Women’s Sexual Health Program

The Institute for Sexual Health is a leader in the field for an integrated approach to the treatment of sexuality and sexual health. Often women are overlooked when it comes to treatment options for sexual concerns and sexual compulsivity. Medical doctors and therapists that are not specialized in sexuality are often limited in the assessment and treatment of sexual concerns and compulsive behavior. ISH has created a program for women who need treatment for love addictions: relationship, romance, and sex as well as sexual concerns: low desire, vaginismus, vulvodynia, and more. The program is designed for women and led by a staff of female therapists who take into account all of the needs that are essential for healthy sexuality.

ISH is a safe and comfortable environment where our therapists provide psychoeducation as well as therapy that address concerns women face in every day life that affect sexual health and well being.

The Women’s Sexual Health Program consists of two main tracks: Female Sexual Concerns and Female Love Addictions: Relationships, Romance, and Sex. The following are outlines of each track and treatment options:

Female Sexual Concerns Track (learn more)

  • Body image concerns
  • Sexual shame
  • Sexual abuse and sexual trauma
  • Sexual aversion disorder
  • Low Sexual Desire
  • Arousal concerns
  • Orgasmic concerns
  • Performance anxiety
  • Pain during sexual activity
  • Dyspareunia (pain during vaginal sex)
  • Vaginismus
  • Vulvodynia
  • Low Sexual Self-Esteem
  • Sexual Identity Concerns
  • Sexual Empowerment
  • Sexually Transmitted Infections

Female Love Addictions: Relationships, Romance, and Sex. (learn more)

  • Patterns in relationships that result in negative consequences
  • Online affairs and cybersex
  • Serial relationships also called “serial monogamy”
  • Infidelity
  • Obsessive relationships and stalking
  • Obsessive love
  • Past sexual trauma related to current compulsive sexual behavior
  • Drug and alcohol abuse fueled by sexual behavior
  • Prostitution and sex work
  • Exhibitionism
  • Rejection of love and intimacy
  • Anonymous sex
  • Compulsive masturbation
  • Professional sexual misconduct

Our treatment methods include providing an extensive sexual assessment interview and evaluation for treatment recommendations. Our therapists provide a treatment plan that may include individual, couples, or group therapy as well as supplemental resources necessary to move towards sexual and relational health. In the Female Love Addictions track our clients will create a behavioral containment plan, which includes identifying acting out behaviors and the stressors or triggers that lead to compulsive behavior. Our team believes that healthy coping mechanisms and the development of intimacy skills are key elements to reclaiming healthy sexuality and successful recovery. We have adapted a model developed by Dr. Charlotte Kasl, author of Women, Sex, and Addiction that allows women to find their inner voice and strength through connection with other women and empowerment in a group setting.

Women’s Sexual Health has often been overshadowed by treatment for men since the mid 1980’s when sex and love addiction was first introduced. Until now women that were in need of treatment for addiction have been limited to programs that were designed, led, and populated by a majority of men. ISH recognizes this limitation and has answered this need. The Women’s Sexual Health program is safe, intimate, and effective for the needs of women and provides the gender specific treatment in all areas of sexuality.

Current Groups Offered at ISH:


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Click the link below to view and download Assessments and Tests.

Women’s Sex Addiction Screening Test
Romance Addiction Screening Test
Relationship Assessment
Love Addiction Screening Test