Support for PELVIC PAIN, Vaginal Pain, AND INTIMACY IN BOSTON
Therapy for Vulvovaginal Pain Disorders in Massachusetts
At The Pomegranate Institute, we specialize in providing psychotherapy to patients suffering from vulvovaginal pain disorders like:
- Vulvodynia
- Provoked vestibulodynia
- Pudendal neuralgia
- Clitorodynia
- Lichen sclerosus
- Lichen planus
- Contact dermatitis
- Recurrent yeast infections
- Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
- Herpes simplex virus (HSV)
- Genitourinary syndrome of menopause
- Pelvic floor muscle hypertonicity
- Interstitial cystitis
- Endometriosis
Psychotherapy can help people suffering from vulvovaginal pain disorders by:
- Providing education about the biopsychosocial model of pain
- Normalizing talking about the experience of grief, shame, and confusion that comes from having pain in such a private place
- Exploring identity shifts pre and post diagnosis
- Teaching evidence-based strategies for reducing pain
- Helping patients navigate complex medical systems and self-advocating with their providers
- Supporting patients who have experienced medical gaslighting, painful medical procedures, or invalidating providers
- Addressing cognitive distortions like “I’m broken,” “I’m not desirable,” “I’ll never have sex again”
- Introducing sex therapy tools to rebuild desire and intimacy
- Facilitating collaborative problem-solving around sex, affection, and support needs within relationships