Women's Sexual Wellness
Female Sexual Interest
Female Orgasmic Disorder
Genito-Pelvic Pain / Vaginismus
Postpartum Depression
Infertility Counseling
Women can experience a number of conditions and concerns that may affect their ability to have, connect, or fully embrace their sexuality.
Women's Sexual Wellness, Female Sexual Dysfunctions, and Reproductive Concerns
Female Sexual Dysfunctions
Both men and women can suffer from a variety of sexual dysfunctions. These disorders can significantly interfere with an individual’s ability to enjoy or experience sex. Individuals who are affected may feel inadequate, depressed, frustrated, and often ashamed. Dysfunctions in women include female sexual interest/arousal disorder, female orgasmic disorder, and genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder sometimes referred to as Vaginismus. All of these disorders may occur during the normal course of a person’s sex life, but they become diagnosable once they have been identified as persistent and recurring problems, usually marked by a period of at least 6 months. These disorders interfere with one or several stages within the sexual response cycle which constitute physiological and psychological components including desire, excitement or arousal, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. For individuals who suspect or have ruled out underlying medical conditions, sex therapy may be an appropriate treatment.
Sexual wellness programs at Love Discovery Institute encompass a holistic view of the female self and considers each individual’s thoughts, feelings, emotions in regards to their sexual wellness. We consider a woman's health, her body’s functioning, and the comfort she may feel within her own body. In addition, we explore relationships, societal expectations, spirituality, cultural factors, previous experiences, and the overall psychological associations to sex. We also provide therapy services surrounding some of the most challenging struggles women face around womanhood such as infertility issues, postpartum depression and women's sexual life transitions.
Sex is an experience that requires a holistic embodiment of mind, body and spirit, not just the functionality of our sexual organs.
Societal pressures around womanhood and its expected roles can create stress and anxiety throughout a woman’s life and influence how she may feel about her body and her sexual world.
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What is different about Love Discovery Institute?Unlike most clinics and therapists that focus on symptom relief, our therapists deliver specialized treatments which aim to ameliorate our concerns at the heart of the problem. Through this process, we gain insight, identify patterns, and improve our understanding of our psychological defenses which may affect our life and our relationships. This also promotes long-term change and keeps us from the cyclical problems that can otherwise consume our world. Through the process of our highly-focused therapies, our therapists will generally help individuals explore their past, show them how it lives in the present, and outline a plan to move forward in healthier, more authentic, and more loving ways.
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What type of therapies do you offer?Whether you are seeking individual or couples therapy, we believe that at our core, we are relational beings. We experience life around others and integrate healing and connection through this very lens. Although we offer a wide spectrum of modalities including humanistic, integrative, psychodynamic, analytic, existential, narrative, and various cognitive behavioral therapies, we've adopted these orientations around the relational space. In addition, within these frameworks, we incorporate a number of tools or interventions that help support healing, promote growth, and redefine our narratives. Finding a therapist does not have be hard. Our we proudly offer our services throughout Miami-Dade including Miami, Coral Gables, Brickell, Doral, Pinecrest, and Miami Beach. We also offer Telehealth mental health services throughout Florida.
