Faith Holmes

The therapy process usually begins with an assessment to explore the your sexual history, relationship dynamics, medical background, and any emotional or psychological concerns that might be impacting your sexual life. A key goal is to help you feel safe and comfortable in discussing sensitive issues, often breaking down shame or guilt that may be associated with sex. Depending on your and/or your partner’s needs, therapy may include education about sexual anatomy, arousal processes, or communication techniques for enhancing intimacy. Sex therapists use mindfulness techniques to enhance sexual well-being, including focusing on physical sensations, deep breathing to reduce anxiety, and cultivating non-judgmental acceptance of sexual experiences. Sensate focus exercises promote connection without performance pressure, while visualisation creates safe, relaxing mental spaces. Grounding techniques help clients stay present, and open communication fosters intimacy. Additionally, self-exploration through journaling or mindful sexual exploration exercises encourages self-awareness. These tools can reduce anxiety, improve intimacy, and enhance sexual pleasure and confidence. Whether you’re someone who has been to other types of therapy in the past or this is your first time interested in seeing if talking therapies are for you. Welcome! The first therapy session generally follows a similar structure. I will introduce myself, explain a little bit of my background and what psychosexual/relationship therapy is. We will discuss why you are coming to therapy in more detail than our initial call and your goals for treatment. We will discuss shared expectations of both client/therapist rapport. If you are happy to continue to work together, I will send a therapy contract for us both to sign. Then we can work together to see the wonderful process of therapy begin.

I am COSRT (College of Sex and Relationship Therapists) registered after completion of the London Diploma of Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy. I am working towards acreditation. I am also NMC (Nursing Midwifery Council) registered since 2024, previously registered with NMBI (Nursing Midwifery Council Ireland). My background is in mental health nursing and I have been working in the public health service for 10 years whilst studying psychosexual therapy. I have experience & knowledge in working with clients with many different mental health difficulties, previously working for the HSE in the National Forensic Mental Health Service in Ireland specialising in female forensic mental health care. I previously completed my psychosexual & relationship training in NHS Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust Female Sexual Functioning Clinic in Hove Polyclinic, specialising in people experiencing sexual pain dysfunctions such as dyspareunia, vaginismus & vulvodynia. I currently work in the NHS Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Service in Sussex. I have a keen interest in women’s mental health during the perinatal period and have supported women experiencing post natal depression, psychosis, OCD and bipolar disorder.