Non-Couple Therapy for Sexual Dysfunction

SummarySince the early 1970s there has been an emphasis on couple therapy in the treatment of sexual dysfunction. This paper discusses the potential applications and benefits of non-couple individual and group treatment of sexual problems in men and women, both for those in relationships and for those without partners, and reviews the approaches and outcomes reported in a number of treatment studies. The characteristics of people presenting alone to sexual dysfunction clinics are described, and issues relating to non-couple therapy for certain sub-groups of the population are considered. Factors associated with the potential effectiveness of non-couple therapy are investigated and the paper also examines various components and techniques employed in individual and group treatment. It is argued that practitioners and referrers should place a greater stress on non-couple therapy for people both with and without partners who present with sexual dysfunction, and that this approach is of potential benefit in the treatment of most types of sexual problem.