How do we treat sexual disorders in Seocorporel sexual therapy?

Focus on sexual skills and learning steps

In sexocorporel sex therapy, everything that a person has learned sexually is seen as a skill. Depending on the issue, there are limits to the sexual learning process, which are expanded in a therapeutic project based on the skills.

It is important for the basic attitude in Sexocorporel to understand that the boundaries of learned patterns are not pathological or deficient, but rather represent attempts at solutions that originally had a purpose and can now be adapted to the current life situation through learning processes if they lead to problems in sexuality.

For example, a person may have learned to stimulate themselves efficiently to the point of discharge during masturbation. They may not be able to do this in couple sexuality, as their learned arousal mode cannot be easily translated into couple sexuality practices.

From Sexocorporel's point of view, this person can build on the skills she has already acquired and take further learning steps to expand the limits of her arousal habits and learn to increase her arousal to the point of discharge in couple sexuality. Many sexual problems can be tackled and solved through learning steps analogous to this example.

Focus on direct causes of a sexual problem

Clinical experience clearly shows how problems relating to arousal function (ejaculatio precox, anorgasmia, erectile dysfunction, etc.), sexual desire, pain during sex, sexual attraction and urge and, in some cases, the experience of gender identity are linked to learning steps on a physical-sexual level. In the Sexocorporel concept, we speak here of direct causes.

These are often not highlighted, but rather relationship problems, psychological problems or drastic experiences are directly linked to the sexual disorder. Once these "obstacles" have been removed, sexuality should develop spontaneously in this view. In the majority of cases, this does not correspond to sexual reality.

Differentiation between mental and sexual health

The majority of clients who seek therapeutic help for their sexual problems are mentally healthy. Many years of clinical experience, including that of other authors such as Helen Kaplan, confirm this.

Conversely, sexual disorders are common in people with mental illness. And sexual dysfunction can have a massive impact on a person's mental health or a couple's relationship. In sexocorporel sexual therapies, the indirect causes are also evaluated, as they can hinder sexual learning and may require specialized treatment.

Precise evaluation of the components

The evaluation interview is based on the person's concerns. We focus on the information that is relevant to understanding the person's sexual functioning and their sexual problem. Since probably more than 80% of sexual problems are directly related to arousal habits, a precise assessment of the arousal mode and the person's relationship to their own genitals is a central component of practically every evaluation.

It is also usually useful to have the course of a typical sexual encounter in a couple described so precisely that you can see it in your mind's eye. Recording the arousal curve is a good way of doing this.

During the evaluation, which usually takes place over several sessions, the individual components of sexuality are examined in connection with the issue being described. The puzzle pieces from the evaluation are not only collected but also organized and put together, i.e. placed in a logical context. The evaluation takes place primarily in the here and now. Aspects of the sexual learning history can contribute to an understanding of the current situation.

In the course of the evaluation, initial hypotheses are made about the person's sexual functioning. This gives us ideas about the direction in which we want to ask further questions and we can either reject or confirm the hypothesis.

Stimulate and support learning and practice processes

The direct cause of sexual problems often lies in sexual learning limitations. Accordingly, therapy stimulates new learning processes. The change in arousal, perception, thinking and interaction habits has an intrapsychic and partner-related effect. Exploration and practice play a central role in the formation of new habits.

The Sexocorporel exercise concept is far more comprehensive than many exercise programs, as it not only aims to enrich mechanical techniques, but also to reach the person on an emotional and relational level. It presupposes that the original habits and patterns have been identified and their function understood in the evaluation.