Fundamentals of Theory and Practice Revisited: Sex Therapy: Historical Evolution, Current Practice. Part I

This is the first of a two-part series, and provides a contextual history of major trends in sex therapy, notably the psychoanalytic, behavioural and medical models, as well as detailing the family therapy contribution to the field. Part 2 will present the outline of a first interview, and use it to demonstrate a systemic model which explores the interrelationship between the symptom, the presenting person(s), the ‘sexual’ as part of the relationship, the biological, the broader cultural view of sexuality — and the therapist's framework and thinking. Case studies are used as illustration.