in Sex And Love In Intimate Relationships, The Authors Explore The Dimensions Of Sexuality And Love. Drawing On Their 40 Years Of Combined Clinical Experience And A Unique Longitudinal Study Of Couples And Families, They Propose That Sexual Problems Are Largely Related To Defenses Acquired Through Painful Childhood Experiences. They Describe The Effects Of The Core Defense, That Is, The Fantasy Bond, Which Is An Illusion Of Connection To The Mother Or Primary Caregiver. The Fantasy Bond Is Later Transferred To A Romantic Partner And Predisposes Alienation In The Relationship. The Authors Explain How Secondary Defences In The Form Of Critical Internal Voices Support Negative Views Of The Self And Others, Interfering With Closeness And Intimacy. In Clear Language And Conceptualization And Through The Liberal Use Of Case Material From Therapy Sessions, The Authors Show How Individuals Can Be Helped To Overcome These Challenges And Become Physically And Emotionally Closer To Their Partners.
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**reviewer:**michael S. Goldsby, Phd(zeno Corporation)
**description:**this Is An Important Book That Utilizes Case Studies As Well As The Authors' Clinical Experience To Explore The Complex Reasons Associated With Problems For Adults In Expressing Sexuality. The Authors Also Introduce Effective Methods For Enhancing Closeness And Intimacy.
**purpose:**the Book's Purpose Is To Educate Clinical Professionals As Well As Individuals To The Possible Childhood Origin Of Maladaptive Belief Systems That Cause Subsequent Problems In The Expression Of Adult Sexuality. In Doing So, The Book Presents A Novel Theoretical Approach To Correcting Problems In Sexual Relations. This New Approach Can Be Utilized By Counselors In A Therapeutic Setting, As Well As By Individuals That Endeavor To Understand The Complexities Inherent In Expressing Their Own Sexuality.
**audience:**this Book Will Clearly Be Of Use To Clinicians Working On Issues Of Sex And Intimate Relations With Couples And Individuals, As Well As For Those Couples Seeking Precise Information Regarding Sexual Relations And Workable Solutions For A Vast Array Of Related Problems. The Case Study Examples Provided By These Three Authors Would Be Excellent Supplemental Reading Material For Graduate Therapy Students As Well As For Professional Workshops On This Intimate Topic.
**features:**the Reader Is Provided Historical Background Information Regarding The Issue Of Sexual Relations And The Expression Of Sexuality, As Well As An In-depth Look At Possible Childhood Experiences And Other Factors That Influence Sexual Development And Adult Sexual Functioning. The Reader Is Introduced To Voice Therapy As It Applies To Problems In Sexual Relating, As Well As Facilitating Change In Maladaptive Behaviors.
**assessment:**the Vast Majority Of The Books On Sex Tend To Focus On The Technical Aspects Of Sexual Relationships. Yet, The Focal Point Of This Insightful Book Is On The Important Emotional And Psychological Breadth Of Human Sexuality. The Culmination Of Research And Professional Literature On Sexuality Is Explored And Presented In A Truly Unique And Sensible Way, Such That Anyone Interested In Gaining Insight And A Better Understanding Of This Often Misunderstood Subject Will Find Value In This Remarkable Book.