Systemic sex therapy differs from the functionalist tradition of Masters & Johnson.
It allows people who want to have a satisfying sexual relationship to resolve long-standing problems, such as a decline in desire, which is not due to biological or medical causes, but to relationship issues.
Systemic sex therapy starts from an interesting premise: desire is only possible between different people. However, in couple relationships, there is often a tendency to tone down differences, because many people are afraid to let themselves be known for who they are or to ask their partner what they want for fear of losing them.
The goal of systemic sex therapy is not to ‘restore harmony’ between partners, but to enable them to tolerate conflict without damaging the relationship or, worse still, their self-esteem.
To use the jargon, it is necessary to move from ‘other-centred intimacy’ to ‘self-centred intimacy’, which would also allow for more erotic tension.
It is very interesting during sex therapy to explore these issues and see how they are deeply intertwined with the question of character that accompanies physical symptoms, leading the patient to see the relational dimension underlying the problem, which is both cause and consequence, fitting into a circular process that, once triggered, feeds itself.
Systemic Sex Therapy is based on the concept that sex within the couple dimension is often a repeated ritual and has the function of confirming and maintaining the relationship.
In the process of treating couples in psychotherapy with sexual problems, it is very important to explore the relational aspects associated with them and link the findings to the person’s history, focusing on the relational consequences of the symptom and thus promoting change.
Note: in this text, when we refer to couples or partners, we mean both heterosexual and homosexual couples and partners.
CURSO INTERNACIONAL
em 33 vídeo-aulas
TERAPIA DE CASAL & TERAPIA SEXUAL SISTÊMICA
Com as formadoras:
Dott.ssa TERESA ARCELLONI
e Dott.ssa GLORIA FERRERO