Reproductive System & Sexual Disorders: Current Research
Open Access

Abstract

Back to the Basics: Origins of Sex Therapy, Sexual Disorder and Therapeutic Techniques

Lauren M. Walker and John W. Robinson

The development of sex therapy and the conceptualization of sexual disorders began with psychoanalytic underpinnings prior to 1960, and flourished with the development of specific behavioral therapeutic techniques presented by Masters and Johnson in1966 and 1970. Building upon these approaches, Helen Singer Kaplan integrated these two prominent movements with her book, The New Sex Therapy in 1974. During the 1970s, other techniques emerged for the treatment of sexual disorders including Gestalt, Rational Emotive and Humanistic Therapies. The progression and development of these theoretical orientations are presented in the current paper. The sexual revolution of the 1960s to 1970s prompted a prolific development of sex therapies, ranging from those that focus on disorder as a deviation from the ‘normal’ sexual response, to those therapies that aim at improving the sexual activities of all people. Therefore, this paper reviews the foundations of sex therapy up until 1975 and includes an exploration of how various theoretical orientations differ both in the conceptualization of sexual disorder, and in the implementation of specific therapeutic techniques. The conceptualization of sexual disorder and the emergence of a variety of therapeutic modalities for treatment of sexual dysfunction have been monumental in bringing attention to sexual issues. This time period laid the foundation for understanding sexual disorder as a significant issue in need of treatment, and for legitimizing the desire to improve one’s sexual relationships and activities. An examination of these various psychosexual techniques allows us to have a conceptually clearer understanding of sexual disorder and sexual functioning and therefore helps to improve clinical practice