Marital Sex Therapy

My wife Ann and I offer Marital Sex Therapy. We are both graduates of the Loyola University Medical School Sex Therapy Clinic in Chicago.

Seven Weeks to a Better Sex Life

Abbot Lee Granoff, M.D. and Ann Granoff, Therapist

• 7 consecutive weeks of 50-minute individual couples therapy sessions
• Married couples only
• Both partners must attend each session
• Confidentiality assured
• Respectful, professional and comfortable environment
• Helps sexual dysfunction
• Improves communication and relations
• Decades of experience in practice

Sex can be fun. Not only playful but also special, serious fun. It can become frustrating when you can't seem to "get it right." Sex is one of the supreme joys of life, so when it doesn't go right, it can be devastating. You might feel ashamed, discouraged and defeated. Some people lose some of their zest for life, and their relationship may become hostile, distant or bitter.

Sex therapy offers no magic formulas. But it can work magic. How? By increasing your knowledge of your sexual self and by teaching you how to use your own experience to overcome your sexual problems. Practicing the homework exercises can also improve communication between you and your partner and enrich your relationship. Seven weeks is a short time, but you can change a lot, even if your problems are long-standing. Therapy for a sexual problem can be a challenge because change is difficult and painful, but you will be taking giant steps toward resolving your problems.

Who the program is for

The program is designed for married couples who want to improve their sexual relationship and are willing to work on it together. Couples often come in with concerns such as a mismatch in desire, difficulty with arousal or erections, reaching orgasm too quickly or not at all, discomfort, or a sex life that has simply faded under the stress of work, children and time. Whatever the problem, both partners attend every session, because a sexual problem is something a couple works through together.

What happens in the sessions

Each weekly 50-minute session is private and confidential. We talk with you as a couple, help you understand what is getting in the way, and give you clear, practical guidance. Nothing sexual happens in the office. The work happens at home, in private.

Your homework: loveplay at home

Each week you will have "homework" (loveplay exercises) that you and your partner should do in the privacy of your own home. This homework is the most important part of your therapy. Make a commitment to your loveplay exercises. When you do, you'll be reaffirming your commitment to your relationship, to the discovery (or rediscovery) of your sexual self and to the joy of loving each other.

The real learning, the real improvement and the real benefit will come from doing the loveplay at home. The outlook for reversing your sexual problems is excellent, but success directly corresponds to the number of times per week that you and your partner do your home assignments. No one can do your home loveplay for you. Make it a regular part of your schedule, like an important appointment. The first few times may be awkward, but they will be well worth the effort in the long run.

The most important benefits you will get out of this therapy are that you and your partner will begin to understand your sexual selves and learn how to communicate better.

Better communication, not just better sex

Couples frequently find that the biggest change is in how they talk to each other. Many partners have never learned to say what they like, what worries them or what they need, and years of silence can turn a small problem into a wall between them. The sessions and the loveplay exercises give you a safe, structured way to rebuild trust and closeness, and those skills carry over into the rest of your relationship.

The advantage of a physician on your team

Sexual problems sometimes have medical or medication-related causes. Some antidepressants, blood pressure medications and other drugs can lower desire or interfere with arousal and orgasm, and anxiety and depression affect sexual function too. Because Dr. Granoff is a psychiatrist, he can take these factors into account and, when needed, coordinate with your other doctors. If anxiety or depression is part of the picture, it can be treated in the same practice. See all services provided.

Getting started

Call 757-461-7571 to schedule. For fees and payment options, see rates and insurance, and review the confidentiality policy before your first visit.

Common Questions

How long is the sex therapy program?

Seven Weeks to a Better Sex Life consists of seven consecutive weekly sessions of 50 minutes each.

Do both partners need to attend?

Yes. The program is for married couples, and both partners must attend every session.

Is anything sexual done in the office?

No. Sessions are private conversations with the therapists. The practice exercises, called loveplay, are done by the couple at home in private.

Ready to take the next step? Call 757-461-7571 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Granoff. The office is at 1604 Hilltop West Executive Center, Suite 309, Virginia Beach, VA 23451.