ABSTRACT

This chapter presents a case study exploring Gwen and Dan's experience with their couples therapist and showing how the fields of psychotherapy and marriage and family therapy tolerate inadequate training. By assuming that it's possible to treat couples through looking at emotional issues alone, never addressing physical intimacy and sexual issues, many of the symptoms and root causes of dysfunctional intimacy aren't even addressed. There are implications for us as a community of therapists, physicians, and counselors, too, because when we allow this level of ignorance and lack of training to persist in our own professional development, we are doing an active, far-reaching disservice to our patients. For these reasons, the author has convinced that in order to practice couples therapy well, a therapist must also be trained as a sex therapist. Good sex therapy provides an opportunity for profound personal growth, both for individuals and for couples.