An interview with Kalia Fleming, MSW, LCSW on women’s sexual health therapies. Interviewed by Dr. Vassilia Binensztok.
An interview with Kalia Fleming, MSW, LCSW on women’s sexual health therapies. Interviewed by Dr. Vassilia Binensztok.
Vassilia: “What are the most common women’s health issues you treat?”
Kalia: “I commonly treat sexual trauma, sexual dysfunction, and low libido and desire in women.”
Vassilia: “What factors usually lead to these problems?”
Kalia: “The most common contributing factors to these issues for women include unprocessed sexual trauma, undiagnosed anxiety or depressive disorders and relationship dissatisfaction. Medical factors can include hormonal imbalances, vaginal atrophy, pelvic floor dysfunction, ovarian cyst, and fibroids. It’s always important to visit your physician first to rule out any underlying medical issues causing sexual dysfunction and low libido.
Vassilia: “What kinds of therapies are available?”
Kalia: “EMDR can be helpful to process any sexual traumas or anxiety related to sexual intimacy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can be helpful with underlying depressive disorders. If your sexual dysfunction is caused by a medical issue or low libido hormone therapy, medications such as Addyi, or even lubricants can be extremely helpful in improving your sexual functioning. But it's always important to consult your physician first!
Vassilia: “Describe your work in this area and what clients can expect when working with you.”
Kalia: “I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and I am in the process of becoming a certified sex therapist. This training can only be completed by a therapist that is licensed independently to practice and take additional coursework in sex therapy while obtaining supervision under a certified sex therapist. Sex therapy can look different on a case-by-case basis depending on what the prospective client needs, it could include psychoeducational about the female anatomy and sexual desire. It could also include couples counseling, learning coping strategies to decrease anxiety and depression, or intensive trauma work to process sexual abuse or assault. So, it's important to complete an initial assessment to determine what could be the root cause of the sexual dysfunction.”
