ABSTRACT
The history of approaches to the treatment of sexual dysfunction has, for the most part, paralleled the theoretical models in popular use at the time (cf. Wiederman, 1998). For the first half of the 20th century, sexual dysfunctions were treated with the prevailing psychoanalysis (Levine & Ross, 1977). As behavioral interventions started to appear in the mid-20th century, they began to be applied to sexual dysfunctions (e.g., Lazarus, 1963; Lazarus & Rachman, 1957; Wolpe, 1958), culminating with the major defining work by Masters and Johnson (1970). Since then, a number of other contemporary psychotherapy models and practices have been applied, including cognitive-behavioral therapies (e.g., McCabe, 2001); systemic therapies (e.g., Schnarch, 2001); medical treatments including prosthetics and medication (Leiblum & Rosen, 2001); and models integrating cognitive, behavioral, systemic, and medical (Weeks & Gambescia, 2000, 2002). Most recently, postmodern therapies, which are a paradigm shift from the problem-focused, label-dependent, and pathology-based therapies, have begun to be applied to helping clients with sexual concerns (Green & Flemons, 2007). Solution-focused therapy falls within this group.
