Sexuality issues Counselling

An integrative therapeutic approach is taken during counselling for sexuality issues (i.e. an integration of biological, psychological, relational and contextual information). According to the biopsychosocial model, it is the interaction between one's genetic makeup (i.e., biology), mental health and personality (i.e., psychology), and sociocultural environment (i.e., social) that contribute to health or illness.

The biological influences on mental health and mental illness are varied, and include genetics, infections, physical trauma, nutrition, hormones, and toxins. The psychological component looks for potential psychological causes for a health problem such as lack of self-control, emotional turmoil, and negative thinking. Lastly, the social and cultural factors are conceptualized as a particular set of stressful events that can differentially impact mental health depending on the individual and the social context in which they live. The biopsychosocial theory posits that each one of these factors is not sufficient to bring about health or mental illness, but the interaction between them determines the course of one's development.

This bio-psycho-social approach has been found to be helpful in treating sexual problems such as lack of desire, erectile dysfunction, and problems achieving orgasm. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transsexual (LGBT) issues are often helped by counselling aimed at empowering the individual to lead a fulfilling life in the face of stressors such as social stigmatization and discrimination.