Whether they involve excess, a decrease, or complete absence, problems of sexual desire drive women to consult sex therapists, couples counselors, and other practitioners (to say nothing of self-help books and talk-show hosts). Facing the Complexities of Women’s Sexual Desire, by veteran sex therapist Vera Sonja Maass, is one of the few books to address these intimate phenomena in practical clinical detail.
-Background chapters outline the often-conflicting factors influencing women’s sexuality and sexual response, both biological (e.g., hormones, pregnancy) and sociocultural (e.g., media images, double standards)
-"The Woman in Context" section explores individual characteristics and symptoms as manifested in relationships, particularly as terms of interpersonal styles and power dynamics
-Case histories and vignettes, from a wide range of women, illustrate different aspects of desire, desire disorders, and treatment options
-Current theories and therapies relevant to problems of desire are covered in depth
-An effective cognitive-behavioral model is applied in solo, couples, group, and single-sided relationship therapy settings
Its specialized focus makes Facing the Complexities of Women’s Sexual Desire an important addition to the bookshelf of sex and marriage therapists, clinical and women’s health psychologists, and students planning to enter these areas. And Maass has kept the book free of jargon so the non-professional reader, too, can make the most of her advice.
