Sex Therapy—A Critical Appraisal

Cole, Martín G.

doi:10.1192/bjp.147.4.337

Cited by 28 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…With respect to outcome efficacy, anything close to the ''cure rates'' that Masters and Johnson (1970) reported would be considered phenomenal by current standards. However, relatively recent (Heiman & Meston, 1997) and older (Cole, 1985;Zilbergeld & Evans, 1980) critical reviews suggest that sex therapy for most sexual dysfunction does not meet modern day standards for evidenced-based therapies. There are a number of possible reasons to explain sex therapy's unremarkable outcome data: (1) Masters and Johnson's therapy outcome data were derived from uncontrolled studies with samples and situations that were not representative of the general population of patients or therapists and were thus lacking in real-world validity;…”

Section: Lack Of Efficacy and Consensusmentioning

confidence: 95%

The Future of Sex Therapy: Specialization or Marginalization?

Binik

Meana

2009

Arch Sex Behav

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Sex therapy's claims to specialization may be exaggerated and ultimately damaging to the integrated treatment of sexual dysfunction. In fact, sex therapy does not have a unified underlying theory, a unique set of practices, or an empirically demonstrated efficacious treatment outcome. Paradoxically, the practice of sex therapy has gained widespread professional and popular acceptance since the publication in 1970 of Human Sexual Inadequacy by Masters and Johnson. Consequences of the widespread acceptance of this supposed specialization include the marginalization of sex therapy from other forms of treatment and the perpetuation of the notion that sex therapy is a special form of therapy requiring highly specialized training. This specialization focus also helps to perpetuate societal discomfort with sexuality. The very modest empirical success of most so-called sex therapy interventions and the lack of theoretical development suggest that sex therapy needs a recalibration in order to survive. It is suggested that the treatment of sexual dysfunction be integrated into the general psychotherapy enterprise and into a multidisciplinary biopsychosocial framework.

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Section: Lack Of Efficacy and Consensusmentioning

confidence: 95%

The Future of Sex Therapy: Specialization or Marginalization?

Binik

Meana

2009

Arch Sex Behav

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“…Gurman & Kniskern (1978) and Williams & Miller (1981) have reviewed the current state of research and more recently a review of the behavioural work was published (Jacobson et al, 1984). Similar accounts in sexual therapy have been reported (Bancroft, 1983;Cole, 1985).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 64%

Some Prospects for Couples Therapy

Bennun

1986

Sexual and Marital Therapy

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This paper highlights two specific areas as future prospects for couples therapists. The development of couples therapy has primarily focussed on rejning conceptual models for formulating and intervening with couples and on developing adequate methods of assessment. As a result, some areas have been neglected, specifically (i) an appreciation of the dyadic needs of psychiatric patients, handicapped persons and the elderly and (ii) some of the philosophical issues involved in couples therapy.

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“…It is also an opportunity for the survivors to learn more about their intimate needs and to experience warmth and pleasure from being with a partner in an intimate situation [16]. These behaviors may then generalize in providing more appropriate behaviors to real life situations, like being with a ''call girl'' if other forms of relationships are not available [21]. The fact that the VLFA survivor may exhibit physical sexual function that can be detected by penile tumescence evaluation in a Sleeping Laboratory, does not always help the rehabilitation team in their decision making as regards the survivor's sexuality needs [22].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex Therapy Surrogate Partners for Individuals with Very Limited Functional Ability Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Aloni¹,

Keren

Katz

2007

Sex Disabil

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The use of surrogate sex therapists for survivors after Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) who have Very Limited Functional Ability (VLFA) is discussed. It includes the rationale of using surrogate therapy with this population as well as some of the professional and ethical issues that such therapy can evoke. It is suggested that surrogate therapy can provide satisfaction and positive experiences to the restricted lives of some of the VLFA-TBI survivors. The use of surrogate therapy is viewed as a part of the integral rehabilitation process aimed at improving the quality of life and the fulfillment of basic human intimacy needs. Often requiring help in this important area of life, they are not always able to initiate and control emotional behaviors to promote healthy sexual relationship and activity. Surrogate therapy is an activity that can help survivors with TBI monitor and initiate feelings, reactions and motivation in intimate relationships, as well as provide a certain amount of control over their lives. A case study is presented to illustrate the process of sex therapy with a surrogate partner for a VLFA-TBI survivor.

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Sex Therapy—A Critical Appraisal

Cited by 28 publications

References 62 publications

The Future of Sex Therapy: Specialization or Marginalization?

The Future of Sex Therapy: Specialization or Marginalization?

Some Prospects for Couples Therapy

Sex Therapy Surrogate Partners for Individuals with Very Limited Functional Ability Following Traumatic Brain Injury

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