Supporting Clients with Low Sexual Desire
Why Addressing Low Sexual Desire Matters
This professional training by Dr Charmaine Borg is designed for therapists and clinicians who want to better support clients struggling with low sexual desire. The workshop explores CBT-based methods, sexual health research, and practical strategies to enhance therapeutic outcomes.
Sexual desire concerns are among the most prevalent — yet under-addressed — issues in clinical, medical, and therapeutic practice. Low sexual desire impacts individual well-being, relational satisfaction, and broader mental health outcomes.
Dr Charmaine Borg will explore the profound effects of sexual arousal on overall well-being, highlighting how it can positively impact sleep, pain perception, and the cohesion of sexual and romantic relationships. Drawing from a series of experimental studies, she will explain the bidirectional link between sex (wanting, desire, pleasure) and disgust (self-repugnance, disgust, and negative emotions towards parts of the self or others, or towards cues that are associated with transgressing personal or societal norms), shedding light on how these emotional and physiological mechanisms interact.
This seminar will also delve into research on reclaiming pleasure in sex, addressing the interplay between psychological barriers and physiological responses. It will examine the factors that can erode sexual satisfaction over time, particularly in long-term relationships, and provide insights into how couples can reignite intimacy. By debunking myths about sexuality and relationships that may hinder fulfilment, Charmaine will offer practical, evidence-based strategies for enhancing sexual pleasure and deepening connection. Through scientific insights and real-world applications, this seminar will provide attendees with a deeper understanding of the complexity of sexuality, the challenges of sexual dysfunctions and problems (prolonged ejaculation, premature ejaculation, low sexual interest, sexual myths), and practical approaches to cultivating a more satisfying and enriching sexual and romantic life, particularly for long-term couples navigating intimacy and desire over time.
Participants will gain:
- An in-depth understanding of the clinical mechanisms behind sexual desire and arousal
- Insights into the bidirectional relationship between disgust and sexual pleasure
- CBT-based approaches to overcome sexual dissatisfaction and intimacy blocks
- Evidence-based strategies to reignite sexual intimacy, especially in long-term relationships
- Techniques to debunk harmful myths about sexuality and relationships
- Practical interventions for common sexual dysfunctions (e.g., low desire, premature ejaculation)
The workshop includes:
- A 6.5-hour CPD Training with Dr Charmaine Borg
- Q&A segment
- Networking standing breakfast
- Coffee breaks
- Lunch
Ideal for professionals working in:
- Psychology and counselling (individual, couples, and family therapy)
- Psychiatry and mental health nursing
- General practice, urology, and gynaecology
- Social work and community mental health
- Pelvic health physiotherapy, sexual health education, and midwifery
- Students or trainees in psychology, counselling, psychiatry, or sexual health
A CPD Certificate of Attendance will be issued.
Dar il-Ħanin Samaritan, Santa Venera, Malta. Click here for the Location on Google Maps.
Friday, 17th October 2025, from 08:30 AM to 4:30 PM (6.5 CPD Hours)
More Information
Dr Charmaine Borg
Dr. Charmaine Borg is a Clinical Psychologist, and Certified Clinical Psycho-Sexologist. She earned her master’s degree in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Women’s Mental Health from the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London. In 2013, she completed her PhD and founded the Sex Research Lab at the University of Groningen. There, she actively explores how ‘default’ disgust affects sexual arousal and intimacy.
Research Insights: Desire, Disgust, and Arousal
Currently, her work focuses on how sexual arousal can improve sleep, reduce pain, and support clients with sexual dysfunction. Her research appears in leading international publications, including Forbes, Scientific American, and Time.
In addition to her academic contributions, Dr. Borg was accredited as a psycho-sexologist in 2015. She serves on the Executive Board of the European Federation of Sexology and the European Sexual Medicine Research Network. She also contributes to the Sexual Accreditation Committee (MJCSM, ECPS).
Dr Borg’s work bridges cutting-edge research with real-world clinical applications, offering professionals practical, evidence-based strategies to address sexual health and relational well-being.
A list of her research and work:
Karagöz, M.A., Gül, A., Borg, C. et al. Influence of COVID-19 pandemic on sexuality: a cross-sectional study among couples in Turkey. Int J Impot Res 33, 815–823 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-020-00378-4
de Jong, P. J., van Overveld, M., & Borg, C. (2013). Giving In to Arousal or Staying Stuck in Disgust? Disgust-Based Mechanisms in Sex and Sexual Dysfunction. The Journal of Sex Research, 50(3–4), 247–262. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2012.746280
Charmaine Borg, Peter J. de Jong, Willibrord Weijmar Schultz, Vaginismus and Dyspareunia: Relationship with General and Sex‐Related Moral Standards, The Journal of Sexual Medicine, Volume 8, Issue 1, January 2011, Pages 223–231, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.02080.x
Bosman RC, Borg C, de Jong PJ (2016) Optimising Extinction of Conditioned Disgust. PLOS ONE 11(2): e0148626. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0148626
Willingness Team – a team of over 65 professionals who come together to create innovative services and ideas, such as Sex Clinic Malta and Dating101 workshops. Willingness Team offers support through the Trauma Clinic, which provides evidence-based psychological therapies from experienced professionals in the field of Trauma. It caters to clients who experience difficulties related to PTSD and complex Trauma.