Contemporary Sex Therapy

Contemporary Sex Therapy explores modern sexuality, its expression and problems, and some of the uniquely twenty-first century issues facing sex therapists and society as a whole. Seeking solutions to these and other common sexual and relationship problems, the book provides a practical, sensitive and modern approach, which tackles the complexities of contemporary relationships, identity, love and sex. A comprehensive, stepped approach to psychosexual therapy is offered, demonstrating how to tackle blocks to sex and intimacy as well as providing an understanding of how and why they develop. Loss of desire, sexual pain and erectile and orgasm difficulties are seen within the context of modern life and relationship dynamics, so that comprehensive and realistic solutions are more readily enabled. The book looks at significant issues such as sexual consent, sexual and gender identity, sexual trauma and culture, as well as the more recent challenges of porn-related sexual dependency, chemsex, female genital cutting and technology. Throughout, the emphasis is on recognising and meeting the specific obstacles and needs of a wide diversity of relationships and experiences, providing a vast toolbox to appropriately address contemporary sexual issues. Established sex therapists, as well as students, will benefit from the book's modern approach which focuses on each partner's experience, avoiding outcome and response anxiety entirely and appreciating the range of pressures experienced by modern couples. Relationship therapists and couples themselves will also be motivated by new ideas and explanations, which often challenge existing intuitive understanding to produce nuanced and effective solutions to improve sex and intimacy.

Cate Campbell is a relationship and psychosexual therapist and lecturer with the Foundation for Counselling & Relationship Studies, and provides training for a number of organisations including Relate and the College of Sexual & Relationship Therapists.

Introduction 01. History and Philosophy of Psychosexual Therapy 02. Sexual Problems and the DSM 03. Initial Assessment 04. History Taking 05. Formulation 06. The PST Treatment Process 07. Desire and Arousal 08. Orgasm 09. Sexual Pain 10. Female Genital Cutting 11. Physical Obstacles 12. Blocks and Challenges 13. Sexual Consent 14. Sexual Trauma 15. Sexual Dependency 16. Chemsex 17. Identity and Gender 18. Culture 19. Contemporary Sex Therapy Appendix