About couples therapy
Couples therapy helps partners improve communication, handle conflict, rebuild trust after a crisis or make decisions together, including separation. Sessions are usually joint, sometimes with individual meetings. It is not about deciding who is right but about understanding the patterns between you.
Sexologists help with sexual difficulties, desire, communication about sexuality, and sexual and gender identity, individually or as a couple, in a respectful and confidential setting.
Getting mental health care in Mali
Public health system · Public health system - Psychiatry department, CHU du Point G (Bamako)
The psychiatry department of the CHU du Point G in Bamako is the main public mental health service in Mali, with about 130 beds, outpatient consultations three days a week and a daily emergency duty service. Specialist care outside Bamako is scarce; some rural general practitioners have been trained in mental health, and traditional healers are often the first point of contact.
How to check that a professional is licensed
- Ordre des Médecins du Mali. The Order, created by Law No. 2017-030 of 14 July 2017, groups all physicians practising in Mali, including psychiatrists. Ask the doctor for proof of registration with the Order.
Urgent help in Mali
If your life or someone else's is in danger, call the emergency number now. These services can help at any time:
- 17 · Police secours
Information reviewed in November 2026 · Sources: panafrican-med-journal.com, panafrican-med-journal.com, extranet.who.int
Signs to look out for
All couples argue. It may be time to seek help when the same arguments repeat without resolution, conversations quickly turn into criticism or silence, you feel lonely within the relationship, affection or sex have faded and that worries you, trust has been broken, or a big change such as a baby, illness or a move has unbalanced things. Considering separation is also a reason to talk.
What helps: treatments and professionals
Couples therapy approaches with good evidence include emotionally focused therapy, integrative behavioural couple therapy, cognitive-behavioural couples therapy and the Gottman method. Couples therapists, psychologists and psychotherapists with couples training usually lead the work, and a sex therapist can help when sexual concerns are central. Therapy can help couples reconnect, or separate with less damage, especially when children are involved.
When to seek urgent help
If there is physical violence, threats, sexual coercion, or you feel afraid of your partner, your safety comes first: contact your local emergency services if you are in immediate danger, and seek specialised support for domestic violence. Couples therapy is not recommended in these situations. Seek urgent help too if anyone has thoughts of suicide or harming others.
What you can do in the meantime
Choose calm moments to talk about difficult topics, rather than in the middle of an argument. Try to describe how you feel and what you need, instead of criticising. Take a break if things escalate and agree to come back to it. Make time for small moments of connection. Reading reliable information on relationships together can also open useful conversations.
What does a sex therapist do?
A sex therapist helps individuals and couples with concerns about sexuality in a respectful, confidential space. Day to day they talk about desire, arousal, pain, orgasm, sexual communication, body image, identity and orientation, and the impact of illness, ageing or past experiences. They use psychoeducation, talking therapy and practical exercises, and coordinate with doctors when a physical cause needs to be checked.
When to see a sex therapist
Seeing a sex therapist makes sense when a sexual difficulty causes distress or tension, when desire differs a lot within a couple, when there is pain or anxiety around sex, after illness, childbirth or menopause, or when you have questions about identity or orientation. A medical check-up is advisable first for pain or sudden changes; trauma may need trauma-focused therapy.
How to choose
When choosing, check the licence and training, the approach they use and whether they have experience with what you need. Consider practical aspects too: language, price, location or online sessions and availability. The relationship with the professional matters a great deal; if after a few sessions it does not feel right, it is fine to change.
Frequently asked questions
Does the public health system in Mali cover psychological care?
The psychiatry department of the CHU du Point G in Bamako is the main public mental health service in Mali, with about 130 beds, outpatient consultations three days a week and a daily emergency duty service. Specialist care outside Bamako is scarce; some rural general practitioners have been trained in mental health, and traditional healers are often the first point of contact.
How do I check that a sex therapist is licensed in Mali?
Ordre des Médecins du Mali: The Order, created by Law No. 2017-030 of 14 July 2017, groups all physicians practising in Mali, including psychiatrists. Ask the doctor for proof of registration with the Order.