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Sensate Focus for Sexual Concerns: an Updated, Critical Literature Review

June 2019
Current Sexual Health Reports 11(11)

DOI:10.1007/s11930-019-00197-9

Authors:

University of Oregon

Purpose of review Despite the fact that Masters and Johnson’s Sensate Focus has informed the sex therapy field for decades, there has been a lack of clarity about its updated description, and its use with sexual dysfunctions versus facilitating optimal sexual interaction. The authors suggest separating Sensate Focus into two components: Sensate Focus 1 for resolving dysfunctions; and Sensate Focus 2 for optimizing intimacy. Six specific questions are addressed: Does the literature continue to reference Sensate Focus? What is its efficacy? In what types of journals is it referenced? How do recent publications define Sensate Focus? Is it referenced as a general citation or are details included? Are details consistent with different phases of Sensate Focus (1 and 2)? Recent findings Sensate Focus: continues to be referenced in the literature especially with diverse clientele; continues to be an effective sex therapy technique; is increasingly referenced in medical journals; is increasingly defined as having two components (Sensate Focus 1 and 2); is increasingly referenced in greater detail; and details increasingly reflect a nuanced understanding of differences between Sensate Focus 1 and 2. Summary The complexities of Sensate Focus are being recognized in terms of phases of treatment, application to diversified populations, and as incorporated in biopsychosocial models for treating sexual problems.

Flow chart of systematic database search, 21 June 2018, identifying scholarly works referring to Sensate Focus from January 2015 through June 2018 and using the search term “Sensate Focus” in social science and medical science databases. Forty-eight works met full criteria for review

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CLINICAL THERAPEUTICS (B MCCARTHY AND R SEGRAVES, SECTION EDITORS)

Sensate Focus for Sexual Concerns: an Updated, Critical

Literature Review

Constance Avery-Clark

&Linda Weiner

&Alexis A. Adams-Clark

Published online: 10 May 2019

#Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2019

Abstract

Purpose of review Despite the fact that Masters and Johnson’s Sensate Focus has informed the sex therapy field for decades,

there has been a lack of clarity about its updated description, and its use with sexual dysfunctions versus facilitating optimal

sexual interaction. The authors suggest separating Sensate Focus into two components: Sensate Focus 1 for resolving dysfunc-

tions; and Sensate Focus 2 for optimizing intimacy. Six specific questions are addressed: Does the literature continueto reference

Sensate Focus? What is its efficacy? In what types of journals is it referenced? How do recent publications define Sensate Focus?

Is it referenced as a general citation or are details included? Are details consistent with different phases of Sensate Focus (1 and

2)?

Recent findings Sensate Focus: continues to be referenced in the literature especially with diverse clientele; continues to be an

effective sex therapy technique; is increasingly referenced in medical journals; is increasingly defined as having two components

(Sensate Focus 1 and 2); is increasingly referenced in greater detail; and details increasingly reflect a nuanced understanding of

differences between Sensate Focus 1 and 2.

Summary The complexities of Sensate Focus are being recognized in terms of phases of treatment, application to diversified

populations, and as incorporated in biopsychosocial models for treating sexual problems.

Keywords Sensate Focus .Sex therapy .Sexual dysfunction .Sexual health .Sexual intimacy .Biopsychosocial model

Introduction

Sensate Focus was developed by William Masters and

Virginia Johnson [1] in the 1960s. It is a therapeutic technique

based on the efficacy of touch for minimizing sexual

performance anxiety [2••,3,4••]. It is foundational to the

treatment of all manner of sexual dysfunctions and disorders

including those of a psychosocial and/or medical etiology

[5–8]. Sensate Focus appears in human sexuality textbooks

for students [9–12] as well as leading books on sex therapy

[13•]. On the conceptual level,

Sensate Focus is the core feature of Masters and

Johnson’s sex therapy, and it serves two primary func-

tions: allowing clients to focus on something over which

they have voluntary control (attending to tactile sensa-

tions) instead of focusing on that over which they have

no voluntary control (generating arousal); and providing

an opportunity for generative intimate connection. [2•,

p., 167]

In more practical terms,

Sensate Focus is a series of structured touching and

discovery suggestions that provides opportunities for

experiencing your own and your partners’bodies in a

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Clinical Therapeutics

*Linda Weiner

linderweiner@gmail.com

Constance Avery-Clark

constance@draveryclark.com

Alexis A. Adams-Clark

aadamscl@uoregon.edu

Institute for Sexual & Relationship Therapy & Training, 7100 W.

Camino Real, Suite 302-23, Boca Raton, FL 33433, USA

Institute for Sexual & Relationship Therapy & Training, 7396

Pershing Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA

Department of Psychology, University ofOregon, 1227University St

Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA

Current Sexual Health Reports (2019) 11:84–94

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-019-00197-9

Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.

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Sexuality and intimacy difficulties are often a part of the aftermath of sexual trauma. We argue that combining techniques from evidence-based, trauma-focused treatment with sex-positive techniques used in sex therapy can best help survivors reduce trauma-related symptoms and develop or regain comfort with their sexuality. In this article, we illustrate this approach by describing the case of a survivor of sexual assault, who completed 20 sessions of treatment that combined modules of trauma-focused therapies, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE) with sensate focus therapy, a technique often used in sex therapy. The outcome of this case suggests that clinicians who work with sexual trauma survivors may want to consider a sex-positive approach to conceptualizing and planning the course of treatment, to achieve optimal results.

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Acquired physical disabilities are a critical issue that confronts many adults today, and they are projected to continue to increase over the next several years. For many individuals with acquired physical disabilities, the disabilities affect sexuality, thus requiring a renegotiation of disability and sexuality. This article reviews the extant literature on physical disabilities and sexuality and provides best practices for counselors to effectively address the needs of this growing population.