Main description:

Sex Therapy with Erotically Marginalized Clients: Nine Principles of Clinical Support provides a clinical guide to relational sex therapy with individuals, partnerships, polyships, and alternative family structures where one or more of the clients are erotically marginalized. This term refers to people who are at risk of being pathologized and oppressed both outside and inside the clinical setting due to their gender identities, sexual orientations, or sexual practices.

The book outlines nine principles for therapeutic practice which meet the needs of erotically marginalized clients, whose forms of sexuality and desire are rarely spoken about and for whom there is a dearth of language in therapeutic contexts. Each principle concludes with a series of 'key points' and then followed by illustrative clinical case studies, contributed by sex therapists and clinicians who self-identify as erotically marginalized and who also work with erotically marginalized clients. The book also provides a full glossary, 'Defining Erotically Marginalized Identities'.

The authors and case contributors use a radical and affirming lens to examine erotically marginalized identities that are often neglected. The book bridges gaps between the past, present, and future in the field of sex therapy and greatly expands the diversity of experiences and identities within the field, particularly the experience of multiple oppressions.

The book marks a valuable contribution not only to sex therapists but to the wider clinical and therapeutic community.

Contents:

List of Figures and Tables

Author Biographies

Contributor Biographies

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Part I: Foundations

Principle One: Maintain Transparency and Name Systemic and Individual Oppressions
The Case of Wanda: Individual Therapy with a Queer Cisgender Femme of Asian Descent by Lourdes Dolores Follins

The Case of Layla and Michelle: Most Welcome, Bondage, For Thou Art a Way, I Think, to Liberty by Laura Jacobs

Principle Two: Challenge Binary Thinking and its Constrictions
The Case of William: Heteronormatively Queer and Kinky, an Integration Story by Amy Basford-Pequet

Principle Three: Support Willingness to Experience the Anxiety of Uncertainty
The Case of Derick: A Framework for Integration by Thomas Wood

The Case of Niam: Race, Class, Sexuality, and Gender While Being and Becoming by Jaycelle Basford-Pequet

Part II: Practice

Principle Four: Practice a Relational and Dialogic Therapeutic Approach to Sex Therapy
The Case of P: Internalized Heterosexism and the Submissive Heterosexual Cisgender Male by Dulcinea Alex Pitagora

Principle Five: Emphasize Clients' Own Words, Knowledge, and Narratives
The Case of V by Anastasia Fujii

Principle Six: Locate Oneself and Respond to Clients' Meta-Communication
The Case of Queeran: When Shared Intersectionality Supports Black, Fat, and Queer Healing by Lexx Brown-James

The Case of Beth by AndreAs Neumann Mascis

Part III: Systemic

Principle Seven: Support Participation of Family and Communities
The Case of Chloe: Identity Exploration using a Black Feminist/Systemic Approach for Working with Erotically Marginalized Clients by Erika Evans-Weaver

Principle Eight: Practice Active Allyship
The Case of B, W, & G: Multiplicity in Positionalities of Therapy with a Poly Triad by Rachel Keller

The Case of Benny: Misogyny and the Dissociated Female Selves by Eve Bogdanove

Principle Nine: Build a Community of Colleagues

Glossary: 'Defining Erotically Marginalized Identities' by Ellie K. Lipton

Appendices A-D: Referral Letter, 'Self-Determined Gender Psychosocial Form', 'The Allyship Practice Model for the Transfeminist Therapeutic Approach', 'Professional Ethics Statement'

Index