New Directions in Sex Therapy

Winner of the 2013 AASECT Professional Book Award!New Directions in Sex Therapy: Innovations and Alternatives focuses on cutting-edge, therapy paradigms as alternatives to conventional clinical strategies. With each passing year, the treatment of sexual problems seems to emphasize more medical and pharmacological interventions. There is correspondingly less interest in the experiences of the individuals or couples involved. This book expands the definition of our field.Part I highlights the major problems and criticisms facing sex therapy and furnishes a rationale for new directions. Included in this new edition are critiques of "sexual addiction" nomenclature, the neglect of the ethical dimension in sex therapy, and there is a call to expand our vision of what sex therapy can attain. Part II demonstrates new approaches to dealing with traditional sex therapy concerns, including lack of desire and erectile dysfunction as well as innovative goals, such as integrating sexual medicine with sex therapy, using client feedback to customize therapy for the particular individual/couple's best interests, promoting relationship growth in working with transgender clients, and transcending sexual function/dysfunction to optimize erotic intimacy in long-term couples. This 2nd edition of New Directions in Sex Therapy: Innovations and Alternatives is replete with helpful new clinical illustrations across the spectrum of theoretical orientations (e.g., systemic, narrative, Experiential, CBT) to demonstrate these approaches in action. This book is intended for anyone who deals with sexual issues and concerns in therapy–clinicians of every kind, novices and advanced practitioners–rather than only those who define themselves as sex therapists.

"excellently edited... experienced professionals...[will] find some truly new ideas. And, in any case, having this broad range of issues, of varying degrees of 'newness', all in a single volume is undoubtedly useful." - Sexual and Relationship Therapy, Vol. 17, No.4, 2002"New Directions is a well-organized, bold, and important book that promises up-to-date coverage of the theoretical and research literature in the field of sex therapy. The contributors provide formidable challenges to reductive, biomedical explanations of clients' sexual and intimacy-related concerns, and they offer many practical, insightful, and helpful suggestions. At the same time, however, none of the contributors succomb to offering 'cookbook' type solutions. Thus New Directions should enjoy a wide readership – it is highly relevant to experienced sex therapists, but it would also be a valuable resource for counselors who have a more general practice and want to incorporate a relational and contextual understanding of sexuality into their clinical work. . . A must read for mental health professionals working with clients who have sexual concerns." - Psychotherapy: Theory / Research / Practice / Training"This collection of provocative, solid, and carefully crafted essays examines the possibilities of helping people find sexual passion. New Directions in Sex Therapy, complete with a 20-page Index, makes a major contribution. Professional sex therapists and people naive about the field will all find this collection a valuable and (intellectually) stimulating resource." - AHP Perspectives

Peggy J. Kleinplatz, PhD is Professor of Medicine and Clinical Professor of Psychology at the University of Ottawa. She is a clinical psychologist, Certified Sex Therapist, and Sex Educator. Since 1983, she has been teaching Human Sexuality at the School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, where she received the Prix d’Excellence in 2000. She is former Chair of Certifications for the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists. She has published extensively on sexual problems with the intent to challenge, expand, and diversify the field of sex therapy. Her clinical work focuses on eroticism and transformation. Her current research focuses on optimal sexuality, with a particular interest in sexual health in the elderly, disabled and marginalized populations.