You Don’t Age Out of Intimacy
Sex and intimacy don’t end at a certain age—but too often, older adults are left out of the conversation. In reality, many people enjoy fulfilling sexual and emotional relationships well into their later years, though the ways they connect may evolve.
Ron and Maria, both in their 60s, came to therapy after Ron’s prostate cancer treatment led to changes in his sexual function. “I didn’t feel like myself anymore,” Ron said. “I felt like I was disappointing Maria.” Maria, too, felt unsure how to approach physical closeness without triggering shame or grief. In therapy, they discovered new ways of expressing affection and intimacy that honored their current stage of life.
Aging can bring shifts in hormones, chronic illness, grief, or caregiving responsibilities. These changes often affect how people experience desire, arousal, and pleasure. Yet few are given the tools—or the permission—to talk about it. Sex therapy offers that space.
Rather than focusing solely on performance, therapy helps older adults redefine what a meaningful connection looks like. Whether that means embracing non-penetrative pleasure, reestablishing communication after decades together, or dating again after widowhood, sex therapy can help clients move forward with confidence and clarity.
Aging brings wisdom and self-knowledge—and with support, it can also bring deeply satisfying intimacy.