it involves the mind and the body working together. Intimacy issues have many different origins, including emotional patterns, communication habits, identity development, body image, everyday stress, and unresolved trauma. Even when there is a medical factor, emotions and relationship dynamics can influence how a problem shows up and how you cope with it. For example, anxiety can amplify performance pressure, and conflict can reduce desire. Learning to regulate stress, talk about needs, and rebuild trust often improves sexual satisfaction.
Seeking help for intimacy or sexual concerns is normal and healthy, and addressing psychological and emotional factors is often key to moving forward, whether or not a medical condition is involved. Sex therapy can help individuals and couples create more fulfilling relationships by strengthening connection and aligning sexual choices with personal ideals.
If you are ready to begin, reach out to schedule a consultation today. We will talk through your goals, answer questions about the therapy process, and match you with a clinician who fits your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in a sex therapy session?
Sessions are private, talk-based, and tailored to your comfort level. Your therapist will start by getting to know you: asking questions about your history, relationships, values, concerns, and hopes for therapy. Together, you’ll identify goals and develop strategies to address what’s getting in the way of sexual satisfaction or connection. This may include:
- Reducing shame or anxiety around sexuality
- Understanding emotional and relational patterns
- Improving communication with a partner
- Building skills that support pleasure, consent, and intimacy
There is no physical contact or sexual activity of any kind in therapy. You are always in control of the pace, and you can pause or redirect whenever needed.
Do I need a certified sex therapist?
Not necessarily. Many therapists are skilled in addressing sexual concerns even if they are not formally certified. However, a certified sex therapist has completed additional graduate-level coursework, clinical training, and supervised experience specifically in sexual functioning, identity, trauma, and relationships. For some clients, this extra specialization offers added confidence and clarity.
What matters most is finding someone whose expertise, approach, and communication style feel like the right fit. During an initial consultation, you should always feel free to ask about the therapist’s training and experience, and how they typically work with sexual concerns.
Is sex therapy appropriate for couples?
Yes. Many couples benefit from sex therapy when intimacy feels stressful, confusing, or disconnected. A therapist can help partners understand each other’s needs, navigate differences in desire, rebuild trust after ruptures, or communicate more openly about boundaries and pleasure. Couples do not need to be in crisis, either; many seek therapy simply to strengthen an already healthy relationship.
Can sex therapy help with sexual dysfunction?
Often, yes. Sexual dysfunction is more often than not influenced by stress, shame, anxiety, relationship tension, perfectionism, or past experiences, not just medical factors. Sex therapy helps clients explore these influences in order to learn practical coping skills and develop healthier emotional and relational patterns.
In some cases, it is also appropriate to involve a medical provider to rule out hormonal, neurological, or medication-related causes. As needed, your therapist can coordinate care or help you access additional resources, so that support feels seamless rather than overwhelming.
Can you help with sexual trauma?
Yes. Many clients begin sex therapy after experiencing sexual trauma, coercion, or boundary violations. Treatment is paced gently and collaboratively, prioritizing emotional and physical safety. Therapists may incorporate grounding skills, self-compassion, body awareness, and tools for rebuilding trust, pleasure, and autonomy.
There is never pressure to disclose more than you want to. Healing happens gradually, and therapy centers your agency and readiness to move forward.
What if I feel embarrassed talking about intimacy?
Feeling awkward, nervous, or unsure about discussing sex is extremely common, especially if you were raised with silence or stigma around sexuality. Therapists expect this, and they’re experienced with making the conversation easier.
Sessions are structured so you can start with whatever feels manageable. You set the pace, and your therapist will guide with curiosity, warmth, and respect. Over time, most clients notice that the embarrassment fades and is replaced with clarity and a sense of freedom to speak more openly.
Can I do sex therapy online?
Yes. Music City Psych offers secure telehealth sessions for clients across Tennessee. Many people appreciate the flexibility, privacy, and reduced travel time, especially those with busy schedules, childcare needs, mobility challenges, or long commutes.
Our office is conveniently located near Belle Meade and Green Hills, just minutes from Hillsboro Village, Brentwood, and downtown Nashville. Whether you choose in-person or virtual sessions, you’ll receive the same level of support, confidentiality, and thoughtful care.
What if I am concerned about sexual addiction or compulsive sexual behavior?
You don’t need to have everything figured out before starting therapy. Your therapist can help you explore what feels out of control, distressing, or misaligned with your values, without shame or assumptions. If specialized treatment or additional support would be beneficial, they will discuss options and collaborate on referrals while continuing to support your broader mental and relational well-being.