SEX THERAPY IN THE COUPLES CONTEXT - THERAPY ISSUES OF VICTIMS OF SEXUAL TRAUMA

As the incidence of sexual trauma grows, it is becoming increasingly i mportant for family therapists to understand the influence of traumati c events on survivor's sexual and other significant relationships. Thi s paper discusses the relationship between sexual trauma and post-trau matic stress disorder (PTSD), the influence of sexual trauma on the si gnificant relationships of survivors and the clinical issues in sex th erapy with couples with one or more survivors of sexual trauma. A cogn itive-behavioral model of therapy is discussed as an effective model f or integrating sexual healing into the ongoing relationship and sex th erapy.