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Psychosexual therapy - structured, measured, medically integrated.

Protocol-led sex therapy - CBST, sensate focus, mindfulness-based sex therapy, dilator programmes - with a validated assessment at the start, scored progress every four sessions, and integration with urology, gynaecology and pelvic-floor physiotherapy.

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Indicative pricing

What private psychosexual therapy costs in the UK.

In short

A full CBST or sensate-focus programme: £1,400–£4,600 across 8–20 sessions.

Programme or session Indicative range
Structured psychosexual assessment (75–90 min) £240–£400
Individual therapy session (50 min) £140–£240
Couple therapy session (60 min) £160–£280
Full CBST or sensate-focus programme (8–20 sessions) £1,400–£4,600 (course)
Vaginismus programme (with dilator training) £1,600–£3,600 (course)
Post-prostatectomy sexual rehabilitation £1,800–£4,200 (course)
Urology, gynaecology or pelvic-floor consult £250–£500

Fees vary by therapist seniority, programme complexity and whether medical adjuncts (urology, gynaecology, menopause, pelvic-floor physiotherapy) are needed. Post-oncology and dilator programmes sit at the top of the range.

The problem

The right protocol, medical adjuncts included, progress that is measured.

Sexual dysfunction is usually mixed - biological plus psychological plus relational. Talking-only work misses the biology; a prescription alone misses the couple. A structured programme with a medical arm is what actually shifts scores.

  • A named protocol, not a rolling appointment

    CBST, sensate focus, mindfulness-based sex therapy or a dilator programme - chosen for the dysfunction, not the therapist.

  • Urology, gynaecology and physio on the team

    Where medication, hormones, devices or pelvic-floor work help, we build them into the pathway from day one.

  • Scored progress, every four sessions

    IIEF, FSFI, PEDT and GRISS re-taken every four sessions. If scores are flat, the protocol changes.

When it helps

When psychosexual therapy is the right step.

The specific dysfunctions the protocols work well for, and the red flag that means a medical review must come first.

  • Erectile disorder (organic and mixed)

    Structured protocol combining sex therapy with a parallel urology review - often more effective than tablets alone for mixed or psychogenic ED.

  • Premature or delayed ejaculation

    Cognitive-behavioural sex therapy with stop-start, squeeze technique and, where indicated, pharmacological adjuncts prescribed by a urologist.

  • Vaginismus and dyspareunia

    Combined therapist-led programme with pelvic-floor physiotherapy and, where appropriate, graded dilator training.

  • Female orgasmic disorder

    Structured programme drawing on cognitive-behavioural sex therapy and mindfulness-based sex therapy - with good evidence in randomised trials.

  • Genito-pelvic pain, vulvodynia and vestibulodynia

    A joint psychosexual and physiotherapy protocol - cognitive work, desensitisation and pelvic-floor treatment together.

  • Post-prostatectomy sexual rehabilitation

    A dedicated pathway after radical prostatectomy - psychosexual therapy alongside PDE5 inhibitors, vacuum devices and, where indicated, intracavernosal injection therapy.

  • Hypoactive sexual desire disorder

    A staged cognitive-behavioural and motivational programme - often paired with a hormonal review in perimenopausal women.

  • Red flag: acute pelvic pain or bleeding

    Sudden pelvic pain, unexplained bleeding, a testicular lump or new erectile change after cardiovascular symptoms need a medical review first, not a therapy referral. Call NHS 111 or your GP the same day.

Therapy protocols

The protocol is chosen for the dysfunction.

The named, evidence-based programmes we run and where each fits - from CBST to post-oncology sexual rehabilitation.

  • Cognitive-behavioural sex therapy (CBST)

    The evidence-based backbone: psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, behavioural exercises and skills training tailored to the specific dysfunction.

  • Sensate focus (Masters and Johnson lineage)

    A staged behavioural protocol for couples - from non-genital touch through to genital and intercourse phases - dismantling performance anxiety and rebuilding pleasure.

  • Mindfulness-based sex therapy

    A group-derived, individualised protocol with strong evidence in female sexual dysfunction and desire disorders. Structured, workbook-supported and time-limited.

  • Systematic desensitisation and dilator therapy

    For vaginismus and painful sex: graded exposure with a therapist-led dilator programme and pelvic-floor physiotherapy.

  • Couples-based Basson-model programme

    A responsive-desire model useful in women with hypoactive desire, integrating relational, cognitive and behavioural components.

  • Post-oncology sexual rehabilitation

    Structured pathways after prostate, breast, gynaecological and colorectal cancer - often combined with medical devices and urology or gynaecology follow-up.

  • Trauma-informed sex therapy

    Where sexual trauma is part of the presentation - combining trauma-focused stabilisation with staged sex therapy, and often EMDR or CBT alongside.

  • Pharmacology-integrated pathway

    For erectile dysfunction, PE and low desire: therapy alongside sildenafil, tadalafil, dapoxetine or (in women) testosterone gel - prescribed by a private urologist or menopause specialist.

Safety and expectations

What to expect - honestly.

