Episode 32: Sex and Relationship Therapy With LGBTQ Patients

What does sex and relationship therapy look like for LGBTQ patients? What are the main issues that come up, and how are they similar to or different from the issues that arise in therapy with cisgender, heterosexual clients?

For this episode of the Sex and Psychology Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Thomas Whitfield, a sex therapist, educator, and researcher based in New York City whose work focuses on the LGBTQ population. Thomas is one of the co-hosts of the podcast The Obsessables and he has a YouTube channel called Sh*t They Won’t Tell You in Sex Ed.

We talked all about common issues that come up in sex and relationship therapy with LGBTQ persons, as well as maintaining sexual health for sexual minorities.

Some of the topics we cover include:

• What are the main issues that prompt LGBTQ persons to seek sex therapy?

• How do you help a client who may be struggling with internalized homophobia?

• What are the main issues that arise in LGBTQ couple’s therapy?

• What are the unique issues that come up in sex therapy with bisexual persons?

• What is PrEP and how does it work to prevent HIV? Also, how does being on PrEP impact psychology and sexual behavior?

• What do lesbian and bisexual women need to know about maintaining good sexual health?

• How do you have productive and healthy conversions with a partner about STD status?

To learn more about Thomas, visit his website here and be sure to check out his YouTube channel.

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Credits: LEGIT Audio (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.