ABSTRACT
Couples in sex therapy often feel they are the only ones with the type of problem they have. They feel alone and isolated, and may overpathologize their situation. They also feel embarrassed, confused, hopeless and ashamed that they must reveal such intimate details to a stranger. Bibliotherapy has the potential to open the communication around the couple’s problem area. Reading about a particular topic can help desensitize a couple to discussing topics. For example, most couples do not want to discuss their sexual fantasies. After reading one or more books on sexual fantasies, couples are usually much more open to discuss the topic. The mere fact that someone is writing about their problem has the effect of helping normalize their behavior. They no longer feel alone in having the problem and may gain some useful insight and information about the nature of their problem. This normalizing function will help the couple to see that many individuals go through similar issues and have dealt with these issues successfully.
