Sheffield Psychosexual Therapy Service

The Sheffield Psychosexual Therapy Service moved to the Fitzwilliam Centre on Tuesday 12 November 2024.

Apart from the new location, nothing else about the treatment we provide has changed. If you are already attending therapy sessions, you will continue to be seen by the same therapist and the same arrangements for booking sessions will occur.

You can plan your journey to the Fitzwilliam Centre on Google Maps here.

Based at the Fitzwilliam Centre, the Sheffield Psychosexual Therapy Service provides assessment and treatment to service users with psychosexual problems.

Therapy is offered to individuals and partners over the age of 18 years. A variety of therapeutic approaches are used, and treatment is designed to fit the specific needs of service users.

The service is part of Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Our statement

We are here to work together with you to move towards authentic sexual wellbeing; prioritising pleasure, exploration, understanding and enthusiastic consent.

Our equality, diversity and inclusion strategic overview 2020-2024

Click here to read our equality, diversity and inclusion strategic overview 2020-2024.

How is the service accessed?

All referrals, other than internal SHSC ones, should come via the GP. A referral form can be downloaded by clicking here.

GPs can download pre-referral screen guidelines by clicking here.

We do not accept self-referrals.

Occasionally, we receive referrals that are not suitable for our service. When this happens, we will advise the referrer of this. If this only becomes clear during the assessment, we will inform the referrer and service user, with recommended signposts to a service that may be more suitable to meet the service user’s needs.

Service eligibility

The Sheffield Psychosexual Therapy Service sees service users with sexual dysfunctions as defined by the DSM-V. These are :

Male bodied sexual dysfunctions

Premature (Early) ejaculation
Delayed ejaculation
Hypoactive sexual desire disorder
Erectile disorder (unreliable erections) where an organic cause has been ruled out

Female bodied sexual dysfunctions

Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (vaginismus and dyspareunia – pain at the beginning of, during or after intercourse)
Female sexual interest/arousal disorder
Female orgasmic disorder

Treatment is also provided for:

Relationship difficulties where (i) these are present with a predominantly sexual problem, and (ii) the relationship is in a good enough position to make use of psychosexual therapeutic interventions for the sexual difficulty
Problems of libido, either reduced or excessive sexual interest/drive
Specific sexual phobias or fears

Referral criteria

Service users must meet the service eligibility criteria as listed above
Service users should be aged 18 or over
The service does not accept urgent referrals
Long-term psychotherapy, care or support is not available from this service
Individuals and partners should be motivated to address their difficulties by attending regular appointments (usually held every two to four weeks) and completing in between session tasks

Exclusion criteria

Service users cannot be seen by the service where:

There are issues of sexual compulsivity, paraphilia or addiction, including pornography, drugs and alcohol
Their sexual difficulties or behaviour have brought or are at risk of bringing them into conflict with the law
The sexual difficulties are caused by a medical issue or physical health condition and there is no or limited psychological component e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorder
Relationship problems which are not attributable to a sexual difficulty or dysfunction
Intimate relationships where infidelity is a recent or current significant contributor to relationship difficulties
Service users who are experiencing a crisis in their mental health or suffering from an acute psychotic illness
Service users who present a risk to other people or are at risk of harming themselves
Service users are seeking support with sexual orientation or gender identification
Service users who are pregnant

What to expect

Once we have received a referral for you into our service, we will send you a background information questionnaire, where you will have the opportunity to provide us more specific information regarding your difficulties.

Once you have returned this questionnaire, we will contact you via text to arrange a brief, 20–30-minute phone call with one of our psychosexual therapists.

The purpose of this phone call is to check that the treatment we provide will be appropriate for you. If it is decided between you and the therapist that it is, you will be placed on our internal waiting list and invited for an initial assessment once your name reaches the top. This initial assessment session is a detailed one and involves the therapist asking questions about the history of the difficulty you are experiencing and how it is impacting you. The appointment can last up to one and a half hours. You will meet your therapist in this assessment and find out more about what psychosexual therapy might involve for you.

After this assessment, you will be offered up to 11 follow-on therapy sessions, which we usually recommend are spaced at fortnightly intervals, to give you time to put into practice some of the in between session tasks your therapist may suggest as part of your treatment. We contact your GP at the start and end of therapy, to let them know that we are working with you and when we are discharging you from our service.

Not all psychosexual difficulties are fully resolved within the 12 sessions that we can offer, but most improve substantially, and there is the option to be re-referred for further psychosexual therapy six months post-discharge.

What is psychosexual therapy?

Psychosexual therapy is a psychological intervention that is aimed to resolve the sexual difficulties that people experience in their lives. A range of different interventions can be used within this therapeutic approach including,

Psychoeducation to help you understand how the difficulties you are experiencing arose and ways that you can work to address them
Cognitive behavioural techniques to help identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviours that may be contributing towards and maintaining the problem.
Support with enhancing communication skills and assertiveness
Where relevant, input to assist with addressing body image concerns or self-esteem issues that are impacting on your sexual function
In between session tasks for you to do between each session, either on your own or with your partner(s), if you are in a relationship(s)
Recommended reading

It is important to note that our treatment programmes require you to be motivated and committed to addressing your difficulties through the attendance of regular therapy sessions (usually held every two to four weeks) and the completion of the in between session tasks that you and your therapist will agree together in your sessions. You will never be asked to undertake a sexual task in a session.

