Systemic Sex Therapy

This comprehensive textbook, intended for graduate students in couple and family therapy programs as well as for clinicians of diverse orientations, offers descriptive discussions of sex therapy based on the Intersystem Approach, as developed by Gerald Weeks. The Intersystem Approach considers the biology, psychology, couple dyad, family-of-origin, and larger contextual factors of any sexual disorder or issue. It is grounded in systems theory and represents a new understanding of human sexuality and sexual problems. Appropriate for anyone who wants to progress to a more comprehensive and integrative understanding of sexual dysfunctions, this text will teach the reader how to treat the couple, rather than the individual. Now in a second edition, Systemic Sex Therapy presents 12 updated chapters and two new chapters, bringing the material up-to-date with the DSM-5. Each chapter examines the definition and description of a disorder, its etiology, assessment, treatment, research, and future directions. Experts in the field discuss issues ranging from pharmacology, sexual compulsivity, therapy with lesbian and gay couples, to chapters on male and female lack of desire. A standard text in the field, Systemic Sex Therapy integrates couple and sex therapy to inform the treatment of sexual problems, and to give beginning and experienced clinicians the abilities and confidence they need to produce viable change in their patients’ lives.

Section 1: The Basics of Sex Therapy 1: What Every Sex Therapist Needs to Know J. Ridley 2. The Current Profession of Sex Therapy P. Kleinplatz 3. Towards a New Paradigm in Sex Therapy G. Weeks, N. Gambescia Section 2: Treatment of Specific Disorders 4. Male Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder K. Hall 5. Systemic of Erectile Disorder N. Gambescia, G.R. Weeks 6. Premature Ejaculation: An Integrative, Intersystems Approach for Couples S. Betchen 7. The Complex Etiology of Delayed Ejaculation: Assessment and Treatment Implications S. Foley, N. Gambescia 8. Defition, Etiology, and Treatment of Absent/Low Desire in Women G.R. Weeks, N. Gambescia 9. Inhibited Arousal in Women K.R. Wylie, D. Markovic, R.H. Jones 10. Female Orgasmic Disorder M. McCable 11. Painful Intercourse: Genito-Pelvic/Penetration Disorder M.Meana, C. Maykut, E. Fertel Section 3: Contemporary Issues in Sex Therapy 12. Sex Therapy with Lesbian and Gay Male Couples A. Lev, M. Nichols 13. Sexual Addiction: Diagnosis, Assessment and Treatment D. Delmonico, E. Griffin 14. The Interplay Between Mental and Sexual Health K.W. Phelps, A.B. Jones, R.A. Payne 15. Sex Therapy: A Panoramic View G.R. Weeks, N. Gambescia, K. Hertlein 16. Epilogue: A Personal Note on Being a Sex Therapist G.R. Weeks, N. Gambescia

Katherine M. Hertlein, PhD, is an associate professor and Program Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has published over 50 articles, 6 books, and 25 book chapters over the course of her career. She presents nationally and internationally on sex, technology, and couples. Gerald R. Weeks, PhD, ABPP, is a certified sex therapist with 30 years of practice experience, and is a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is among a handful of individuals to be given the “Outstanding Contribution to Marriage and Family Therapy” award in 2009 from the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, and was named the “2010 Family Psychologist of the Year.” He has published over 20 books in the fields of individual, couple, family, and sex therapy. Nancy Gambescia, PhD, is a certified sex therapist with 35 years of practice experience, and is the Director of the postgraduate sex therapy program at Council for Relationships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She also maintains a private practice specializing in relationship and sex therapy in Rosemont, PA. Dr. Gambescia has published numerous book chapters, journal articles, and 5 books in couple and sex therapy.