Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction

How Therapy Helps

It can be difficult for men to ask for help even for the most common and ordinary health concerns. Unfortunately, when health concerns involve issues they perceive as unmanly, men are even less likely to pursue treatment. This is often the case for erectile dysfunction. Men find themselves willing to live with the discomfort, embarrassment, and loss of enjoyment related to erectile dysfunction rather than seek treatment. Truly, this condition is extremely common, and it’s not anything to be ashamed of. For many men, medications significantly improve erectile dysfunction that’s caused by physical concerns. For others, erectile dysfunction stems from or is worsened by negative thinking or emotional dysregulation. When this is the case, therapy can be beneficial for erectile dysfunction. You can learn more on this page or by reaching out to me. I’m Dr. Michael Stokes. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Rhode Island, and I am a AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, practicing at Rhode Island Sex Therapy.

What Is Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile Dysfunction, ED, is a sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to either get or maintain an erection before and during sex and a general decrease in sexual drive. This can happen periodically for men, and it isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. However, when ED becomes the rule rather than the exception, it can negatively impact a man’s ability to sustain healthy and satisfying sexual relationships.

What Causes ED?

Causes of erectile dysfunction can be either physical or psychological. Physical causes include illnesses like heart disease, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease. Obesity, use of tobacco products, some prescription medications, alcohol abuse, and sleep disorders may also contribute to ED. In addition to these physical causes of ED, cognitive and emotional disturbances can also cause ED. Disordered emotions like anxiety and depression often contribute to ED as can excessive stress and relationship struggles.

How Does Therapy Help?

ED caused by emotional and cognitive concerns is often treatable through sex therapy. During therapy sessions, I can help you to understand and uncover the underlying causes of your ED, so you can confront them and develop skills and strategies to work toward improvement. For those men whose ED is physical in nature, therapy many only be beneficial in combination with medications and other medical interventions. Even if there is a physical cause of ED, therapy may be a beneficial resource. Struggles with ED can cause fears, stress, and self-consciousness to develop around sex. Therapy helps men process and overcome these struggles. Men can schedule therapy sessions independently or with their sexual partners.

How Do I Get Started?

If you believe your erectile dysfunction may be caused or worsened by cognitive or emotional dysregulation, I hope you’ll reach out to schedule a session. Like every aspect of my practice at Rhode Island Sex Therapy, I do my utmost to make scheduling a session straightforward. You can call (401) 236-5021, email DrMichaelStokes@gmail.com, or use our simple contact form.