As a psychosexual therapy service, we do not prescribe. We may recommend medicines or sexual aids that can be prescribed by your GP.

Katie and Jody explain what psychosexual therapy is:

Attendance

If you cancel two consecutive appointments, or a number of intermittent appointments, or fail to attend an appointment, we will not be able to offer any further appointments.

If you cannot make an appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer your time to someone else.

Waiting times

Individuals we are booking into our service currently have had to wait four to six months for a first appointment.

Individual waiting times are variable, and we cannot give specific times for individual waits.

Please keep us updated of any changes to your contact details to ensure we can offer you an appointment when one is available for you. We would like to sincerely apologise for this situation and for any inconvenience or difficulty this may cause you.

If you are waiting for an appointment please take a look at this letter which outlines the support available while you are waiting.

Useful websites and resources

You can find FAQs for the service here.

Before your appointment with the service you might find it useful to read one of the leaflets below:

Premature ejaculation leaflet - produced by the Urology Care Foundation
Tackling pain and difficulty with penetrative sex - produced by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Useful websites and other resources

Therapy and Counselling Providers

www.cosrt.org.uk – College of Sexual and Relational Therapists.

www.sharepsychotherapy.org – offers low cost, long-term psychotherapy for individuals who cannot afford or access therapy elsewhere.

www.cornerstone-sheffield.co.uk – a counselling centre with over 45 therapist associates providing a range of private psychotherapy and counselling in Sheffield.

www.bacp.co.uk – A professional body for counselling and psychotherapy, including a register of therapists.

www.sheffieldwellnesscentre.co.uk - the Sheffield Wellness Centre is one of the largest therapy providers in Sheffield and can help with a wide range of psychosexual issues. They also have low-cost counselling sessions available for £25 per session

Therapy for Trauma or Abuse

www.srasac.org.uk – a specialist service offering free counselling for anyone aged 13 and above who has experienced sexual abuse, violence, or rape.

www.saffronsheffield.org.uk- offers free, long-term specialised trauma therapy to women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse or exploitation, adult sexual abuse and adult sexual exploitation, domestic abuse and violence in childhood or adulthood, neglect, torture, and trafficking, been a witness or victim of a crime or accident.

www.vidasheffield.org.uk/eva-therapy-service - provides trauma-focused therapy for women and girls (16+) who have experienced any kind of abuse and trauma.

Genito-pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder

www.vaginismusawareness.com for information and support for vaginismus

www.vulvalpainsociety.org for practical advice and information about vulva pain.

www.thevaginismusnetwork.com – aims to educate, connect, support, and empower people living with this condition.

www.nva.org – National Vulvodynia Association – resources for patients, health-care providers and more.

www.vulvldynia.com – information on various genito-pelvic pain conditions.

www.pelvicpain.org – International Pelvic Pain Society.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwd-wLdIHjs – Professor Lorimer Moseley explains pain.

LGBTQIA

www.akt.org.uk - Albert Kennedy Trust – helps with young people who are at risk or who have been made homeless because they are LGBT+.

www.genderedintelligence.co.uk – a charity that works to increase understandings of gender diversity and improve the lives of trans people. Provides a support line for Trans and Gender Questioning People.

www.lgbt.foundation – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender information, and support.

www.naz.org.uk - NAZ is a sexual health charity working to address sexual health inequalities in Black, Brown and Global Majority and LGBTQ+ communities.

www.sayit.org – provides emotional wellbeing support for LGBTQ+ young people aged 11-25 in Sheffield.

www.stonewall.org.uk Stonewall is a LGBT+ charity that campaigns for the equality of lesbian, gay, bi and trans people across Britain.

www.switchboard.lgbt - Switchboard is the national LGBT+ support line. They are contactable for “anyone, anywhere in the country, at any point in their journey” and are available to contact via phone call, email or instant message.

www.trans-active.co.uk - Trans Active aims to help the trans community in and around Sheffield socialise and improve their fitness and mental wellbeing.

www.tht.org.uk/hiv-and-sexual-health/sexual-health/trans-people - provides information regarding sexual health and maintaining a satisfactory sex life for trans and non-binary people.

www.ukblackpride.org.uk – UK Black Pride is Europe’s largest celebration for LGBTQ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Latin American descent.

