Best Online Sex Therapy

Growing Self provides online individual therapy, couples therapy, and coaching, with a strong focus on relationships. Its founder created it to fill a gap in the industry—a lack of therapists who specialize in relationships, understand how big of an impact they have on our mental health, and take couples' issues seriously. That’s why Growing Self offers counseling for those seeking support with issues that affect relationships the most, including sex therapy.

Growing Self is a solid choice for married couples ready to invest in building sexual intimacy. Its staff of caring, empathetic sex therapists helps couples learn to talk vulnerably and openly about their hopes, fears, and desires; overcome differences in libido or preferences; heal resentment; and address other emotional issues getting in the way of intimacy. 

Since Growing Self specializes in relationships, couples have more options to choose from and, ultimately, a better chance of finding the right fit. Its sex therapists have undergone extensive training and certification in sexuality. They have diverse backgrounds and use varied approaches, including psychobiological approach to couples therapy (PACT), emotionally focused therapy (EFT), trauma-informed couples therapy, and The Gottman Method. Each session is 45 minutes long and held over video chat, phone, or in person, depending on location and availability.

Pricing at Growing Self depends on the provider’s experience and education:

• Early Career: $65 to $105 per session
• Master’s Level Clinician: $75 to $115
• Advanced Clinician: $95 to $135
• Doctoral Clinician: $160 (may offer sliding scale)

According to our survey, 90% of users rated Growing Self’s positively overall. Sixty-two percent said they would start their search at Growing Self again if needed, while 89% were pleased with the therapist’s qualifications. 72% were satisfied or very satisfied with the therapist options on the platform, compared to a 70% average. Users also found the site easy to use, with 80% (compared to a 78% average) rating it positively overall in terms of overall helpfulness connecting them to a therapist.

Couples Therapy Inc. consists of a team of highly experienced relationship therapists. All clinicians are trained in The Gottman Method, one of the most scientifically well-supported approaches to couples therapy. Couples Therapy Inc.’s approach is also unique in that it focuses on intensive therapy within a short period: either a weekend retreat or a three-month period, though it also offers stand-alone follow-up sessions. 

Sexuality retreats are in-person or virtual and occur over a long weekend. To make the most of their time together, couples fill out an extensive assessment, called "The BIG, BIG Book," before attending. Couples are also given follow-up work to do after the weekend. 

Couples Therapy Inc.’s experienced team of sexologists—all of whom are certified by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) or in the process of becoming AASECT-certified—help couples pinpoint and heal blocks to sexual intimacy, such as resentment, phobias, and trauma, while educating them about initiating and refusing sex gently, increasing sexual energy, and maintaining romance over time. Couples Therapy Inc. also states that they maintain high standards and ethics to ensure participants feel safe and comfortable in the retreat environment.

Sexuality retreats range from $3,500 to $6,500 depending on location (in-person retreats are available nationwide) and the experience of the therapist you work with. This cost doesn’t cover travel, food, or lodging, so it’s quite an investment for most couples.

Besides retreats, couples can also opt for sessions over a three-month period or as follow-ups to retreats. These cost $150 to $275 for 80 minutes. Couples Therapy Inc. may be too expensive for many people, but for those who can afford to invest, it’s an excellent option.

Couples Therapy Inc. has high user satisfaction overall, indicating its methods work. 90% of users rated their experience positively overall, compared to an 84% average. 82% said it met all or most of their needs, compared to a 77% average. Importantly, 90% rated its value for money positively, compared to a 78% average. It seems that it's worth the investment for those who can afford it.

E-Therapy Cafe offers affordable, efficient online therapy for individuals and couples who need help with a range of mental health issues, including relationship issues. Most clinicians are both therapists and life coaches. Some are certified traumatologists with extensive experience in serving veterans, first responders, or those who have experienced trauma. E-Therapy Cafe also offers bridal coaching.

