Painful sex does not only affect the person experiencing pain. It can also affect communication, confidence, desire, intimacy and the way both partners feel about their sexual relationship.

You may both care deeply about each other but feel unsure what to say, what to do, or how to stay connected without creating pressure.

This live online program offers couples a supportive place to learn about sexual pain together, understand each other’s experiences and develop a more connected, team-based approach to intimacy.

To book >> Program Booking Link

Program Details:

• 3 Online Live Group Sessions
• Dates:
  
  • Thurs 23rd October 2.30pm - 4pm AEST
  • Fri 6th Nov 2.30pm - 4pm AEST
  • Fri 20th Nov 2.30pm - 4pm AEST
• Cost: $250 per couple for the complete program. Payment is made in full at time of booking.
• Facilitators: Alana Batch (Clinical Psychologist) & Mackenzie Funnell (Provisional Psychologist)
• Includes: 3 facilitated sessions, practical activities, handouts and take-home resources.

Who is the program for?

This program may be helpful if:

• one partner experiences pain during or around sexual activity
• sexual pain has affected intimacy, desire or communication
• you want to understand why pain can continue and what treatment may involve
• you find yourselves caught between avoiding sex and feeling pressure to “fix” things
• you want ways to talk about sex without blame, guilt or defensiveness
• you would like to feel more like a team when approaching sexual pain

You do not need to have a particular diagnosis or be at a specific stage of treatment.

Couples already working with a GP, pelvic-health physiotherapist, psychologist, sex therapist or another health professional are welcome.

What will you learn?

Throughout the three sessions you will learn:

• why sexual pain can persist and how different factors and treatments fit together
• how pain, fear, tension and avoidance can form a cycle
• how desire and arousal work, including personal accelerators and brakes
• how to communicate desire, limits and difficult feelings without creating pressure
• how to prioritise pleasure, connection and teamwork, and when to seek further support.

The program provides general education, guided reflection and skills, but do not assess or provide personalised treatment to individual couples during the group.

If the program highlights something you would like further support with, you can contact CRSW about individual or relationship therapy or speak with your existing health professionals.

Program Overview

Session 1 - Understanding painful sex together

We will introduce a straightforward way of understanding sexual pain through biological, psychological and relationship factors.

We will explore why pain can continue even when there is no ongoing injury, how the pain–fear–tension–avoidance cycle develops, and why recovery often involves more than one type of treatment.

Session 2 - Rethinking sex, desire and intimacy

We will look at common beliefs about what sex “should” be, the difference between spontaneous and responsive desire, and why penetration may sometimes need to be taken off the table during treatment.

Couples will begin identifying their personal accelerators and brakes and explore ways to maintain intimacy, pleasure and emotional connection without increasing pressure.

Session 3 - Working as a sexual team

We will focus on communication that supports recovery, including emotional validation, expressing needs, holding different experiences at the same time, and saying no while remaining connected.

We will also explore the partner’s role, the difference between support and pressure, managing frustration or helplessness, and building a satisfying sexual relationship in the context of pain.

What happens in group programs?

Each session Alana and Mackenzie will guide you through information, answer questions and facilitate couple activities, couple or personal reflections and/or group discussions.

Each session will have a practical at-home activity for you to complete between sessions (optional). These will not involve penetration or sexual activity.

You will never be expected to disclose information you're not comfortable with however one of the benefits of learning in a group is hearing from others who are navigating similar challenges. Sharing space with people who have related lived experiences can help participants feel less alone, more understood and validated in experiences that are often difficult to discuss.

Why is this a pilot program?

This is the first time CRSW is offering this program in its current three-session format. The pilot fee of $250 per couple is significantly lower than the intended future program fee and significantly lower than couple sessions. We have intentionally kept this fee low because after the program we will invite participants to provide feedback about what was helpful and what could be improved. Your responses and feedbak will help us refine the program for future couples.

Ready to join us?

Select Book a Group in the CRSW Client Portal and choose What I Wish My Partner Knew About Painful Sex — 23 October at 2:00 pm.

After registration, we will email each partner with consent forms to complete. CRSW will review the forms and confirm that the program is suitable before participation is finalised. You will both receive confirmation via email once we have reviewed suitabililty.

If you have any questions, please contact our team:

Email: info@centrersw.com

Phone: 07 3159 4809

Cancellation Terms

• If you cancel more than 10 days before the first session, we will refund $180 of the program fee. The remaining $70 is the administration fee.
• If you cancel 10 days or fewer before the first session, or withdraw after the program starts, we do not ordinarily provide a refund for a change of mind. Individual sessions you miss are not refunded or replaced, as the group will still run and your place remains reserved.
• We understand that serious unforeseen circumstances can arise. If you would like us to consider an exception, please email info@centrersw.com. We will review your circumstances individually and let you know our decision.
• The fee covers the entire program, whether one or both partners attend. If one partner withdraws or misses a session, the other is welcome to continue attending. We do not provide a partial refund because only one partner attends or because one partner misses a session.
• If CRSW cancels the entire program before it starts, you can choose a full refund or, if available, a place in a future program. If CRSW cannot provide one of the three sessions, we will discuss a replacement date with the group. If a suitable replacement cannot be agreed, we will refund the portion of the fee attributable to the session we cannot provide.

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