The Sexually Disturbed: Treating Psychosexual Disorders

This volume describes the treatment of uniquely complex and profound sexual problems that the therapeutic community has been largely unsuccessful in treating. The reader is drawn to understand and even identify with the people experiencing sexual disturbance. This process of identification helps to mitigate the biases that we use to dehumanize the sexually disturbed.

This work is developed around a case study format, with chapters on specific psychosexual disturbances. All of these cases experienced early childhood sexual trauma or mislearning that interrupted the course of normal sexual development. Such victims then frequently repeat the learned behavior in later life, acting out the role of perpetrator. In addition to presenting the treatment process as it is formulated in the mind of the therapist, the author offers a blueprint for therapy that makes specific treatment possible for clients with similar disorders. Therapists are also guided in developing an effective clinical presence, covering such matters as initial contact, boundary setting, self awareness, dress, voice tone, and overall demeanor. Strategies for avoiding becoming enmeshed in psychological defenses are presented in detail.

AVERIL MARIE DOYLE is a psychotherapist with more than twenty years of experience as a clinician specializing in human sexuality and family dynamics. She is a national supervisor for the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists and a clinical supervisor for the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. Dr. Doyle has taught graduate courses in human sexuality and sex therapy for medical students and counselors. She serves as a consultant of health care professionals as well as delivering direct service in psychotherapy. She has contributed to professional journals and is co-author of A Guide to Sexual Counseling: A Workbook Approach (1977).