Clinical Practice

Located in Port Moody, British Columbia, Dr. Brotto sees patients through Tri-Cities Sexual Health Services. Dr. Brotto sees both individuals and couples for sexual health concerns in person and virtually.

Tri-Cities Sexual Health Services

Sexual health is an important aspect of general health that significantly impacts upon quality of life for most people. However, sexual concerns, difficulties, and dysfunctions are extremely common and ongoing untreated sexual difficulties can have a lasting impact on you, your partner(s), and your relationships in general. Tri-Cities Sexual Health Services is the psychological practice setting of Dr. Lori Brotto, who is a Licensed Psychologist with the College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia (license #01628).

Dr. Brotto has extensive training in managing a variety of sexual health concerns, including:

  •  low sexual desire

  • discrepant sexual desire (in couples)

  • loss of sexual arousal

  • anorgasmia

  • vaginismus (inability to have vaginal insertion due to fear, sexual aversion, or pelvic floor tightening)

  • sexual pain

  • fear/anxiety over sexual activity or contact

  • changes in sexual function with menopause, cancer, diabetes, depression, medication use, and related to other medical conditions

  • persistent genital arousal

Dr. Brotto also provides education and counselling to support individuals who report no sexual attraction or desire, and who often identify as “asexual”. While asexuality is not a sexual dysfunction, sometimes asexual individuals experience stigma from partners, family, and their community. If an asexual person is partnered with someone who desires sexual activity, there may be discrepancies in desire that can create tension in a relationship. Dr. Brotto is part of a small group of clinical researchers who has sought to better understand, and therefore better support, individuals identifying as asexual.

Dr. Brotto has expertise in mindfulness-based therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, sex therapy, and she incorporates other therapeutic modalities based on the needs of each individual client. She regularly collaborates with professionals from multidisciplinary backgrounds (e.g., gynaecologists, pelvic floor physiotherapists, family doctors, psychiatrists, couples counsellors, and others).

Dr. Brotto sees both individuals and couples for sexual health concerns in Port Moody, BC. Options for virtual appointments are also available.

If you are seeking a couples therapist to assist with primarily communication concerns, relationship struggles, or betrayal, Dr. Brotto may not be an ideal fit and you are encouraged to seek the assistance of a licensed provider providing couples therapy.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • I always carry out a thorough assessment before engaging in psychological therapy. This involves a discussion about your current concerns, learning more about you and your lifestyle, and exploring your mood, stressors, relationship-related information, and general health, which includes medications. It is also very helpful to understand a little about your past, including past sexual concerns, previous medical and mental-health related factors, and significant events in your life. If a couple is seeking treatment together, then it is often very helpful to have a separate session with each member of the couple in addition to an interview with both partners present.

  • Sexual concerns rarely exist in a vacuum. Research indicates a strong influence of relationship-related satisfaction and difficulties on an individual’s sexual functioning. Because of this, it is often very useful for the therapy process to have both members of the couple present. This is not a requirement, however, and we can discuss this ahead of time.

  • Absolutely. No information will be shared with any individual without a client’s written consent.

  • Item descriptionOften people seek psychological therapy when they are in crisis. A crisis can take approximately 6 months to resolve fully, so this might be an estimate for the number of months for therapy. However, depending on the frequency of our sessions, this may vary significantly. Given my current wait-list, I current schedule new clients for a 6-month time period, which is then reviewed at the end. We will work collaboratively to determine next steps after this 6 month window.

  • I see clients in my private practice in Port Moody, or online via Zoom, on Tuesdays from 4-8pm.

  • The mind and the body work in unison. Research has convincingly shown that thoughts and emotions can trigger physiological changes in the body. Moreover, medical health and difficulties with physical functioning or illness can directly affect mood and thought. In the area of pain, countless studies have shown a beneficial effect of psychological therapies in improving pain and improving the psychological suffering associated with pain. Thus, yes, psychological treatment has a very important role to play in improving health.Item description

  • Most extended benefits plans cover Licensed Psychologist fees up to an annual maximum. You will be provided a receipt once payment is received and you may submit that to your benefits plan for reimbursement. Dr. Brotto’s preferred method of payment is e-transfer. However, we also accept payment via Paypal, cash or cheque. Payment is due at the beginning of each session.