Destigmatizing Sexual Therapy To Promote Sexual Health

Samiksha Jain, Sexual Health and Relationship Counsellor & Vidya Bhat – Happy Relationships describe the changing attitudes towards seeking sexual therapy derived from a study they have conducted.

 

- Vidya Bhat

Seeking professional advice for sexual dysfunctions has, since time immemorial, been a huge taboo in India. Bearing the weight of a strong and virile archetypal male provider, the common Indian man, who has always satisfied his woman, feels ashamed and guilty of being unable to even “get it off the ground” or “hold the stage for a complete performance”.

The Dilemma of the Population

 With quacks doling out bogus treatments, poor sources of knowledge amongst the general population, ignorance of facts in spite of practical experience most of the time, embarrassment and lack of courage to ask questions or seek solutions, is one of the main reasons why the stigma of sex is still very strong in the country. Many see this as a sign of weakness and shame to go to a doctor and worse still to a counsellor. Sometimes even when individuals want to seek professional help with a counsellor or Psychiatrist, it is the families that discourage them from seeking help for fear of marring the family reputation.

The Dilemma of the Professionals

 From the side of professionals in the field including Sexual and Relationship counsellors, a lack of trained and certified professionals willing to offer genuine advice, counsellors being judgemental due to their own personal biases on sex, a general imbalance of female counsellors in the field handling the majority of male clients/patients, counsellors find themselves being ill equipped to handle their counselees even as the country sees an exponential rise in sexual dysfunctions.

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