How would I go about finding a good sex therapist? Would you please provide some criteria I can use? And what should I expect from the first session?

The best way to find a good therapist is through a recommendation. If a friend or doctor can't recommend someone, call a local hospital. Most have social service departments that can point you in the right direction. If that service isn't available, you can write to the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) at P.O. Box 238, Mount Vernon, IA, 52314. All accredited sex therapists belong to this organization, so at least you'll know that everyone on their list has been properly trained.

At your first session, the sex therapist learns about you. You're going to be asked many intimate questions, but the therapist can't help you without this knowledge. If your problem could be related to something physical, you may be sent to a medical doctor for an examination before any treatment is possible. Although sex therapy isn't usually a long-term process, don't expect any miracles from just the first session.