Leeds Psychosexual Medicine (PSM) Service
The Leeds Psychosexual Medicine (PSM) Service offers high quality specialist assessment and treatment to men and women experiencing sexual dysfunction. The team offers therapy to individuals and couples from upwards of 18 years of age and treatment is delivered using a variety of therapeutic approaches, which are tailored to the individual.
We are part of the Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and we are one of the longest established services in the county offering unique medical and psychological treatments for the management of sexual dysfunction.
What is psychosexual therapy?
Psychosexual therapy is a psychological treatment which aims to restore sexual function and resolve any relationship difficulties that may have developed. The therapy relies on a collaborative approach where the patient and therapist work together to identify and understand problems in the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
Specialist treatments are provided for:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Premature or other ejaculatory disorders
- Orgasmic difficulties
- Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (vaginismus and dyspareunia – pain at the commencement of, during or after intercourse)
- Problems of libido (reduced or excessive sex drive/interest)
- Sexual arousal problems
- Specific sexual aversions or phobias
What to expect
We draw on a range of therapy models in the Psychosexual Medicine Service including; cognitive and behavioural approaches, hypnosis, psychodynamic techniques and psychoeducation.
Your initial appointment with us will include a detailed assessment, focusing on specific sexual and relationship problems.
Patients then undertake a specifically designed treatment programme that will include regular therapy sessions and exercises to do at home. You will never be asked to undertake a sexual task in session.
Our treatment commonly addresses thoughts, attitudes and behaviours and requires you to make considerable commitment to take part in and complete “homework” tasks with regular meetings with the therapist. These are usually held fortnightly to every three-weeks.
We are not a prescribing service, however we may recommend medication and sexual aids which should be provided by your GP.
What we do
The Psychosexual Medicine Service aims to provide the best possible treatment intervention for sexual problems to individuals and couples.
Our goal is to:
- Provide high quality evidence based therapy interventions
- Measure outcomes to demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of the interventions we provide
- Champion sexual and relationship wellness in the context of mental health
- Operate an inclusive service for people experiencing sexual dysfunction
The team is made up of a range of clinicians including Psychosexual Therapists, Senior Psychosexual Therapists and a Consultant Clinical Psychologist.
All our therapists have a postgraduate qualification in Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy. They are accredited psychosexual psychotherapists with the Collage of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (COSRT) and are registered psychosexual psychotherapists with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
The service also offers a training center for psychosexual therapy.
Unfortunately due to current capacity we are unable to offer placements.
Referral information and criteria
The psychosexual medicine service (PSM) at Leeds General Infirmary works offers assessment and treatment for service users experiencing sexual dysfunction.
Referral Criteria
Service users must meet one of the following categories of sexual dysfunction as defined by DSMV:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Premature or other ejaculatory disorders
- Orgasmic difficulties
- Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (vaginismus and dyspareunia –
- pain at the commencement of, during or after intercourse)
- Problems of libido (reduced or excessive sex drive/interest)
- Sexual arousal problems
- Specific sexual aversions or phobias
Service users must be aged 18 years or over (no upper age limit). A referral for both partners is required if each partner has a sexual dysfunction and they wish to be seen as a couple, and individuals or couples must be sufficiently motivated to attend therapy sessions regularly.
You can download the Pre-Referral Screen Guidelines for more information:
We are unable to accept referrals for those who are:
- Suffering from an acute psychotic illness
- Pregnant
- Currently accessing other mental health services
- Experiencing Gender identity problems
- Patients with excessive masturbation
- Presenting with a paraphilia, sexual addiction or other addictions, such as pornography, drugs or alcohol
- Experiencing sexual difficulties or behaviour that has brought, or is at risk of bringing, them into conflict with the law
- At risk of harming themselves or others
- In a relationship where recent or current infidelity and relationship issues is a factor.
- Experiencing sexual difficulty that is attributable to a physical/medical condition, e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurological disease, and where there is no significant psychological component. In such instances, the sexual problems will be assessed but service users may be transferred back, with advice, to their GP
Referral Pathway
Referrals are currently accepted from GPs and primary and secondary care services. We do not accept self-referrals.
Occasionally service users are incorrectly referred to us, should this happen we will advise the referrer of this before the assessment takes place. If this only becomes apparent at assessment, we will provide a report with recommendations for services more suited to the service user’s needs.
Please complete the PSM referral form and either post or email to the service.
Please note that we do not provide long-term therapy or support.
Useful websites and resources
www.cosrt.org.uk – A professional body for sex therapists.
www.stopso.org.uk – An organisation that aims to prevent addictive behaviours and sexual offending through therapy.
www.atsac.co.uk – Association for the Treatment of Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity.
www.bacp.co.uk – A professional body for counselling and psychotherapy, including register of therapists.
www.samaritans.org – For those struggling to cope and who need support to prevent crisis.
www.lgbt.foundation – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender information and support.
www.mesmac.co.uk – Provides a wide range of services including free, rapid HIV testing, condoms, lubrication and counselling.
supportafterrapeleeds.org.uk/ – Dedicated Rape Crisis Centre for all women and girls in Leeds affected by rape and sexual violence.
www.vaginismusawareness.com for information and support for vaginismus
www.vulvalpainsociety.org/vpsResources for practical advice and information about vulva pain
www.sexualadviceassociation.co.uk aims to help improve the sexual health and wellbeing of men and women and raise awareness of the extent to which sexual problems affect the general population
www.nhs.uk/conditions/Erectiledysfunction/Pages/Introduction.aspx for information about erectile dysfuntion
Opening hours
Appointments are available Monday – Friday between the hours of 8am and 5pm.
We currently offer a blended model of remote consultations and face to face appointments. Patients have a choice over which kind of appointment they would prefer and have a choice between female and male therapists
Page last updated: 4th Apr 2023 4:28pm