ABSTRACT
Throughout the processing of Sensate Focus opportunities, the therapist listens for whether clients have been able to touch or be touched for themselves rather than for their partner, and whether the clients have been able to touch or be touched for their own interest rather than in service to expectations for arousal or pleasure. While therapy sessions emphasize the specifics of Sensate Focus, they may also include an overview of the clients' general life experiences, stresses, and relationship and communication skills, challenges, and successes since the last therapy session. With regard to assessing participants' ability to focus for interest rather than on pleasure or arousal, the therapist may listen for how precisely and vividly the clients describe sensations, and they can also listen for the use of judgmental and emotion-oriented words. Clients may also respond to questions about distractions with a judgment that their distractions are wrong.