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Do you take insurance?Yes. We are in-network with the following insurance providers: • United (Oscar, Optum) • Aetna (Oxford) If you have coverage with other insurance providers, you may still have significant coverage. If you carry a PPO insurance plan, you may qualify for up to 75% of your sessions to be reimbursed by your insurance company. If your therapist does not take coverage, it may be because they may focus specialized treatments. Insurance provides quality access to medication management or generalized treatments, but once a certain level of care is desired, insurance companies may not cover it. To help explain this, you may find that your nearby service-center can manage your car's oil change, but if you have an electrical problem, you'll need to take your vehicle to specialist or the vehicle's dealership. Similarly, you may go to the local salon chain, but you may not go there if you are attending a wedding. Depending on the situation, therapy may require a more experienced level of care. Saving a marriage or dealing with an infidelity requires an extremely delicate touch. It is critical that matters like these are best addressed with the help of an expert. Other reasons why some may choose to self-pay or use their out-of-network policy: • Insurance companies often want the clinical notes about your sessions. We strongly believe that thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and your personal disclosures should be kept solely between you and your therapist. If you don't want third-parties knowing business, you may want to self-pay or opt to use your out-of network coverage. • Insurance companies attempt to pay as little as possible for your care. Every session is essentially an expense against their revenue generated by your premium. Unfortunately, this forces providers to take on a broad variety of cases and discourages therapists from specialize in any one area. In order to make ends meet, therapist also have to take on extremely high caseloads which affects their ability to effectively treat, conceptualize cases, continue their education, or even manage their own self-care. This ultimately can have a huge impact on your care. • Insurance companies direct the terms of your care. They are notorious for shortening or limiting treatment. They may force a therapeutic alteration which can force you to switch therapist even after you've developed a strong therapeutic relationship with them. When you need them most, you may find that after a certain number of sessions, your insurance company may decide what is best for you. • Some treatments are limited or are simply not covered by insurance policies. For example, sex therapy is generally not covered. Although sex is deeply intertwined into our emotional and psychological functioning, insurance companies may only cover the medical aspect.
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How can therapy help?Therapy is for everyone! Having a neutral, but supportive figure in your life helps you identify your blindsides and attain more love and equanimity. An experienced therapist can help you process your emotions, review your past, outline your future, and develop strong and effective skills to address any challenges you may face. Just like a coach helps an athlete optimize their game, a therapist can help you optimize your life. • Improve relationships and interpersonal communication. • Learn about your family dynamics and see how they affect your current relationships. • Identify unhealthy patterns and behaviors in your life. • Learn new tools to solve everyday or longstanding problems. • Process and heal from difficult emotions and/or events. • Grow into a more grounded and authentic being. • Raise your emotional IQ and improve your influence and connection. • Learn how to manage life transitions. • Find more purpose and love in your life.
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How long does therapy take?Therapy is a process and can vary in time and scope. Like beginning a new workout or dietary regimen, results are highly unlikely after a couple of sessions. It will take time to see results. Your openness, level of commitment, and work in-between your sessions will help you accelerate your progress. If this is your first time, give yourself at least 3 months of weekly sessions to get your feet wet. Some individuals find relief, support, or stabilize a critical event that may have occurred within their relationship. Therapeutically, this only scratches the surface but allows for a strong foundation to begin to take place. Therapies lasting over 3 months really begin to go more in-depth. By this time, the therapeutic relationship fosters trust and the necessary content for individuals to step into a new realm. If you've been doing your work, you'll be building on concepts and putting things into place. Depending on your particular situation, changes may vary. Some situations such as infidelities, those on the brink of a separation, or those who have experienced a traumatic events tend to need at least this much time to begin seeing change. Many individuals enter and remain in therapy for many months or even years. They keep their therapist in their pocket and continue to embrace personal healing or growth. Individuals extending therapy for longer periods fine-tune their life experience and can become masters of their world. Mileage does vary, but significant changes should be expected.
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Are my sessions confidential?Your sessions are completely confidential and are maintained between you and your therapist. We know how sensitive our thoughts and behaviors can be and believe that all conversations and feelings are welcomed. Although there are some limits to confidentiality, such as potential harm to self or others, abuse of children or vulnerable populations, we encourage everyone to talk about what is going on in their life. Don't worry, we've heard it all.
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How do I get started?You can simply click on the appointments tab to see the price and availability of each provider. Select a slot and we'll email you our intake forms which can all be filled online. This process generally only take 5-10 minutes to complete. This will also give you access to our online portal where you can access your records and billing documents. All of your information are kept on a HIPPA-secured platform which uses multi-layered encryption designed to keep your information safe. Alternatively, you may also call us at 305-605-LOVE and speak to someone in the office. We can help make recommendations or help you come to an informed decision.
Sexual Dysfunctions
Obtaining sexual satisfaction or dysfunction differs for everyone. Many factors influence sexual response, including how you feel about yourself, your body, or even your partner. Here are the most common disorders that affect women.
