Perspectives of sex therapy outcome: a survey of AASECT providers.

Abstract

Randomly selected AASECT members who reported that they conduct sex therapy (N = 289) responded to a questionnaire about their sex therapy caseloads. Desire discrepancies between partners was the most common problem (31%). Least commonly reported problems were vaginismus (5%), ejaculatory inhibition (5%), and primary erectile dysfunction (2%). Highest success rates (client satisfaction with sexual functioning) were for premature ejaculation (62%), secondary orgasmic dysfunction (56%), and desire discrepancies (53%). Primary erectile dysfunctions had the lowest success rate (25%). The most commonly used treatment methods were a focus on communication skills, general sex education, homework assignments, and a focus on the sexual interaction; sensate focus, and the discussion of nonsexual individual and/or relationship issues also were quite commonly used. From a discriminant function analysis, the combined Therapists and Multiple-certified provider groups reported focusing on sexual interactions more than the combined Counselors and Educators; the Educators were the least likely providers to use a focus either on sexual interactions or on homework assignments. The Counselors were the most likely, and the Educators the least likely, to use communication skills. Therapists and the Multiple-certified providers estimated higher treatment success rates than Counselors and Educators for premature ejaculation, secondary erectile dysfunction, vaginismus, primary orgasmic dysfunction, sexual avoidance, ejaculatory inhibition, and sexual arousal problems. The Educators were the least successful with dyspareunia. Educators and Counselors were similar in reporting the fewest clients with sexual arousal problems. Therapists and Multiple-certified providers reported spending more treatment hours with desire discrepancies and desire problems. The implications of the findings for clinical practitioners and researchers are discussed.