ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the concept of somatisation, the psychological defence mechanism that is responsible for the psychosexual problem. The Institute of Psychosexual Medicine practitioner learns to observe the part that the mind plays in physical symptoms, and to develop the skill of using these observations to help patients understand themselves better. Referring to the concepts of alexithymia and somatisation may be helpful when dealing with patients with psychosexual problems, particularly when trying to manage difficult ideas around mind-body interactions. The skill of psychosexual medicine is to pick up clues about what might be unconsciously at the root of the problem, and find ways of putting these into words that are helpful and allow the patient to come to an understanding of their problem. Patients with psychosexual dysfunction present their inability to express emotions in different ways. Marian Davis found a doctor specialising in psychosexual medicine on the Internet, and referred her.