Female Orgasmic Disorder Therapy
Women who experience orgasmic disorder experience the following symptoms: delay in, or absence of orgasm, reduced intensity of orgasmic sensations or have never experienced an orgasm under any situation. In addition to these symptoms, they experience a low sense of sexual self, shame, judgement and relationship pressure and stress. Additionally, this often leads to sexual performance anxiety, low self-esteem, anxiety with themselves and in relation to their love life. Through the process of sex therapy women may find that their orgasmic disorder is also related to depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which may come from earlier events whether we are conscious of them or not. Through the process of sex therapy women are able to uncover the root causes of what's preventing them from experiencing orgasm and even more so, enjoying their bodies and their love life.
Female Sexual (Desire) Interest/Arousal Disorder Therapy
Women who experience desire/arousal disorder experience the following symptoms: Absent/reduced interest in sexual activity, sexual thoughts and/or fantasies, sexual excitement/pleasure during sexual activity, genital or nongenital sensations during sexual activity, and reduced initiation of sexual activity and may typically be unreceptive to a partner’s sexual initiations. These symptoms can be related to sexual distress and dissatisfaction, anxiety and depression. Furthermore, these symptoms also cause relationship or partner avoidance leading to relationship issues, feelings of guilt, sadness, self-judgment, anger and anxiety.
Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder Therapy
This disorder which is also sometimes known as vaginismus can make it nearly impossible to have intercourse. Women who experience pelvic pain/penetration disorder experience the following symptoms: Vulvovaginal or pelvic pain during vaginal intercourse or penetration attempt, fear and anxiety about vulvovaginal or pelvic pain, difficulty having intercourse, pelvic pain, fear of pain, tension of the muscles, pelvic pain, fear of pain, tension of the muscles, Pain in any situation (i.e. penetration, gynecological exams, tampon insertion), Tensing and tightening of the pelvic floor muscles. As a result to any of these symptoms, women additionally experience relationship distress, trauma, self-esteem issues, sexual performance anxiety, anxiety, depression, anger, fear, shame and frustration.
Other Female Reproductive Concerns
Motherhood can be filled with joy but it can also be an emotionally devastating and isolating experience. Sometimes carried with shame and guilt driven by societal pressures and expectations. The truth is that society has still not gotten comfortable enough in talking about the challenges women sometimes face in the roles of becoming mothers. At Love Discovery Institute our trained therapist helps women everyday navigate through the challenges they face around motherhood.
Postpartum Depression Recovery Therapy
Postpartum depression is a condition that occurs before giving birth or any time in the first year of your baby’s life. Many women begin experiencing feelings of sadness, loneliness, and guilt and find it difficult to care for their baby. Postpartum depression can occur for a number of reasons which can be uncovered during the process of therapy. If you feel unresolved during the pregnancy or thereafter. Discussing your fears or unsettled feelings with a trained therapist can help you resolve the unresolved, teach you the tools you need to feel better about yourself, and feel better about the role as mother you are now taking. Facing depression can be scary when the responsibility of caring for another being is now on you. Making the time to discuss your feelings is critical to your mental and emotional health and can greatly support and nourish the life of your new baby.
Infertility Counseling
Women experiencing infertility issues within themselves or in their relationship may experience stress, a decrease in self esteem, self-doubt, jealousy, shame, and helplessness. In some cases, they may also experience a miscarriage or pregnancy loss leading to a greater sense of helplessness and grief. Women’s hopes and dreams for having a child and starting a family may be a shattering and isolating journey. Women may find it hard to talk to their partner, friends and family sometimes about what they are experiencing. When they do, they may not feel fully understood or often judged. For women experiencing infertility, it can often feel like they are on a roller coaster of emotions. Our trained therapists help women navigate through this process in a loving and compassionate way so that the journey can be less painful and more present to discovering kindness, love and connection. To learn more, visit our page dedicated to infertility counseling.
Love Discovery Institute offers treatment for women’s cognitive, emotional and sexual wellness issues in a safe and non-judgmental environment. For those who are struggling in any area of their women’s life journey. Talk with an experienced therapist, make an appointment with one of our psychotherapists today. Still unsure about how we can help? Call us at 305-605-LOVE for a free consultation. We are here to support you.
