Clinic

Some people have difficulty controlling their sexual behavior, to the point where normally healthy, enjoy- able, and pleasurable behaviors become recurrent, intense, and out of control, causing personal distress and/or interference with relationships or work. Com- pulsive sexual behavior (CSB), also known as “sex addiction,” affects people of all gender identities and sexual orientations. Treatment for CSB inlcudes:

• Evaluation of client’s specific concerns and needs, including the impact of the CSB on the client’s intimate or family relationships
• Screening and treatment for depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns
• Coordination with medical providers to treat problems with a physical component
• Weekly group therapy
• Developing a comprehensive, individualized treatment plan
• Individual, couple, family and group therapy as needed
• Developing a positive and healthy sexual functioning and relationships
• Developing a maintenance plan approach following treatment
• Support for partners of people in treatment for CSB

All children and adolescents develop differently, and it’s common for some children, adolescents, and their families to need professional help understanding various gender issues. Intervention begins with assessment of a child/adolescent in conjunction with their caregiver(s). Our providers then work collaboratively with the child/adolescent and caregivers to develop customized treatment plans that may include:

• Individual, family, and/or group therapy and psychoeducation
• Communication and consultation with psychiatric providers and general mental health providers (when applicable)
• Medical care including: individualized information sessions on puberty suppression and hormone therapy; gender affirming medication interventions including puberty suppression, men- strual suppression, and hormone therapy
• Care coordination to help clients navigate the healthcare system and access resources
Caregiver(s) often experience a range of emotions and have many questions when learning about their child’s gender. We provide education and therapeutic support for caregivers. For caregivers of adolescents, we invite them to participate in group therapy with their adolescent. This gives
the opportunity to meet other caregivers in similar situations.

Our guidelines for puberty suppression, hormone therapy, and surgery are based on the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s Standards of Care Version 8.

We offer several services that adults and their families may find particularly helpful, including:

• Individual, family, and/or group therapy and psychoeducation
• Therapeutic sessions to explore and discuss relationships and sexual health (pleasure-oriented positive sexuality)
• Psychiatric referral
• Individualized information sessions on gender affirming hormone therapy options
• Gender affirming medical care including menstrual suppression and individualized hormone therapy, including low dose options
• Stabilization of common medical conditions, with referral to specialty and primary care as needed
• Gender affirming preventive care counseling
• Referral letters for medical interventions such as surgery
• Care coordination to help clients navigate the healthcare system and access resources

We have multiple therapeutic groups for transgender and gender diverse adults that meet twice a month. One example is our young adult group, which offers a place where transgender, non-binary, two spirit, genderfluid, and gender- exploring individuals ages 18-22 can get therapeutic and peer support. It meets twice per month, and examples of common topics include:

• Exploring embodiment goals and navigating medical interventions
• Coming out to friends and family
• Navigating social transition
• Sexuality, dating, and friendships

Another example of the unique groups that we offer is specifically for our older adults, called the elders group. Group therapy provides an opportunity to learn from the experiences of other group members, build social support, and make progress on therapeutic goals.

Difficulty maintaining healthy sexual and romantic relationships is common, but relationship skills can be learned and improved, leading to more fulfilling and intimate relationships. Our clinic’s relationship and sexual therapy program allows individuals and couples to explore their concerns, and provides a space for them to grow as sexual beings and partners. Our providers focus on supporting key areas of sexual health including:

• Sexual knowledge and understanding (sexual literacy)
• Sexual adaptation and resiliency
• Relational intimacy
• Pleasure-oriented positive sexuality
Our clinic also offers interdisciplinary care with medical providers to treat concerns with a physical component, as well as group
therapy options. Common concerns discussed in group therapy include:
• Low desire/interest in sex
• Problems with orgasm
• Sexual pain
• Sexual aversion
• Conflict about differences in sexual desire/preferences
• Relationship problems contributing to sexuality concerns

Our clinic promotes the sexual and gender health of individuals, couples, and families of all backgrounds by providing assessment and treatment. We provide services across the lifespan, with specific services for children, adolescents, and adults. We have helped thousands of people with sexual and gender health issues.

We offer individual therapy in the areas of:

• Compulsive sexual behavior (CSB)
• Relationship & sex therapy
• Gender health for children, adolescents, and adults

ISGH offers a variety of therapy groups patients (and their families) can participate in. Group therapy provides an opportunity to learn from the experiences of other group members, build social support, and make progress on therapeutic goals. Therapy groups at ISGH include:

• Compulsive sexual behavior (CSB) group
• Relationship & sex therapy group
  • Concerns commonly discussed in relationship & sex therapy group include:
    • Low desire/interest in sex 
    • Problems with orgasm
    • Sexual pain
    • Sexual aversion
    • Conflict about differences in sexual desire/preferences
    • Relationship problems contributing to sexuality concerns
• Gender health groups
  • Examples of gender health therapy groups include:
    • Group therapy for caregivers of children/adolescents experiencing gender concerns
    • Trans and gender diverse young adult group (ages 18-22)
    • Elders Group for trans and gender diverse older adults