Developments and trends in sex therapy

Abstract

Recent developments and trends in sex therapy are reviewed and assessed. Major trends identified are: (1) multidisciplinarity in the treatment of sexual problems, whereby psychological interventions are combined with medical and other types of treatment (e.g. physical therapy); (2) systemic and theoretical integration, as evidenced by an emphasis on contextual influences on sexual responses and an openness to different theoretical perspectives; (3) a shift in focus from sexual function to sexual satisfaction and eroticism; (4) an emphasis on age and the aligning of expectations to reality; (5) the impact and applications of new technologies, and (6) progress toward the recognition of diversity in the human sexual experience. The overall challenge to sex therapy is to address the complexity of sexual problems in ways that are considered feasible to a public with limited time and resources.