Sex Therapy with Erotically Marginalized Clients

Sex Therapy with Erotically Marginalized Clients: Nine Principles of Clinical Support provides a clinical guide to relational sex therapy with individuals, partnerships, polyships, and alternative family structures where one or more of the clients are erotically marginalized. This term refers to people who are at risk of being pathologized and oppressed both outside and inside the clinical setting due to their gender identities, sexual orientations, or sexual practices. The book outlines nine principles for therapeutic practice which meet the needs of erotically marginalized clients, whose forms of sexuality and desire are rarely spoken about and for whom there is a dearth of language in therapeutic contexts. Each principle concludes with a series of 'key points' and then followed by illustrative clinical case studies, contributed by sex therapists and clinicians who self-identify as erotically marginalized and who also work with erotically marginalized clients. The book also provides a full glossary, 'Defining Erotically Marginalized Identities'. The authors and case contributors use a radical and affirming lens to examine erotically marginalized identities that are often neglected. The book bridges gaps between the past, present, and future in the field of sex therapy and greatly expands the diversity of experiences and identities within the field, particularly the experience of multiple oppressions. The book marks a valuable contribution not only to sex therapists but to the wider clinical and therapeutic community.

Damon M. Constantinides, PhD, LCSW, is an individual, relationship, and sex therapist in Philadelphia, PA. He is also adjunct faculty in the Human Sexuality Program at Widener University. Shannon L. Sennott, LICSW, is the co-founder of Translate Gender, Inc. and The Center for Psychotherapy and Social Justice in Northampton, MA, as well as, adjunct Faculty at the Smith School for Social WOrk. Davis Chandler, LICSW, is an individual, family, relationship, and group therapist in Western MA. They utilize a social justice framework focusing on gender diversity and erotically marginalized clients.

List of Figures and Tables Author Biographies Contributor Biographies Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Part I: Foundations - Principle One: Maintain Transparency and Name Systemic and Individual Oppressions The Case of Wanda: Individual Therapy with a Queer Cisgender Femme of Asian Descent by Lourdes Dolores Follins The Case of Layla and Michelle: Most Welcome, Bondage, For Thou Art a Way, I Think, to Liberty by Laura Jacobs - Principle Two: Challenge Binary Thinking and its Constrictions The Case of William: Heteronormatively Queer and Kinky, an Integration Story by Amy Basford-Pequet - Principle Three: Support Willingness to Experience the Anxiety of Uncertainty The Case of Derick: A Framework for Integration by Thomas Wood The Case of Niam: Race, Class, Sexuality, and Gender While Being and Becoming by Jaycelle Basford-Pequet Part II: Practice - Principle Four: Practice a Relational and Dialogic Therapeutic Approach to Sex Therapy The Case of P: Internalized Heterosexism and the Submissive Heterosexual Cisgender Male by Dulcinea Alex Pitagora - Principle Five: Emphasize Clients' Own Words, Knowledge, and Narratives The Case of V by Anastasia Fujii - Principle Six: Locate Oneself and Respond to Clients' Meta-Communication The Case of Queeran: When Shared Intersectionality Supports Black, Fat, and Queer Healing by Lexx Brown-James The Case of Beth by AndreAs Neumann Mascis Part III: Systemic - Principle Seven: Support Participation of Family and Communities The Case of Chloe: Identity Exploration using a Black Feminist/Systemic Approach for Working with Erotically Marginalized Clients by Erika Evans-Weaver - Principle Eight: Practice Active Allyship The Case of B, W, & G: Multiplicity in Positionalities of Therapy with a Poly Triad by Rachel Keller The Case of Benny: Misogyny and the Dissociated Female Selves by Eve Bogdanove - Principle Nine: Build a Community of Colleagues Glossary: 'Defining Erotically Marginalized Identities' by Ellie K. Lipton Appendices A-D: Referral Letter, 'Self-Determined Gender Psychosocial Form', 'The Allyship Practice Model for the Transfeminist Therapeutic Approach', 'Professional Ethics Statement' Index