E-Therapy Cafe is an excellent choice for military couples who need help addressing sexual intimacy issues. Since it’s highly focused on trauma-informed care, it’s helpful for couples whose sex lives are affected by PTSD. Plus, military members get a discount, which lowers its already affordable costs ($55 or less per 30-minute session) even more. 

E-Therapy Cafe doesn’t have as wide a selection of therapists as other platforms, which means only a few specialize in sex therapy. However, it’s one of our highest-scoring platforms, with 94% of users rating it positively, compared to an 84% average. E-Therapy Cafe is more about quality than quantity, so it's worth checking out, especially if you or your partner have a military background.

Sessions take place by live chat, video chat, or e-journal. Chat and video sessions are 30 minutes long, while an e-journal entry is 700 words (you’ll get a detailed response from your therapist). You can buy one session at a time, making it a flexible option for those not ready to commit to regular therapy sessions.

• E-Therapy Shot: $55 per session (instant chat, live video, or journal)
• E-Therapy Four: $49 per session for four sessions
• E-Therapy Flight: $45 per session for eight sessions

The quality of care at E-Therapy Cafe seems to be quite high: It has one of our highest overall user satisfaction scores, with 94% of people rating it positively, compared to an 84% average. 82% of users said their therapists met all or most of their needs, compared to a 77% average. 90% rated their therapist’s qualifications positively, which is well above the 84% average. Finally, 82% said they would recommend E-Therapy Cafe to a friend, versus a 71% average.

Inclusive Therapists is a therapy directory connecting diverse therapy seekers with diverse clinicians. Rather than facilitating sessions through the platform itself, as with an online therapy service, a directory simply helps therapy seekers search for providers. Inclusive Therapists is focused on culturally inclusive therapy and strives to help those from marginalized groups feel welcome and supported in therapy.

It’s a great option for couples seeking sex therapy through a judgment-free, culturally sensitive lens. Therapy seekers can search for therapists via extensive search filters like ethnicity, languages spoken, religious views, sexual identity, and treatment approaches. 

The directory's inclusivity also extends to sexual expression and sexual lifestyle preferences. Many of its practitioners are sex-positive, kink- and BDSM-informed, consensual non-monogamy friendly, trauma-informed, and feminist-informed. With a wide range of search options, the directory is perfect for those who want sex therapy in a culturally safe space where they and their partner feel welcome.

Inclusive Therapists is a directory, so prices, session frequency, and platform options depend on the provider. Some therapists may take insurance.

Users are largely satisfied with Inclusive Therapists, with 89% rating the directory positively overall, compared to an 87% average. Almost three-quarters (73%) of users said Inclusive Therapists was much better than services used in the past, compared to a 70% average. Plus, 45% said the clinicians at Inclusive Therapists were more qualified than those of services used in the past, versus a 37% average.

Talkspace is one of the oldest online therapy services around and has become a household name across the country. It’s known for flexibility and accessibility, as it offers three therapy tiers and price levels, accepts insurance, and has an extensive network of therapists who treat individuals, teens, and couples with a variety of mental health issues. 

Talkspace isn’t designed specifically with sex therapy in mind, yet as one of the largest online therapy providers, its large list of therapists and offerings make it easier to find the right fit. To find a sex therapist on Talkspace, therapy seekers can sign up for couples therapy and select sex and intimacy as the reason for seeking therapy. They’ll be provided with a list of clinicians to choose from, and they can also easily switch therapists to find a better fit.

Talkspace offers three subscription plans, two of which include messaging. This can be a lifesaver for couples who aren’t comfortable discussing intimacy issues openly, especially with a clinician they don’t know. Sex is a vulnerable topic, so the easier and safer therapy feels to newcomers, the higher the likelihood they’ll stick with and benefit from it. Additionally, messaging can help couples follow up on live sessions (if they’ve chosen the live session and messaging plan) throughout the week, which may enhance or expedite the healing process. 