The things worth knowing about how the programme runs, where medication fits, and where sex therapy is not the right first step.

  • It is a treatment programme, not open-ended therapy

    Psychosexual therapy is structured: a defined number of sessions, stated targets and pre-agreed outcome measures. Endings are planned from the beginning.

  • No physical contact in the room

    All work is talking-only. Sensate focus and dilator practice happen at home, between sessions, and are only progressed with mutual consent.

  • Combined with medical treatment where indicated

    For most male erectile dysfunction, most female genito-pelvic pain and most post-cancer presentations, combined therapy-plus-medical treatment outperforms either alone.

  • Confidentiality has UK-specific limits

    Sessions are confidential, with legal exceptions: serious risk to self or others, and safeguarding of children or vulnerable adults. The therapist will name these before starting.

  • Not appropriate in active abuse or coercion

    Sex therapy is contraindicated where one partner is being coerced, harmed or controlled. Individual safety-planning and specialist support take priority.

  • Medication interactions matter

    SSRIs, antihypertensives, anti-androgens and opioids all affect sexual function. Your therapist and the linked medical clinician will review medication as part of the plan.

  • Pelvic-floor physiotherapy is often the missing piece

    Genito-pelvic pain, dyspareunia and post-prostatectomy erectile difficulty respond significantly better when a specialist pelvic-floor physiotherapist is on the team.

  • Progress is measured, not guessed

    IIEF, FSFI, PEDT and GRISS scores are re-taken every four sessions. If numbers are not shifting, the protocol is adjusted or a medical adjunct added.

  • Red flags during a programme

    A therapist suggesting physical touch, a dual relationship or accelerated intimacy is breaching UK practice standards.

Reading your treatment record

Your programme record in four parts. Read the last one first.

Whichever protocol you follow, the treatment record keeps to the same shape - with scored measures at start, review and end.

A UK psychosexual therapist reviewing scored outcome measures

A quiet reminder

If you would like us to translate the discharge summary and outcome scores before you meet your GP or urologist, just ask.

  1. 01 Assessment

    Dysfunction, severity and formulation

    The specific diagnosis (DSM-5-TR / ICD-11), baseline questionnaire scores, and the working formulation across biological, psychological and relational factors.

  2. 02 Programme

    Modality, stages and adjuncts

    The chosen protocol (CBST, sensate focus, MBST, dilator pathway), the stages, the number of sessions and any parallel medical adjuncts (PDE5i, hormones, physiotherapy).

  3. 03 Progress

    Four-session progress review

    A structured note every four sessions: re-scored measures, home-practice adherence, medical adjustments and any change to the plan.

  4. 04 Discharge

    Treatment summary and maintenance plan

    Read this first at ending: baseline versus discharge scores, what worked, and a written maintenance plan with a booster session at three months.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Psychosexual therapy is often funded by UK insurers as part of a defined treatment pathway - particularly after cancer, prostatectomy or diagnosed sexual dysfunction.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about psychosexual therapy.

Quick answers on protocols, medication, cost and how it compares with counselling.

  • How is psychosexual therapy different from psychosexual counselling?

    Counselling is broader and often relational - a space to talk. Psychosexual therapy is narrower and more structured - a defined treatment protocol (cognitive-behavioural sex therapy, sensate focus, mindfulness-based sex therapy or a dilator programme) with a specific dysfunction as the target and outcome measures scored throughout. Both are delivered by COSRT-accredited clinicians; the therapy route is more medically integrated.

  • What conditions does psychosexual therapy treat?

    The main indications are erectile disorder, premature and delayed ejaculation, female orgasmic disorder, hypoactive sexual desire disorder, vaginismus and dyspareunia, genito-pelvic pain, and sexual rehabilitation after prostate, breast, gynaecological or colorectal cancer surgery.

  • Do I need to bring a partner?

    Not always. Sensate focus and post-prostatectomy programmes are usually couples-based. Vaginismus and mindfulness-based sex therapy for female sexual dysfunction can be done individually. Erectile disorder and delayed ejaculation work well with or without a partner in the room.

  • How long does treatment take?

    Most structured programmes run 8 to 20 sessions. Erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation typically settle in 8–12 sessions; vaginismus programmes 12–20; post-oncology rehabilitation often 16–24 sessions with medical adjuncts. Progress is re-scored every four sessions.

  • How much does psychosexual therapy cost in the UK?

    A structured assessment runs £240–£400. Individual sessions are £140–£240, couples £160–£280. A full CBST or sensate-focus programme is £1,400–£4,600; a vaginismus programme is £1,600–£3,600; post-prostatectomy rehabilitation is £1,800–£4,200 across the course.

  • Will medication be part of the treatment?

    Often, yes. PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil) for erectile disorder, dapoxetine or SSRI for premature ejaculation, topical anaesthetics for PE, vaginal oestrogen or testosterone for menopausal desire and comfort, and vacuum or injection therapy after prostate cancer - all prescribed by the linked private urologist, gynaecologist or menopause specialist.

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