A sex therapist and a psychiatrist who specialize in sexual disorders present a self-help guide for women whose sexuality is inhibited by fear or physical pain. Using clinical examples and interweaving accounts by women who have struggled with these problems, they provide a series of step-by-step exercises drawn from their extensive therapeutic experiences. Chapters outline the sexual response cycle, provide a variety of relaxation techniques, and detail individual treatment programs for specific sexual disorders. Advice on choosing and working with a therapist is also included.

"This is a wonderfully clear, complete, detailed, and reassuring discussion of the sexual facts of life for women. It provides excellent questionnaires to help the reader identify her own unique sexual nature and needs, together with concrete procedures to solve problems and work toward a healthy and satisfying sex life." -Kathleen Logan Prince, M.S.W., Certified Sex Therapist Sex is essentially a simple biological function, as natural to our bodies as eating or sleeping. When things go wrong, some kind of fear or physical discomfort is often at the root of the problem. This workbook offers a gentle and effective guide to help women understand and begin to overcome the fear or pain that inhibits or blocks their sexuality. Interweaving the voices of women who have struggled with these problems, the authors provide a series of exercises designed to help readers map the terra incognita of their own bodies and sexuality and work through healing treatment plans for specific problems.

Maha Nasrallah-Babenko presents a culturally sensitive and uniquely accessible guide that equips clinicians, student sex therapists, and female clients with the tools to confidently treat genito-pelvic pain and penetration disorders (GPPPD). Addressing the issue from an integrated approach, the book provides evidence-based information and sensate, solo and partner practical exercises derived from the author’s experience to help clinicians support women in redefining their relationship with sex, their bodies, and their partners. With a special focus on those from conservative and religious backgrounds, this beautifully illustrated text emphasizes the psychological, emotional, and relational factors that may increase shame and fear surrounding sex. The book defines GPPPD before outlining the author’s ABCs approach, awareness, body, control, and safety, where she examines topics such as sexual abuse, how to communicate with you partner, sexual beliefs and messages, the importance of arousal, vulnerability and assertiveness, and shifting the significance of penetration for an enjoyable sex life. This book is essential reading for training and established sex therapists, family therapists, and couple therapists looking to support those struggling with sexual intimacy, as well as the couples seeking their help.

This book is to help clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatrists and counselors achieve the maximum in service to their clients. Designed to bring ready answers from scientific data to real life practice, The guide is an accessible, authoritative reference for today’s clinician. There are solid guidelines for what to rule out, what works, what doesn’t work and what can be improved for a wide range of mental health problems. It is organized alphabetically for quick reference and distills vast amounts of proven knowledge and strategies into a user friendly, hands-on reference.

A guide to help women understand how their bodies work and to take charge of their sexuality, discussing anatomy, body image, trauma, overcoming difficulties, and related topics.

Large print.

Healing Painful Sex covers the following symptoms and conditions: Pelvic floor dysfunctionVulvodynia, pudendal nerve pain, and clitorodyniaPelvic organ problems, endometriosis, painful bladder, and irritable bowelSkin disorders, such as lichen sclerosisHormonal, surgical, and post-cancer causes of sexual pain Millions of women suffer from sexual and pelvic pain in America today, yet it is frequently misdiagnosed?or not diagnosed at all.In Healing Painful Sex, Deborah Coady, MD and Nancy Fish use their combined professional expertise as a doctor and therapist who specialize in sexual pain to provide readers with an understanding of its many causes and how to treat them, from both a physical and psychological standpoint. Organized into three parts?naming the problem, getting a diagnosis, and overcoming pain?Healing Painful Sex includes medical checklists, illustrations, vignettes based on interviews with women and their healthcare professionals, treatment options, and guidance for moving forward after healing. Coady and Fish speak honestly and directly to sexual pain sufferers' experiences, helping them address the problem of chronic pain, understand and prevent misdiagnoses, define medical terms and conditions, and regain sexual joy. Comprehensive, multi-dimensional, and deeply insightful, Healing Painful Sex offers women the tools to successfully take on the many challenges of sexual pain and move toward a healthy, happy future.