Talkspace offers three plan options at different price points.

• Messaging therapy is $69 and up per week and includes unlimited text, video, and audio messaging with guaranteed therapist responses five days a week.
• Live therapy is $99 and up per week and includes four live 45-minute sessions per month via live chat, phone, or video call.
• Live + messaging therapy is $129 per week and up and includes messaging plus four live sessions.

Talkspace lived up to its reputation with some of our highest satisfaction scores; 90% of users rated it positively overall compared to an 84% average. Seventy-eight percent of users said their therapist met all or most of their needs, compared to a 77% average. Over 90% rated their therapist’s qualifications positively overall (92%), versus an 84% average, and 82% would recommend it to a friend, versus a 71% average.

American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) is an alliance of sex therapists, sexuality educators, and other professionals in the field who are dedicated to setting high standards in the industry. To maintain these standards, AASECT has strict requirements for AASECT certification.

AASECT certification is considered to be the gold standard in sex therapy education. It has stringent requirements, including peer review and supervised hours (this differs from the supervised hours that all mental health providers must complete before practicing). By seeking out a therapist on AASECT’s directory, couples take less qualified sex therapists out of the equation. This simplifies the therapy-seeking process, which may lead to more rapid results.

Considering how complex sexual issues can be, finding a qualified and experienced practitioner is a must. The AASECT directory helps therapy seekers do just that. Its training program recognizes that therapists should be prepared for a multitude of sexual issues, including sexual dysfunction, sexual pleasure, sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual trauma or abuse, sex and disability, and sexuality over the lifespan. 

Since AASECT is directory, prices, session frequency, and platform options depend on the provider. Some therapists may take insurance.

While AASECT was not one of the platforms we collected data on, its rigorous requirements mean that couples will get care from an experienced professional with expertise in sex therapy. 

“Sex therapy requires specialized training, so having a directory of providers who are all certified in this field is an invaluable resource,” says Hannah Owens, licensed social worker and one of the subject matter experts we worked with on this project. “This directory guarantees that anyone you find in its database is a qualified sex therapist, as opposed to someone who may report that they treat sexual issues but does not have the qualifications required to be a certified sex therapist. The high level of training required to be listed in AASECT can only benefit the client, who can rest assured that they (and their partner) are receiving informed and affirming care from a professional.”

TherapyDen is an easy-to-use directory listing therapists and psychiatrists across the country. Therapy seekers can search via a range of filters, such as LGBTQIA+ identity, ethnicity, gender, and spirituality, along with treatment approaches and specialties. Many practitioners have video introductions included in their listings, which can give therapy seekers a better feel for the therapist than a written bio alone.

The site’s home page features a carousel of trans therapists, indicating that it's a safe space for people of diverse identities. Couples can easily filter by the specialty “sexual issues” and the identity “LGBTQIA+ community” to find a clinician they feel comfortable with. As it's a directory, couples can reach out to as many therapists as they want to find the right fit.

Sex therapists at Therapy Den help patients with the wide spectrum of sexual issues that affect the community, including performance anxieties, desire discrepancies, eroticism, kink, sex after trauma, sex in neurodivergent patients, mixed neurotype couples, and emotional strain due to lack of intimacy, among other issues. 

Therapy Den is a directory, so prices, session frequency, and platform options depend on the provider. Some therapists may take insurance.

Therapy Den is particularly good for LGBTQIA+ couples; 24% of users said it was better than services used in the past in terms of LGBTQA+ cultural competence, compared to a 23% average. Inclusivity appears to be important for users, as 35% of Therapy Den users said finding a therapist with a similar identity was important to them, compared to a 30% average.

Sexual issues are rarely just about sex, but uncovering and repairing deeper issues requires trust and good communication. Practitioners at Gottman Referral Network, a directory that lists only Gottman Method-trained therapists, can help couples do just that. 

