Summit Counselling Services — Specialty
Sexual Wellness & IntimacyA safe, sex-positive space to explore what matters most to you.
Sex therapy is one of the most vulnerable forms of therapy — and one of the most rewarding. Our registered psychologists hold a judgment-free, compassionate space for every concern around sexuality, and intimacy.
About Sex Therapy
You deserve a space free from judgment.
Sex therapy is one of the most vulnerable forms of therapy. Many people feel uncomfortable talking about sex even with their closest people — so it's completely understandable that discussing these concerns with a therapist might feel anxiety-inducing. We understand, and we do our best to ensure we hold a safe, non-judgmental space while we explore your concerns around sexuality and intimacy together.
Our psychologists have professional training in sexuality, gender, and intimacy concerns. We provide a safe, non-judgmental, sex-positive space for you to develop a positive and healthy sexual identity, increase intimacy in relationships, and build skills for a meaningful relationship with your own sexuality — whether individually or within a relationship.
Sexuality is deeply personal — shaped by culture, history, relationships, health, and identity. Our therapists recognize this complexity and work to understand your unique story rather than applying a one-size-fits-all framework. Whatever brings you here, you will be met with genuine care and clinical skill.
"You will be met with genuine care — without assumptions about what healthy sexuality should look like for you."
Therapeutic interventions used in sex therapy
- Sex Therapy — specialized, evidence-based approaches for sexual concerns
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) — reshaping unhelpful thoughts around sex, desire, and identity
- EMDR — processing sexual trauma without requiring repeated retelling
- Somatic Experiencing — working with the body's held responses to sexual trauma or stress
- Gottman Method — for couples navigating desire, intimacy, and sexual communication
- Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) — exploring the emotional patterns beneath intimacy challenges
- Attachment Therapy — understanding how your relational history shapes intimacy today
Areas of Focus
What sex therapy can help with
Sex therapy at Summit covers a wide range of concerns — from sexual dysfunction and trauma to identity exploration and relationship intimacy. Whatever your situation, there is no concern too small or too complex to bring here.
Sexual Function & Health
- Delayed ejaculation, erectile disorder, premature ejaculation
- Male hypoactive sexual desire disorder
- Difficulty achieving orgasm
- Pain during sex (dyspareunia, vaginismus)
- Sexual performance anxiety
- Out-of-control sexual behaviours
- Sexual impacts of chronic illness or disability
- Intimacy concerns after having children
- Sexual impacts of infertility, grief, and loss
Trauma & Healing
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexual trauma and PTSD
- Healing emotional and sexual intimacy after infidelity
- Sexual shame or guilt
- Feelings of sexual inadequacy
- Repairing trust after betrayal
- Understanding consent and healthy sexual boundaries
Desire & Exploration
- Low desire or mismatched libido between partners
- Increasing understanding and acceptance of individual desires, kinks, and turn-ons
- Alternative relationship styles (open, poly, ethical non-monogamy)
- 2SLGBTQIA+ sexual concerns and experiences
- Sex education and psychoeducation
- Improving sexual confidence and self-esteem
- Body image and sexuality
Relationships & Intimacy
- Differences in desire or sexual interests between partners
- Talking about sex — building communication skills
- Intimacy challenges in long-term relationships
- Parents talking to their children and teens about sex and sexuality
- Sexual health education for teens
- Navigating intimacy across cultural or religious differences
Our Approach
Therapy your way — built around you
At Summit, we believe in therapy that is customized to the person in front of us. Sexuality is not a single story — it is shaped by your history, your relationships, your body, your culture, and your values. Our therapists work to understand all of that before building a treatment approach that actually fits.
We work with individuals and couples, across all identities, orientations, and relationship structures. Our sex therapists specialize in different areas — please review their profiles or contact our office and we'll be happy to suggest who might be the best fit based on your goals.
Sessions are available in person at our Brewery District, St. Albert, and Windermere locations, and virtually for clients anywhere in Alberta.
Therapeutic Approaches
How our sex therapists work
Our therapists draw on a range of evidence-based modalities — matched to the person and the concern, never prescribed generically.
Sex Therapy
Specialized approaches developed specifically for sexual concerns — including sensate focus, psychoeducation, communication skills, and evidence-based protocols for sexual dysfunction. Applied within a sex-positive, shame-free framework.
EMDR
Particularly effective for sexual trauma — processing traumatic memories and reducing their charge without requiring repeated verbal retelling of what happened. Many clients find EMDR more accessible than talk-based trauma therapy for sexual content.
Somatic Experiencing
Sexual trauma and dysfunction often live in the body — in tension, shutdown, or disconnection. Somatic approaches work with the nervous system's physiological responses rather than only the cognitive narrative, and can be transformative for sexual healing.
Gottman Method
Research-based approaches for couples navigating sexual communication, desire discrepancy, intimacy after conflict, and rebuilding connection. Practical, structured, and evidence-backed.
Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
Exploring the emotional patterns — fear, shame, rejection sensitivity, avoidance — that drive intimacy challenges. EFT helps build a more secure emotional connection between partners and within yourself.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Identifying and reshaping the thought patterns driving sexual anxiety, shame, avoidance, and dysfunction. Practical, structured, and effective — especially for performance anxiety and unhelpful beliefs about sex and desire.
Book a Session
Find us in Edmonton, St. Albert & Windermere
Sexual wellness therapy is available in person at all three Summit locations, with virtual sessions available for clients anywhere in Alberta.
Wîhkwêntôwin ᐄᐧᐦᑫᐧᐣᑑᐃᐧᐣ (Oliver)
Grandin Plaza, 2nd Floor
Edmonton, AB
Common Questions
Sex therapy — your questions answered
That said, many concerns that carry stigma are still within scope, and getting support is always encouraged. The most important thing is to be completely honest about your situation when you reach out. Contact us or the individual therapist directly, share your needs as openly as you can, and we'll let you know honestly whether it falls within what we can offer — or help connect you with someone better suited if it doesn't.
Our Therapists
Therapists specializing in sexual wellness & intimacy
Our sex therapists specialize in different areas — please review their profiles or contact our office and we'll suggest who might be the best fit based on your therapy goals. Start with a free 15-minute consultation.
Important Notice
Although we work to improve sexual functioning, desire, and pleasure across a wide range of concerns, Summit Counselling Services is not equipped to work with individuals who cause harm to others and/or engage in illegal and non-consensual sexual behaviours — or where serious domestic violence is present. Please contact our team if you have questions about whether we're the right fit for your situation.
Related Support
Other areas we work with
A richer, more connected relationship with yourself and others starts here.
Your first consultation is free — no commitment, no pressure. Just a conversation about where you are and whether we're the right fit.
We acknowledge that our practice is located in Treaty 6 territory, on the traditional lands of the Cree, Saulteaux, Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Métis, and Nakota Sioux Peoples, including our Brewery District office in Wîhkwêntôwin ᐄᐧᐦᑫᐧᐣᑑᐃᐧᐣ (Oliver). We recognize that healing and reconciliation is a responsibility shared by all.