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Seeing a sex therapist in French-speaking Switzerland: when, who and how much?

Un couple habillé assis sur un canapé dans un cabinet lumineux, en discussion avec une professionnelle vue de dos

When to go, who does what, what basic insurance covers and where to find a consultation near you.

By Léa Müller · 12 November 2026 · 11 min read

You have been thinking about it for a while, without daring to take the step. A difficulty in your intimate life weighs on you, alone or as a couple, and you wonder whether a sexologist could help.

This guide answers the practical questions: when to go, who to see, how much it costs and what insurance covers. It also lists the public services in French-speaking Switzerland, which are often little known.

Key takeaways

  • People seek help for many reasons: low desire, pain, erection or orgasm difficulties, a desire gap between partners, questions about identity or orientation.
  • The word "sexologist" covers different backgrounds: doctor, psychologist-psychotherapist or specialist counsellor. Ask what training the person has.
  • With a doctor, a consultation for a health problem is covered by basic health insurance (LAMal), minus the deductible and co-payment. With a psychologist-psychotherapist, you need a doctor's prescription.
  • Other sessions are not covered by basic insurance. For supplementary insurance, it all depends on your policy.
  • Solena works with 13 partner sexologists and sex therapists in French-speaking Switzerland, several of whom also offer online sessions.
  • Several public centres in French-speaking Switzerland offer free consultations or fees adjusted to income.

🔎 Contents

  1. When to see a sex therapist: common reasons
  2. Should you see a doctor first?
  3. Sexologist, psychologist, doctor: who does what?
  4. What happens at a first appointment?
  5. Solena's partner sexologists
  6. How much does it cost and what is covered?
  7. Public centres in French-speaking Switzerland
  8. How to choose a sex therapist
  9. FAQ: your questions about seeing a sex therapist

When to see a sex therapist: common reasons

As soon as a question or difficulty related to sexuality weighs on you. You do not need to wait until things become serious. You can come alone, or as a couple if the difficulty concerns your relationship.

The couple and sexology service of the Fondation PROFA (in French), in the canton of Vaud, lists these reasons, for example:

  • less interest in sex or lower desire;
  • difficulty reaching orgasm;
  • premature ejaculation or erection difficulties;
  • genito-pelvic pain, vaginismus;
  • questions about gender identity or sexual orientation;
  • sexual practices you feel uneasy about.

The sexual medicine and sexology unit at Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) also mentions sexual dissatisfaction within a couple. Do you no longer want sex as often as your partner? Read our article I no longer want to make love with my husband. Our article on how often couples have sex may also reassure you.

Have you experienced sexual violence? Since 1 May 2026, the 142 helpline has offered free, confidential support, 24 hours a day. It is not an emergency number: if you are in danger, call 117 (police) or 144 (ambulance). Outside a crisis, a LAVI victim support centre can help you (Canton of Vaud announcement on the 142 helpline, in French).

Should you see a doctor first?

Not always, but it helps when the difficulty may have a physical cause. This is the case with pain during sex, or erection difficulties that appear for no obvious reason.

Erectile dysfunction can be a symptom of a serious medical condition, such as atherosclerosis (MSD Manual on erectile dysfunction, in French, 2025). Your GP, your gynaecologist or a urologist can carry out an initial assessment.

The two approaches complement each other. In sexuality, body and mind often work together.

Sexologist, psychologist, doctor: who does what?

The word "sexologist" does not refer to a single type of training. At PROFA, for example, sexologists first train in couple counselling, psychology or psychotherapy. They then specialise in clinical sexology or sex therapy.

Professional What for Basic insurance
Doctor (sexology, gynaecology, urology…) Assessment, physical cause Yes, for illness
Psychologist-psychotherapist Psychotherapy With a prescription
Non-medical sexologist or counsellor Counselling, sex therapy No

Doctors. Some specialise in sexual medicine. Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) has a sexual medicine service. At the HUG, the sexology unit brings together a doctor and psychologists.

Psychologist-psychotherapists. For their sessions to be covered, they must hold cantonal authorisation to practise psychotherapy. Some have additional training in sexology.

