Innovative combined techniques in sex therapy
Sex therapy is a specialized form of psychotherapy that uses a variety of interventions to treat sexual dysfunction in women and men. Treatment is implemented individually, in couples or even groups.
The psychosexual evaluation of the person includes the sexual history taking, current sexual behavior of the individual, the quality of the relationship, emotional state, and the current conditions (children, chronic illness, financial worries, etc.) affecting the individual’s sex life.
Also, it is necessary to assess all the necessary organic and biological factors responsible for the genesis and maintenance of the sexual problem. The specialist who implements sex therapy uses a variety of psychotherapeutic strategies and techniques, depending on the problem and its individual needs. Often, cooperation is needed with other disciplines, such as an endocrinologist, gynecologist, urologist.
A breakthrough in sex therapy in recent years is the “combination therapy”. By this we refer to combining psychotherapy with pharmacotherapy. Combined psychotherapy takes into account biological and psychological factors that generate and maintain the sexual problem. In some cases, the combination of psychotherapy techniques with medication shows the highest efficiency.
Medication without psychotherapy intervention often fails, because a mechanistic approach to sexuality is adopted, ignoring important psychological parameters. Similarly, the exclusive use psychotherapeutic intervention without pharmacotherapy, can be time consuming and fails to rapid relief of symptoms.
Another development in recent years in sex therapy is the use of techniques that increase “mindfulness”. These techniques have their roots in Buddhism and currently applied in many areas of health.
In the context of sexual health they are designed to train the person to be fully aware of the content of the thoughts, actions and sexual behavior incentives. Basically they are techniques that train the individual to concentrate and participate in what happens during sexual intercourse in a non demanding way.
This avoids the distraction of thoughts that hinder the smooth sexual functioning. Many studies have evaluated these techniques in their efficiency to treat sexual dysfunctions. The results are very encouraging and suggest the integration of these techniques in treatment of sexual dysfunctions.
Kirana E, (2012) Psychosexual treatment methods in sexual medicine. in Porst H, Reisman Y (ed) The ESSM syllabus of sexual medicine. Medix, Place
