ABSTRACT
To begin, the arena of sex therapy and relevant literature has its foundation in mostly psychodynamic concepts and some psychoanalytic grounding. Only recently have researchers and clinical trainers made forays into more strength based or postmodern theories as those proposed by armative psychotherapy (Long, Burnett, & omas, 2006). is chapter will cover the foundational psychodynamic approaches used in initial sex therapy models while supplementing with concepts from postmodern and family systems. Sex therapy (or relationship therapy, as o referred) was formed out of a niche in marriage and family therapy that was lacking a true exploration of these most intimate sexual engagements that couples make or, conversely, may not make in the presence of dysfunction or desire disorders. e earliest sex therapy intervention and treatment models, books, or journal articles all tended to be heterosexist, focusing on upper-middle-class client issues, and, seemingly and operationally, patriarchal and exclusionary (Bettinger, 2004; Long et al., 2006). Although this tendency appears to have lessened in the past decade, much is to be gained by incorporating concepts and strategies of the armative psychotherapy model because it deconstructs dominant paradigms, confronts gender stereotypes and patriarchy, and broadens the lens of potential socioeconomic status and ethnic and cultural groups who may benet. Further, this approach ts well with the oppressed and marginalized status frequently accompanying the experience of gay male couples.
