Sex is one of the hardest things to talk about in many Indian homes, so a lot of people carry their worries about it alone for years. Sexual wellness counselling, often called sex therapy, gives you a calm, private place to talk them through with a trained professional. Nothing about it is explicit. It is a conversation, and you decide how much you share.
Leshya is not emergency care. If you feel overwhelmed or unsafe, call Tele MANAS on 14416.
Counsellors who help with relationships
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Palak Kathuria
Trauma informed Counselling Psychologist2 yrsOnline sessions on video call
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HindiEnglishPunjabiEarliest slot: Tomorrow, 5:15 pm
from ₹300 / session
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Siddhi Saraf
Clinical psychologistSurat, IndiaOnline sessions on video call and in-person sessions in Surat
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EnglishHindiEarliest slot: Tomorrow, 5:50 pm
from ₹2,000 / session
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Jemishi Mehta
Counselling Psychologist1 yrsChennai, IndiaOnline sessions on video call
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HindiEnglishGujaratiEarliest slot: Tomorrow, 3:00 pm
from ₹1,000 / session
Book a sessionWhat is sex therapy?
Sex therapy is talk based. You meet a counsellor or therapist, online or in person, and talk about what is worrying you: feelings, thoughts, beliefs you grew up with, and what is happening between you and a partner. There is no physical examination and nothing physical happens in a session.
A sex therapist helps you understand what is going on, feel less alone with it, and find small, practical steps to try. Sexual wellness counselling is the broader term. It covers the same conversations and also questions about your body image, confidence, relationships and boundaries.
Sex therapist, sexologist or doctor: who should you see?
They do different things, and it helps to know which one fits your worry.
A counsellor or sex therapist works through conversation. They do not examine you, run tests or prescribe medicine.
A medical doctor, such as your family doctor, a gynaecologist or a urologist, is the person to see for anything physical: pain, a change in your body, bleeding, or a difficulty that started suddenly. They can check what is going on and talk to you about medical options.
In India, the word "sexologist" is used by people with very different training. Before you book anyone, online or near you, ask what qualification they hold and where they are registered. A good professional is happy to answer.
Many people see a doctor first to rule out a physical cause, then see a counsellor for the worry, stress or relationship side. Both can happen at the same time.
Common reasons people talk to a sex therapist
People come for many reasons, and most of them are more common than they feel. Some of the usual ones are:
Different levels of desire between partners, and the hurt or arguments that can follow.
Performance anxiety, where worry about how things will go makes it harder to relax and be present.
Intimacy that has faded after a baby, a long relationship, illness or a stressful few years.
Pain during sex. Please see a gynaecologist or doctor about this first, so a physical cause is checked. A counsellor can help alongside, with the fear or tension that pain can leave behind.
Shame or guilt from upbringing, where sex was never spoken about or was only talked about as wrong.
Questions about your orientation or identity, and how to talk about them with people close to you.
Consent and boundaries: knowing what you are comfortable with, saying no, and talking about it with a partner.
Premature ejaculation: when counselling helps and when to see a doctor for medical treatment
Many men search for help with finishing sooner than they want to. Start with a doctor, such as a urologist or your family doctor, so that any physical cause is looked at and medical options are discussed with someone qualified to do so.
Counselling can sit alongside that. Worry, performance anxiety, stress, relationship tension and old beliefs about sex can all play a part, and these are things a counsellor can help you talk through, on your own or with your partner. A counsellor will not promise a result or suggest medicine. If you see anyone online offering a guaranteed cure, be careful.
On your own or as a couple?
Either works. Many people start on their own because it feels easier to speak freely. Others come as a couple because the worry lives between them.
On Leshya, if a counsellor offers a couple session, the person booking can add their partner. Your partner gets the confirmation and reminders by email, and you both join the same Google Meet or Microsoft Teams link. Some couples have one session together and one each on their own.
Keeping it private
Privacy matters a lot for this kind of conversation, so here is what you control on Leshya.
You can book as a guest, without creating an account, if you are 18 or older. You choose the counsellor yourself from their profile, so nobody is assigned to you. Each counsellor shows their fee before you book, and some offer a free first session, which you will see as a Free chip on their profile.
For online sessions, find a space where no one will walk in, and keep headphones handy. If home is not private, an in-person session may suit you better where the counsellor offers it.
How to find a sex therapist near you or online on Leshya
In the counsellor directory, you can filter by what counsellors work with. Look for counsellors who list "Sexual wellness" or "Intimacy" among their expertise. A person reviews every counsellor profile before it goes live.
Read how each one works, in their own words. Check the languages they speak, since many people find this easier to talk about in their first language, and whether they see people online, in person or both. It is fine to ask a counsellor about their training in this area before you book.
If something happened without your consent
If you have been hurt, pressured or forced, it is not your fault, and you do not have to wait for a counselling session to get help. If you are in danger now, call 112, the national emergency number. If you are struggling with what happened, Tele MANAS on 14416 is free and runs all day, every day. A counsellor can support you afterwards, at your pace.
A quiet first step
You do not need the right words to start. Saying "I find this hard to talk about" is a perfectly good first sentence, and a good counsellor will take it from there.
If you're thinking about harming yourself, please talk to someone right now. Tele MANAS is free, confidential and always open: call 14416. You matter.
The counselors here can help with ongoing support, but right now a call is faster.
Common questions
No. Sex therapy is talk based. You talk with a counsellor about your worries, feelings and relationships. There is no examination and nothing physical happens in a session.
