Referrals to Specialists

Human resources vary in different areas of the country. It is very helpful to develop a list of people you can refer to. In some cases, it may be necessary to discuss costs with patients; for example, many insurance plans cover therapy, but the therapist must be a Ph.D. psychologist. Some patients have physiotherapy coverage; others don't.

The following people are worth making an effort to locate and to cultivate a referral relationship with:

1. Physiotherapist with training and expertise in treating vaginismus and other sexual dysfunctions related to the pelvic floor.
2. Gynecologist with a special interest in vulvar disorders
3. Neurologist with an interest in neurological disorders of the vulva
4. Mental health professional (psychiatrist, psychologist or MSW) with a special interest in dealing with victims of sexual abuse
5. Marriage/relationship therapist
6. Sex therapist. (Quebec is fortunate in having sexologists who have gone through a Master's degree in sexology; in Ontario, BESTCO members have gone through an assessment process.)
7. Local clinics that offer free or sliding-scale fees for relationship or personal therapy.