Sex & Relationship Therapist: Stephen Snyder, MD

Sex & Relationship Therapist New York, NY

Some sex and relationship problems can be solved quickly. Others take time. It’s essential to consult with a sex therapist who knows the difference. I’m an AASECT-certified Manhattan sex therapist with 30+ years’ experience helping over 1,500 individuals and couples in NYC regain confidence and connection in sex therapy — even when previous sex and relationship therapists have failed. Contact me at Stephen Snyder MD for a sex therapy consultation today.

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What is sex therapy?

Sex therapy is brief therapy that focuses on sex and sexual relationship. It’s meant to yield rapid results. Sex therapy differs in important ways from other forms of psychotherapy, as you’ll see in the following video.

Sex therapy consists of specific exercises, right?

Not anymore. Masters and Johnson famously developed a series of homework exercises called “sensate focus” which were quite popular in the 1960s and ’70s. But I see many people these days who’ve tried sensate focus and didn’t like it.

My own approach to sex therapy focuses much more on paying attention to feelings. I rarely prescribe exercises.

Do I need a partner to benefit from sex therapy?

No, you don’t have to be in a couple to benefit from sex therapy. Lots of my patients don’t have partners. And someone who’s part of a couple will sometimes prefer to be seen alone.

Whatever you feel most comfortable with is fine.

By the way, I work with people who are straight, gay, bisexual, asexual, fluid, kinky, and undecided.

What’s unique about your practice of sex therapy?

Sex and relationship therapy is my entire practice. It’s all I do. Over the past 30 years, I’ve worked with over 1,500 individuals and couples. I’ve developed my own specialized techniques to help you get better faster. Some of these techniques are described in my book, Love Worth Making, which you can read in advance to get a sense of my approach.

I’m also an MD, which is rare among sex therapists, but can be valuable since sex involves both the mind and body.

Can I benefit from sex therapy if I’m already in regular therapy with someone else?

I often consult with individuals or couples who are in ongoing psychotherapy with another therapist, but who need a fresh perspective on sexual matters. I specialize in complex situations where other therapists have failed.

Are you an AASECT-certified sex therapist?

Yes. Most good sex therapists are. I’m also an active member of The Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR), where I’ve regularly presented my work and conducted workshops for therapists. I’ve served on the SSTAR Professional and Consumer Book Award Committees, and have been Chairman of the Consumer Book Award Committee.

What can I expect from my first sex therapy consultation?

First, you’ll have a chance to tell me in detail about the specific problem you’d like help with. Then I’ll ask you lots of specific questions. My goal in the first visit is to get as clear an understanding as possible of your situation, and of what strategies and options might be most useful for you.

I usually allocate 90 minutes or more for a first visit. Before we finish, I’ll give you detailed feedback, and we’ll usually formulate a specific plan of action in the first session — things you can do right away.

How can I find out more about your approach to sex therapy?

Simple. Take a look at my book, Love Worth Making.  It gives you a pretty good idea of what it’s like to work with me.

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