Boston Sex Therapy, Powered by Thriveworks Sex is awesome. Or rather, it should be. Aside from the fact that it’s our tried-and-true way of continuing the human race, sex can also be incredibly fun and satisfying. Unfortunately, however, we humans have an artistic flair for going about things in the wrong way: we elevate the importance of sexuality in our entertainment and advertisements while simultaneously cheapening its authenticity. It’s no wonder so many of us are so often confused, frustrated or anxious about sex. Despite how much it permeates various levels of our day-to-day (as Oscar Wilde once said, “Everything in the world is about sex except sex. Sex is about power.”), very little in the way of open and honest discourse about physical intimacy happens in the limelight. No, instead sex usually makes the headlines when someone is sleeping with someone other than who they should be sleeping with (or doing so in a way that many deem questionable). So, instead of it being … [Read more...]
Sexual Arousal Disorder: Overcoming Erectile Dysfunction to Frigidity
Do I Have Low Libido or Sexual Dysfunction? Randy and Colleen are newlyweds. They can’t seem to get things working in or out of the bedroom. Randy says, “This is so frustrating. You would think at least this would be easy and natural.” Tammy and her husband just moved to a new town. New house, new job, new everything. “It’s good but it’s stressful,” they say. They feel like they accidentally left their sex life back in the old city. Brenda is in her 50s. She has been content in her marriage for many years, and everything seems to be fine—except in the bedroom. “I just don’t seem to turn on anymore,” she says. Sexual Arousal Disorder: Definitions and Key Thoughts Sexual arousal disorder occurs in women and men. With men, the problem is usually called “erectile dysfunction.” Female sexual arousal disorder is often referred to as “frigidity.” The symptoms of sexual arousal disorder include: Lack of vaginal lubrication or dilation Decreased genital tumescence … [Read more...]
Domestic Violence: Information on Domestic Violence and Counseling Advice for Victims of Abuse
PORTRAITS Julie had never thought that her husband would ever hit her, but here she was staring at the bruise on her forehead. He had apologized to her over and over again, and had promised that is would never happen again if she could gave him another chance. She didn’t know what to do. Lately Anna’s boyfriend was becoming more and more controlling. Whenever he wasn’t with her, he wanted to know where she was and what she was doing, and was becoming jealous when she chose to spend time with her girlfriends. Whenever she tried to talk to her about his recent behavior, he would become angry and physical with her. She was becoming afraid of him and worried that he might never calm down. Adam was afraid. His wife had a bed temper and occasionally slapped him when she was angry, but last night she had been drinking and she really tried to hurt him. Adam knew better than to fight back, but he wasn’t sure how much more he could take. DEFINITIONS & KEY THOUGHTS Domestic … [Read more...]
Low Sexual Desire Disorder: Overcoming Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder and Sexual Aversion Disorder
Scenarios of Low Sexual Desire Disorder When Virginia learned about sex from her mother, the message was that sex is dirty and an obligation that women have to their husbands. Virginia believed that “good girls” don’t have sex unless they “have to” and don’t enjoy it when they must do it. She grew up ingrained with her mother’s skewed attitude toward sex. Now that she’s married, Virginia avoids sex with her husband as much as she can. Mary is in her 40s and has experienced her husband turning his back on her in the bedroom. While she is annoyed at her husband for “shutting her out” in the bedroom, she feels that it’s not something she can talk about openly. Women like Mary have many emotions when their husbands dismiss their advances—everything from rejection to frustration. It can cause major issues that put distance in the relationship. While men experience the same emotions when they are constantly rebuffed by their wives, women have an added dimension due to stereotypes. Women … [Read more...]
Sadism and Masochism: Sexual Sadomasochism Facts, Diagnosis and Counseling Treatments
Portraits of Sadism and Masochism Since he was a teenager, Carl has thought about being restrained, humiliated, or abused in a sexual way. Jenny was reading the personals section of the classifieds when she came across an ad from a person requesting a “sex slave.” She immediately ignored the ad, but then found herself excited by it and drawn back in. Definitions and Key Thoughts for Sadism and Masochism Sexual sadism and sexual masochism are two separate psychological disorders and each are categorized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM-IV) as a paraphilia, which is a sexual disorder characterized by socially unacceptable preoccupations or behaviors (other paraphilias include voyeurism, exhibitionism, and fetishism). Sadism and masochism are characterized by feelings of sexual pleasure or gratification when inflicting suffering on another person, or having it inflicted upon one’s self, respectively. The official DSM-IV criteria for sexual … [Read more...]