Sexual health specialists. Santé Sexuelle Suisse (Sexual Health Switzerland) awards this title after postgraduate training (DAS) in sexual health. It certifies a qualification in psychosocial counselling and education (Santé Sexuelle Suisse document on the quality of the professional title, in French).

💬 Seeing a professional is not an admission of failure: it is a way of taking care of yourself, and sometimes of your relationship.

What happens at a first appointment?

It is a conversation: you talk. The CHUV sexual medicine service (in French) describes a first one-hour interview. It aims to understand which aspect of your sex life is affected, and for how long.

Your sexual and medical history is then reviewed. In general, you do not have to tell everything the first time: you go at your own pace.

You can come alone or as a couple. As a couple, each of you can talk about your own experience. Some services, such as PROFA, also offer video sessions on request.

Solena's partner sexologists

Solena works with a network of 13 sexologists and sex therapists in French-speaking Switzerland. They know our products and recommend them to their patients. You can ask them your questions about sex toys or lubricants.

They see clients in Lausanne, Yverdon, Avenches, Sottens, Neuchâtel, Conthey and Plan-les-Ouates. Five also offer online sessions. Each of them presents their approach on our partner sexologists page.

To help you choose, here are their areas of focus, based on their profiles on our page (November 2026):

  • Pain during sex, pelvic health: Gaëlle Ramis, pelvic health physiotherapist and sexologist (Conthey), and Lauriane Strauss (Neuchâtel).
  • Couples, relationships and intimacy, in Lausanne: Marine Cornu and Zoé Blanc-Scuderi, as well as Annie Burnier and Romy Siegrist, who also see clients online.
  • Couples and relationships, elsewhere: Anaïs Blandin (Plan-les-Ouates), Denise Dunant (Sottens) and Julie Bauer (Neuchâtel).
  • Trauma, identities and diversity: Fiona Bourdon (Lausanne and online) and Tiffany Saam (Lausanne and Avenches).
  • Body, emotions and reconnecting with yourself: Sofia Ferrazzini (Lausanne, Yverdon and online) and Marie Stevens (Lausanne and online).

Four are also psychologists: Annie Burnier, Marine Cornu, Tiffany Saam and Romy Siegrist. With a non-medical sexologist, basic insurance does not cover the sessions. With a psychologist, they need authorisation as a psychotherapist and you need a doctor's prescription: ask whether this applies (see the cover rules).

Each of them sets their own fees. Ask when you book an appointment.

How much does it cost and what is covered?

It all depends on who you see.

With a doctor

A consultation with a doctor for a health problem is covered by basic health insurance (LAMal). The CHUV sexual medicine service, for example, is covered, and you can book an appointment directly.

You pay part of the costs yourself. The standard deductible (franchise) is CHF 300 a year. Above that, you pay a 10% co-payment (quote-part), up to CHF 700 a year for an adult (FOPH page on cost sharing, in French). If you have chosen a higher deductible, that one applies.

With a psychologist-psychotherapist

Since 1 July 2022, basic insurance has covered psychotherapy with a psychologist, under certain conditions (FOPH rules on this psychotherapy, in French):

  • a doctor must prescribe it, for example a GP or a psychiatrist;
  • one prescription covers a maximum of 15 sessions, not 15 sessions a year;
  • fifteen more sessions are possible after the doctor and the psychologist have discussed the case;
  • beyond 30 sessions, the insurer must give its approval before therapy continues;
  • only treatment for illness is covered.

The deductible and co-payment apply, as for a medical consultation.

With a non-medical sexologist

Basic insurance does not cover these sessions. Depending on your policy, supplementary insurance may contribute. This cover is optional: check with your insurer before the first appointment (FOPH page on supplementary insurance, in French).

💡 Solena tip

Before booking, ask three questions: the price of a session, how long it lasts, and whether your insurance may contribute. That way, you avoid unpleasant surprises.

Public centres in French-speaking Switzerland

Several public centres offer consultations in sexology or sexual health. They are often free or charged at an adjusted rate.