Creators of the method, John and Julie Gottman, laid out nine components of a healthy relationship—such as creating shared meaning—known as the “Sound Relationship House Theory.” The Gottman Method is an evidence-based, highly researched method of couples counseling designed to “disarm conflicting verbal communication; increase intimacy, respect, and affection; remove barriers that create a feeling of stagnancy,” among other things. 

There is abundant evidence to show how effective the method is for couples. For example, a randomized clinical trial found one- or two-day workshops followed by nine counseling sessions to be effective in improving relationship dynamics, as did another study focused on improving married couples’ levels of intimacy.

For those who struggle with asking for what they want or whose communication leads to intimacy-crushing arguments and disconnection, Gottman Referral Network is a great option.

Gottman Referral Network is a directory, so prices, session frequency, and platform options depend on the provider. Some therapists may take insurance.

Gottman Referral Network is well-liked by users, indicating that the evidence-based approach works: 79% percent of users rated it positively overall. Additionally, 78% said it was very likely they’d be seeing the same therapist in six months, compared to a 74% average.

Thriveworks is an online therapy company that accepts a wide range of insurance providers and offers affordable rates. Without insurance, sessions start at $99 each. Thriveworks does require a $39 monthly membership fee which grants access to video content, a 24-hour “Ask a Therapist” service, and a “success navigator” to help with logistics. Those with lower incomes can email to request that the fee be waived. 

Thriveworks is a solid option for couples who are budget-minded and don’t mind doing a little digging to find the right fit. As it's not a service designed specifically for sex therapy, therapy seekers will need to use the search function to find the ideal therapist (select “sex therapy” under the “Help for…” filter). In-office therapy is also available in some locations. 

One drawback with Thriveworks is the availability of therapists who are qualified in sex therapy. Plus, Thriveworks doesn’t offer therapy for residents of Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, or West Virginia. This may make finding a therapist a little more time-consuming, as therapy-seekers may need to check for availability in their area more than once.

A $39 monthly membership fee grants access to educational video content (on topics like relationships); a “success navigator” to help you schedule appointments; billing and payment assistance; and an “Ask a Therapist” feature which gets you answers to a question within 24 hours. 

Thriveworks offers a seven-day trial period. Fees vary based on the practitioner and location but start at $99 per session. It accepts an extensive network of insurance providers. 

Thriveworks does well overall in terms of user satisfaction. Of the users surveyed, 90% rated Thriveworks positively overall, compared to an 84% average. Just over half (52%) of users said they’d still be seeing the same therapist in six months, versus a 42% average. And 88% rated their therapist’s qualifications positively versus an 84% average.

NQTTCN is a directory with an impressive mission—to be accessible, safe, and supportive to people who might traditionally have been pathologized or marginalized as a result of race, ethnicity, sex, sexual identity, sexual orientation, or lifestyle preferences. As a social and health justice organization in addition to a therapist directory, it serves as a community-building platform and educational resource for clinicians who are committed to mental health justice.

To find a practitioner on NQTTCN, couples must search via location. Unfortunately, there aren’t more detailed search filters to help narrow down the results to sex therapists, which can make finding one more time-consuming. That said, all practitioners found on NQTTCN identify as a person of color, which means BIPOC couples have a greater chance of finding the right fit.

Overall, NQTTCN is a safe space that embraces couples of all identities. All practitioners agree to a Statement of Community Care, which recognizes the intergenerational effects of systematic racism, sexism, patriarchy, ableism, and colonialism. 

NQTTCN is a directory, so prices, session frequency, and platform options depend on the provider. Some therapists may take insurance.

Quality of care seems to be high among the therapists on the NQTTCN directory, as 76% of users were still seeing the same therapist they found on NQTTCN at the time of the survey, compared to a 74% average, Eighty percent said they’d still be seeing the same therapist in six months, versus a 74% average, and 69% said they’d still be seeing them in 12 months, compared to a 67% average.