Sharon Reynolds

In these fast paced days, I can offer you my time, attention and genuine interest in your situation; working together with you to find different perspectives and a hopeful way forward.

Experience

I started my counselling career with Relate, the national counselling charity, back in 1991. With Relate, I trained to deliver counselling to couples, young people and families. I left Relate for some years to work in young people’s statutory mental health services, to build on my post-graduate training in Systemic Theory with a placement in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. I returned to Relate in 2010, to train as a clinical supervisor and to do a further PGDip in psychosexual therapy.

I continue to offer clinical supervision to counselling colleagues and facilitate several case supervision groups each month.

Approach

My early training was Rogerian, or based on the approach of Carl Rogers, who believed that people have a natural desire to fulfil their potential. These days this approach is commonly known as Humanist or person-centred therapy. This early training also encompassed Freud’s psychodynamic ideas which flowed into exploring defences, transferences and object relations theory, moving on to Bowlby’s Attachment theory and much more.

Later I trained in Systemic Theory which is used in family therapy settings. Systemic working looks at relationships between people; their differing ideas and perspectives from each other and the influence on each individual’s understanding of the relationships.

Most recently I have trained in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) alongside psychosexual therapy training. This approach has been most helpful for working with people who may be anxious or have challenging thought processes, as cognitive restructuring is often helpful in the psychosexual field.

As with all therapists, one needs an open mind and a curiosity about how we all work, hence the different approaches and keenness to keep exploring our ways of being so that we all can move towards fulfilling our potential as Carl Rogers believed.

What is Sex Therapy?

Very often people struggle with their sexual difficulty in silence feeling embarrassed and ashamed unable to discuss their issues with anyone. Psychosexual Therapy helps both individuals and couples to overcome this.

I offer an initial assessment to talk through the problem and to decide the way forward. At this stage, the aim is to give voice to what is happening and for me to inform you of your options. You could be offered a programme of therapy of Sensate Focus exercises which is based on behavioural change, practised in the privacy of your own home. It is designed to remove pressure on sexual performance and concentrates much more in the early stages on rebuilding intimacy. Sometimes I may suggest you visit your GP to examine other organic possibilities before engaging in Therapy.

What Sex Therapy is not

It is not a quick fix. Some problems take longer that others depending on your willingness to engage with the therapy. It is not ‘hands on’. You do the exercises at home alone or with your partner and bring your feedback to your appointment where we collaborate to analyse the information.

Programme of Therapy

It is a method of changing behaviour based in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy [CBT]  but not exclusively, a skilled practitioner may draw on other modalities to increase the effectiveness of any particular area of focus. Whilst there are no guarantees of success the process produces positive change in most cases.

Below are medical definitions which you may or may not find helpful, please be kind to yourself and know that we are all different! These are common reasons for people to seek help but this is not an exhaustive list and one of the most common reasons for seeking help is that a couple's sexual relationship has 'dwindled away' over the lifespan of the relationship.

Sexual Disorder Definitions

Male Erectile Disorder

Persistent or recurrent inability to retain or maintain until completion an adequate erection.

Premature Ejaculation

Persistent or recurrent ejaculation with minimal sexual stimulation before, on, or shortly after penetration and before a person wishes it. The Clinician will take into account the contextual situation ie age, new relationship, and recent frequency of sexual activity.

Male Orgasmic Disorder

Persistent or recurrent delay in, or absence of orgasm following normal sexual stimulation. The Clinician will take into account age, adequate focus and intensity and duration of sexual activity.

Vaginismus Response

Recurrent or persistent involuntary spasm of the musculature of the outer third of the vagina that interferes with sexual intercourse.

Dyspareunia

Recurrent or persistent genital pain associated with sexual intercourse in either male or female.

Female Orgasmic Disorder

Persistent or recurrent delay in, or absence of orgasm following a normal excitement phase. Women exhibit a wide variation in the type or intensity of stimulation that triggers orgasm.

Female Sexual Arousal Disorder

Persistent or recurrent inability to attain, or maintain until completion of sexual activity an adequate lubrication-swelling response to sexual excitement.

Sexual Aversion Disorder

Persistent or recurrent extreme aversion to, and avoidance of all [or almost all] genital sexual contact with a sexual partner.

• £65 for Individual Adults
• £75 for Couples

Please telephone if you would like to arrange an initial consultation to see if you might find therapy helpful.

• Relate Registered Practitioner 11600
• Member of the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) 681509
• Member of COSRT (College of Sexual and Relationship Therapy) 2660
• Member of AFT (Association of Family Therapists) 1252083

I have been checked by the Disclosure and Barring Service and hold an Enhanced Certificate.

I am professionally insured to practice.