Marie-Christine DallaireSexologistPermit 202506-034· Permit202506-034
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Topics and reasons for seeking support

Each area can lead you to seek support for different reasons, depending on your circumstances, needs and goals.

No matter what your situation is, you can choose individual sessions or two-people sessions.

The examples below illustrate some of the many situations that can lead someone to seek support.

Seeing yourself in one of these examples does not necessarily mean you need a counselling session.

Psychosexual development

Sexuality evolves throughout life. This topic concerns everything that shapes your relationship with your body, your sexuality, and the way you perceive yourself in your intimate and relational life.

You might find yourself thinking…

Body image

  • “Since my body changed, I feel less comfortable during intimacy.”
  • “I dislike some parts of my body, and it distracts me from the moment.”

Self-esteem

  • “I’m afraid I won’t be good enough sexually.”
  • “I’m afraid I’m not enough for my partner.”

Sexual desire

  • “I don’t feel like having sex anymore.”
  • “Sex has started to feel like a chore.”

Read the article “Why has my sexual desire decreased?”.

Family planning and perinatal care

Decisions about whether to have children, difficulties conceiving, pregnancy and parenthood often transform intimacy and identity. This topic concerns these experiences.

You might find yourself thinking…

Pregnancy and the perinatal period

  • “Since our baby was born, our sex life has changed, and we don’t know how to adapt anymore.”
  • “There’s so much on my mind that it’s hard to make time for our relationship.”

Desire for a child and infertility

  • “I don’t know if I want children.”
  • “We want different things when it comes to having children, and it’s creating distance between us.”
  • “Trying to have a child has taken over everything.”
  • “Difficulty conceiving has changed our sex life.”
  • “I feel like I’m not experiencing this the same way as my partner(s).”

Romantic and emotional relationships

Certain phases of a romantic relationship require more attention, whether it’s to understand each other better, grow closer, or get through a difficult time.

You might find yourself thinking…

Intimacy and communication

  • “I find it hard to talk about my expectations and boundaries.”
  • “We have trouble talking about sexuality.”
  • “We have different levels of desire, and it’s causing tension.”
  • “I’d like to feel closer to my partner.”

Relationship difficulties

  • “We’ve grown apart and don’t know how to reconnect.”
  • “I’m wondering if this relationship is still right for me.”
  • “I don’t know how to get through this difficult time in our relationship.”
  • “We keep going around in circles with the same conflicts.”

Finding a partner

  • “I’d like to meet someone, but I’m not quite sure how to go about it.”
  • “I go on dates, but I can’t seem to build the kind of relationship I want.”
  • “I keep falling into the same relationship patterns.”
  • “I’m afraid of committing.”

Breakups

  • “I still think about my ex and can’t seem to get over the breakup.”
  • “I’m afraid of going through the same thing in my next relationship.”

Read the article “The demand-withdraw cycle”.

Sexual diversity

Questions about sexual orientation can arise as you discover who you are, decide how openly you want to express it, or consider how it affects your romantic and sexual life.

You might have found yourself thinking…

  • “I’m questioning my sexual orientation.”
  • “I’m attracted to someone, but I don’t know how to make sense of it.”
  • “I’m afraid of being judged.”

Read the article “How do I understand and define my sexual orientation?”.

A few things to keep in mind

A situation may relate to several areas at once. If it touches on both my areas of expertise and areas outside them, we can explore together what might be helpful, including other resources if needed.

Seeking support can feel daunting. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you get started. Even if they feel incomplete or imprecise, whatever words you have right now are enough.