Counseling for Sexual Disorders

Counseling for Sexual Disorders was first published as Volume Twenty-Six of Resources for Christian Counseling by Word Publishing in 1900. It serves as the protocol for sexual therapists to effectively treat couples experiencing sexual dysfunction or those seeking increased sexual satisfaction. The protocol was developed based on the research of Masters and Johnson, applying their findings to therapeutic intervention—a task they had intended but did not complete. Contributions from others, such as Helen Singer Kaplan, were incorporated into this practical handbook.

This text has become frequently used in universities, seminaries, and graduate schools. Since 1990, the basics have remained the same (as reflected in the stable table of contents), but the terminology and knowledge acquired through research on sex and the brain, organizations like ISSWSH (Dr. Irwin Goldstein), and Clifford and Joyce Penner's 50 years of clinical experience have led to this much-needed revised updated version.

Counseling for Sexual Disorders prepares clinicians and graduate students to have a clear comprehension of the guidelines and underlying principles for the effective use of evidence-based strategies. These include assessment, therapeutic intervention, and relapse prevention. The tools to implement these processes may be duplicated, including forms for assessment, the 31 Sexual Therapy assignments, and gathering data regarding the couple's experience of completing the assignments in the privacy of their own home.

This revision for professionals is designed to parallel the client's handbook, Restoring the Pleasure. Therefore, the 31 assignments are identical in both books.