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Rating: 
Summary: Practical and sensitive = real help
Review: Helen Singer Kaplan does an excellent job of separating out the psychological from the physical elements that contribute to having reduced sexual desire. Beginning with a distinction between genital dysfunctions and the arousal disorders, Dr. Kaplan proceeds through the importance of getting a complete and accurate picture of the patient's past and present experience that contribute to reduced or absent desire. After evaluation and a full understanding of the patient's goals for treatment, Dr. Kaplan moves into treatment strategies, using homework and other behavioral suggestions. She uses the exploration of underlying psychoanalytic causes only when the shorter-term solution-focused, behavioral treatments fail to make significant changes. The very readable case histories are a cross section of problems in this area and of Dr. Kaplan's innovative and individualized techniques for offering help. Her comfort with all areas of sexual behavior, anatomy, and individual preferences comes through in every sentence.I was especially impressed by Dr. Kaplan's consideration of some people's lack of motivation in having insights into their personality patterns and behavior. She demonstrates admirable respect for people whose religious beliefs or ethnic norms prevent them from following some of her suggestions to fantasize, share fantasies, masturbate, or use erotica. In each case, she reframed the suggestion so that it was in keeping with the patient's values or she changed the assignment so that it was acceptable to the patient. Her understanding and respect that many couples have successful relationships that they want to maintain but that we, as therapists, might not want for ourselves, provided excellent role modeling for those who read her book. She also doesn't claim 100% success and is willing to discuss some of her treatment failures and why she thought she was ineffective-the mark of a true scientist. ~~Joan Mazza, author of Dream Back Your Life; Dreaming Your Real Self; Things That Tick Me Off; Who's Crazy, Anyway? and Exploring Your Sexual Self.
Rating:
Summary: Practical and sensitive = real help
Review: Helen Singer Kaplan does an excellent job of separating out the psychological from the physical elements that contribute to having reduced sexual desire. Beginning with a distinction between genital dysfunctions and the arousal disorders, Dr. Kaplan proceeds through the importance of getting a complete and accurate picture of the patient's past and present experience that contribute to reduced or absent desire. After evaluation and a full understanding of the patient's goals for treatment, Dr. Kaplan moves into treatment strategies, using homework and other behavioral suggestions. She uses the exploration of underlying psychoanalytic causes only when the shorter-term solution-focused, behavioral treatments fail to make significant changes. The very readable case histories are a cross section of problems in this area and of Dr. Kaplan's innovative and individualized techniques for offering help. Her comfort with all areas of sexual behavior, anatomy, and individual preferences comes through in every sentence. I was especially impressed by Dr. Kaplan's consideration of some people's lack of motivation in having insights into their personality patterns and behavior. She demonstrates admirable respect for people whose religious beliefs or ethnic norms prevent them from following some of her suggestions to fantasize, share fantasies, masturbate, or use erotica. In each case, she reframed the suggestion so that it was in keeping with the patient's values or she changed the assignment so that it was acceptable to the patient. Her understanding and respect that many couples have successful relationships that they want to maintain but that we, as therapists, might not want for ourselves, provided excellent role modeling for those who read her book. She also doesn't claim 100% success and is willing to discuss some of her treatment failures and why she thought she was ineffective-the mark of a true scientist. ~~Joan Mazza, author of Dream Back Your Life; Dreaming Your Real Self; Things That Tick Me Off; Who's Crazy, Anyway? and Exploring Your Sexual Self.
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