Canton Where to go Cost
Vaud PROFA, couple and sexology CHF 20 to 160, based on income
Vaud CHUV, sexual medicine Basic insurance
Geneva HUG, sexual medicine and sexology Ask the unit
Geneva HUG, sexual health (couples) Free
Valais SIPE, sexology 1st session free, then CHF 60 per session
Jura SexualitéS Santé Jura 2 free sessions
Fribourg Centre fribourgeois de santé sexuelle Free

Fees checked in November 2026: confirm them with the centre. A few details (the centres' websites are in French):

  • PROFA sees clients in Aigle, Lausanne, Morges, Nyon, Renens and Vevey. Its sessions are covered neither by basic insurance nor by supplementary insurance.
  • The HUG have a sexual medicine and sexology unit for adults of all ages. Their sexual health unit also offers couple consultations, free and confidential.
  • SIPE, the Valais sexual health centres, sees individuals or couples. The fee can be adjusted if needed.
  • SexualitéS Santé Jura offers two free sessions. If ongoing support is needed, it then provides information on sexologists in the region.
  • The Centre fribourgeois de santé sexuelle (Fribourg sexual health centre) offers free counselling on emotional life, gender identity and sexual orientation.
  • In the canton of Neuchâtel, ask the cantonal sexual health centre.

For regular sessions in private practice, you can also turn to Solena's partner sexologists, presented above.

How to choose a sex therapist

The right person is someone you feel comfortable with. A few pointers:

  • Training. Ask: "What is your core training, and your training in sexology?"
  • Setting. Alone or as a couple, in person or online: check that the person offers what you need.
  • How you feel. You should feel listened to and respected, without judgement. If this is not the case, you can change professional.

As a couple, talk about it together first. Suggesting a consultation is not a criticism: it is a way of looking for a solution together. If the difficulty concerns orgasm, our guide what is an orgasm? can also help you prepare for the conversation.

This article is for information only and does not replace advice from a health professional. Reimbursement rules may change: check them with your insurer. If you have pain or physical symptoms, see your doctor.

FAQ: your questions about seeing a sex therapist

When should you see a sex therapist?

As soon as a difficulty related to sexuality weighs on you, alone or as a couple. For example: low desire, pain, erection or orgasm difficulties, questions about identity or orientation. If you have pain or erection difficulties, see a doctor too.

Can you see a sex therapist for free in Switzerland?

Yes, for a first session or for counselling, at some public centres. SexualitéS Santé Jura offers two free sessions, and SIPE in Valais a free first session. The HUG and the Centre fribourgeois de santé sexuelle offer free counselling. PROFA, in the canton of Vaud, adjusts its fees to income.

Can you see a sex therapist online?

Yes. Some services offer video sessions, such as PROFA on request. Five of Solena's partner sexologists also see clients online: Fiona Bourdon, Annie Burnier, Sofia Ferrazzini, Marie Stevens and Romy Siegrist.

Where can I find a sex therapist in Lausanne?

In Lausanne, PROFA offers a couple and sexology service, and the CHUV a sexual medicine service. Eight of Solena's partner sexologists also see clients in Lausanne: you will find them on our partner sexologists page.

Should I see a sex therapist or a psychologist?

It depends on your difficulty. If there may be a physical cause, see a doctor first. For psychotherapy covered by basic insurance, you need a psychologist-psychotherapist and a doctor's prescription, and it must be for an illness. For counselling or sex therapy, a sexologist can support you, but basic insurance does not cover it.

Is a sexologist covered by health insurance in Switzerland?

Under basic health insurance (LAMal), yes, for illness, if the person is a doctor. The same applies to an authorised psychologist-psychotherapist, with a doctor's prescription. The deductible (franchise) and co-payment (quote-part) apply. Other sessions are not covered by basic insurance. For supplementary insurance, it all depends on your policy: ask your insurer.

What happens in sex therapy for couples?

You come together, and each of you can talk about your own experience. In general, the first session is used to understand the difficulty and how long it has existed. You then move forward at your own pace.

Article written by Léa Müller for Solena, a Swiss intimate well-being shop, based on the sources listed below. Learn more about Solena.

Sources and references

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