Religion, Faith and LGBTQIA

www.galva108.org - A non-profit religious organisation offering positive information and support to LGBTI Vaishnavas and Hindus.

www.hidayahlgbt.co.uk – Hidayah is a charitable organisation that runs projects and activities for LGBT+ Muslims.

imaanlondon.wordpress.com – Imaan is a peer support group for LGBT+ Muslim charity.

www.inclusivemosque.org – The Inclusive Mosque Initiative is dedicated to creating places of worship for marginalised communities, spiritual practice and the promotion of intersectionality between the mental health sector, the domestic violence sector and the LGBT+ sector.

www.keshetuk.org - KeshetUK helps to provide education and training within Jewish schools, youth and young adult organisations, synagogues and wider community organisations to become more inclusive of its LGBT+ community.

www.visitmcchurch.com – Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) is an international LGBT+- affirming mainline Protestant Christian denomination with congregations in 37 countries.

www.rainbodhi.org – Rainbodhi is an international spiritual friendship group for LGBT+ Buddhists advocating for inclusion and diversity.

www.sarbat.net - Sarbat is a volunteer led group providing socials and support for LGBT+ Sikhs.

Male Sexual Health

www.tedshealth.com – provides treatment for Testosterone Deficiency.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/Erectiledysfunction/Pages/Introduction.aspx for information about erectile dysfunction.

Menopause

www.balance-menopuse.com – download Dr Louise Newson’s balance menopause app for information and support on all issues menopause related. Dr Newson also hosts a podcast – The Dr Louise Newson podcast.

www.thebms.org.uk – provides information on menopause and all aspects of post reproductive health in the UK.

www.diasynetwork.org – provides support to women, their families, and partners, who have been diagnosed with POI (premature ovarian insufficiency), also known as premature menopause.

www.spicedhealth.co.uk – provides information, advice and consultation for women on issues regarding the menopause in general, menopause in the workplace and menopause and sexual function.

Mental Health

www.samaritans.org – For those struggling to cope and who require support.

CALM – a service run by the Department of Health, provides a free, confidential helpline from 5pm to midnight, every day of the year – 0800 5858585.

www.rethinkg.org – A charity provider of mental health services in England, for people living with mental illness and those who care for them. Offer expert advice, information, and services.

Sheffield Rethink Helpline – 0808 8010440; staffed 24 hours per day.

www.mind.org.uk – offering information and support for those living with a mental health problem or for those with a relative or friend experiencing mental health difficulties.

http://www.sheffieldmind.co.uk - Provides support, information and advice as well as offering a local service at The Wellbeing Centre, 110 Sharrow Lane, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S11 8A. 0114 258 4489 info@sheffieldmind.co.uk

Single Point of Access is a Sheffield Health and Social Care Service, which can provide urgent help if your usual service is closed out of hours, or you are not receiving support from services. They can be contacted on 0808 196 8281 or 0114 226 3636.

Premature Ejaculation

www.pea.com – an app which aims to provide solutions for men wanting to enjoy longer lasting sex.

Sexual Desire and Orgasm for Women

www.omgyes.com – focuses on teaching women about sexual pleasure and how to get to know their body.

www.pleasuremovement.com – focuses on supporting women to find their own pleasure.

www.layamartin.com – improving sexual experience and pleasure for women.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krA8-_iXptE – Dr Karen Gurney – ’the surprising truth about desire everyone needs to know’.

Sexual Wellness and Sexual Medicine

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-real-sex-education/id1521289128 - The Real Sex Education; Diggory Waite is joined by his mother, accredited sex, and relationship therapist Cate Campbell, to give you the sex education you never got at school.

https://www.katemoyle.co.uk/podcast - The Sexual Wellness Sessions Podcast is a series of interviews hosted by Psychosexual and Relationship Therapist Kate Moyle.

www.legerclinic.co.uk – an independent clinic providing treatment for men and women suffering from a range of sexual difficulties.

www.megjohnandjustin.com – a blog and podcast about sex, relationships, gender, and bodies.

www.mesmac.co.uk – Provides a wide range of services including free, rapid HIV testing, condoms, lubrication, and counselling.

www.issm.info – International Society for Sexual Medicine.

www.bssm.org.uk – British Society of Sexual Medicine.

www.sexualadviceassociation.co.uk aims to help improve the sexual health and wellbeing of men and women and raise awareness of the extent to which sexual problems affect the general population.

Sexual Compulsivity

www.stopso.org.uk – An organisation which works to help prevent addictive behaviours and sexual offending through therapy.

www.atsac.co.uk – Association for the Treatment of Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity.

www.thelaurelcentre.co.uk – offers sex addiction therapy and porn addiction counselling around the UK. Also provides support for partners and couple counselling.

Opening hours

Appointments are available Monday – Friday between 9am-5pm.

We provide a hybrid model of face to face and online appointments. You can choose which type of appointment would suit you best.

Query helpline

The Sheffield Psychosexual Therapy Service offers a query line to any health professional who would like to seek consultation or advice regarding psychosexual issues that may be affecting service users they are working with.

The query line can be used for asking information about whether a referral is appropriate for the service, how to work with sexual issues a service user may be presenting with or for a more general enquiry.

If you would like to make use of the query line, please email psychosexualtherapyservice@shsc.nhs.uk or phone 0114 2716979, and we will be in contact to book a time for you to speak with one of our therapists.

Sheffield Health and Social Care