Lifespan Challenges

How mindset challenging to consider the sexuality and need for healthy functioning of adolescents. It seems to be another part of the horizon of sex therapy. While it may be controversial, early sexual experiences are very formative. What they experience, whether it be fun or shameful (or both), may significantly influence the course their sexual development takes. Sex therapy for adolescents may be effective toward prevention of larger issues later in life.
When it comes to aging adults, how encouraging that people may experience some physical barriers, but that their sexual satisfaction is actually similar to younger adults. I can't say I was surprised by the rates of ED or lubrication challenges in women, but love the affirmative stance that they are just as worthy of sexual enjoyment as any other younger adult.

Sexual Diversity

Of the two chapters, I found the comments that Dr. Margaret Nichols, particularly the set of bullets highlighting her affirmative stance on the subject, to be the most helpful. I have long been sensitive to challenges faced by LGBTQ people and found this set of points to be the most on-point and concise I've read. I fully believe that sex and gender are different concepts and that they are expressed in so many different ways, which is powerfully influenced by culture in its expression and the degree to which it is expressed. I fully believe that the fluidity of gender has existed across cultures and time and have been fascinated learning about Two Spirits in Native American culture. This is one of the examples of how culture influences gender and sex expression. If the notion that some cultures actually revere the people possessing aspects of both genders instead of marginalize them is as fascinating to you as it is to me, I encourage you to look into it more. By contrast, Dr. Nichols spoke at the SSTAR conference about natal women who later dressed and lived as men, only having their physical sex identified by society upon their death. This was in our society in the early 1900s, when there was no option for having both male and female attributes.

Paraphilias

I spoke about this a bit in class, but found the talk about pedophiles at the SSTAR conference to be the highlight of my learning there. Dr. Cantor has been working with pedophiles to better understand the distinct brain patterns of those with pedophilic tendencies, once again highlighting the differences between those who act and those who have the sexual interest and do not act. Similar to how Kinsey's work started with an overly-technical medical explanation to make the subject of sex more socially acceptable, this seminar described pedophilia as the cultural horizon of modern sex therapy, needing first to be medically explained in order to bring the conversation to the public in a less divisive way, and also to build therapist compassion. Unfortunately, there aren't really any treatments that have shown efficacy yet.
Thanks also to the paraphilia group for your illuminating presentation and wiki page!

Sex and Disability

I was moved by the topic of sex and disability, both the readings and the presentation. One of the ideas that stood out the most to me was that a therapist has to believe in the client as a sexual being. Though the concept could apply to any client involved in sex therapy, is was really effectively illustrated in the case of the gay man who had lost his legs and genitalia in the textbook. The therapist had to believe he could be in a loving, sexual relationship, just as a therapist would have to believe in the ability of any other person that does not fit the socially constructed concept of who is "sexy." I haven't encountered this internal challenge, but will remain aware because of the reading. One of our textbook editors, Dr. Kathryn Hall, gave a talk at the SSTAR conference about the concept of disgust as it applies to couples, but also echoed the notion of the therapist having to overcome barriers of disgust as well in order to be able to genuinely convey hope.
I also found it fascinating that person's with paralysis and/or non-sensitivity in typical erogenous zones can find new ones and adapt to receive pleasure. Once again, this speaks to the multi-dimensionality of sex, with no one form of expression.
So last thing folks, here is a link to the movie trailer for Sessions, the film I mentioned in class based on the true story of a paralyzed man who seeks a sexual surrogate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy2y7UIpgP4
I truly love this film for the dignity with which it presents a beautiful man challenged by disability who wants to experience sexual fulfillment. I highly recommend it.