Floyd, H. Hugh

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Clinical Sociology ReviewVolume 7 | Issue 1 Article 251-1-1989Integrating Sex and Marital Therapy: A ClinicalGuideH. Hugh FloydUniversity of New OrleansFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/csrThis Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@WayneState. It has been accepted for inclusion in Clinical SociologyReview by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@WayneState.Recommended CitationFloyd, H. Hugh (1989) "Integrating Sex and Marital Therapy: A Clinical Guide," Clinical Sociology Review: Vol. 7: Iss. 1, Article 25.Available at: http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/csr/vol7/iss1/25BOOK REVIEWS 235Krueger's stand toward logistics seems somewhat outdated. He suggeststhat an assistant moderator should take notes and operate a visible tape recorder(he considers the use of hidden tape recorders unnecessarily secretive). In myopinion, the use of nonintrusive recording devices is standard in focus groupresearch and is far superior and less disruptive than conspicuous note-taking ofequipment sitting mid-table. Sociological practice ethics require that partici-pants be notified at the beginning of the session that they are being recordedand/or being observed by clients and research assistants through one-way mir-rors (also standard industry practice). If they understand that this is to ensureaccuracy of data analysis and that anonymity will be preserved in all cases,participants can relax into a natural and informal discussion of the topic at hand.When specially-designed focus group rooms are not available, tape-recordingequipment should be duplicated so that note-taking is not essential.Finally, the text is annoyingly repetitive—a fault that could be corrected ina later edition. The bibliography, however, which is current and draws from avariety of settings, is both pragmatic and of scholarly interest to sociologicalpractitioners.It will be interesting to observe in the next decade whether the focus groupmethod will become recognized as more than a fad of the 1980s. It may take itsrightful place as a superb example of qualitative sociological methodology that,properly used, can yield valid, reliable, and meaningful social data. Trainingworkshops sponsored by the Sociological Practice Association will play a sig-nificant part in the professionalization of focus group methodology.Integrating Sex and Marital Therapy: A Clinical Guide, edited by GeraldR. Weeks and Larry Hof. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1987. 225+ pp.H. Hugh FloydUniversity of New Orleans"Eclectic approach" is a label frequently used by clinicians and/or academicsto refer to their work. Such a claim is often represented by a disjunctive set ofideas and/or actions that are ineffective and ineffective at best, or confusing andcounter-productive at worst. Weeks and Hof have produced a text that does notfall victim to the "eclectic flaw." Integrating Sex and Marital Therapy is anexcellent set of readings which reflect a systemic approach, integrating themulti-dimensionality of sexual problems that couples experience. The book hastwo major divisions. Part I focuses on conceptualizing sexual problems from asystems perspective; it is subdivided into theoretical issues and practical applica-tions. Part II deals with special problems the clinician might encounter.The issues to be considered in evaluating the marital relationships of clients236 CLINICAL SOCIOLOGY REVIEW/1989with sexual complaints are enumerated in the first chapter. The relevance ofindividual, couple, and intergenerational factors are discussed. In the secondchapter the authors point out the dysfunctionality in couples trying to negotiateissues of love, intimacy and sex. Resources such as money and time are negotia-ble; but love, intimacy, and sex which are related to caring, sharing and feeling,are not. The use of negotiation and power struggles in the latter can undermineintimacy in the relationship. An excellent statement of intergenerational impacton couples with sexual problems is found in chapter 3. The authors discuss therelationship between structural boundaries or parents and children: "parents'ability to have a sexual relationship serves as a generational marker, provingtheir adulthood both to their own parents and to their children." The implica-tions of this theoretical position are explored in order to reflect the fact that thefamily of orientation can impact on the marital sexual problem. The authorsclearly demonstrate the effectiveness of the sexual genogram for exploring thisarea.A detailed presentation of an approach to making "a good marital situationbetter" is found in chapter 4, "Enhancing a Couple's Sexual Relationship."The focus is on increasing the level of couple intimacy within the therapeutichour. Of particular note is the comment by the authors regarding the therapist'srole and reaction to the couple during the counseling process. Chapter 5 centerson a critical contemporary issue of family: dealing with the sexual concerns ofchildren. The author points out that "by active involvement or by default,parents are the primary sexuality educators of their children and many parentsfind this a confusing role, one they may be hesitant to accept." A very helpfulset of approaches for the counselor to use in facilitating a more comfortable andcompetent parent as educator is presented. A very useful appendix includes aset of guidelines for parents when talking to children about sexuality. Finally,this section presents the use of "the new hypnotherapy" to facilitate resolutionof sexual problems. The Ericsonian approach to sex hypnotherapy is presentedas the model to be followed. The authors offer a systematic and detailed descrip-tion of the process as applied to a series of common clinical problems, a mosthelpful selection for the practitioner who wants to gain insight and skill into theuse of this technique.The second part, "Special Problems," begins with a most salient chapter.The crisis of infertility affects approximately 17 percent of couples who are ofchildbearing age. Patricia Mahlstedt skillfully discusses medical and psychoso-cial issues and their relationship to infertility. She suggests a therapeutic ap-proach that can facilitate the restoration of competence and feelings of selfcontrol that may enhance the probability of the distraught couple's recovery.In his chapter on extramarital affairs (EMA) and extramarital sex (EMS),Humphrey offers a parsimonious statement on a very critical issue in Americanmarital relations. He defines extramarital affairs and extramarital sex using fourBOOK REVIEWS 237components: time, emotional involvement, level of sexual involvement, andsexual orientation. Following a conceptual elaboration of these components, heoutlines a set of specific therapeutic considerations. It is a well-integrated state-ment indicating the complications (ethical and practical) in dealing with theproblem at both the individual and couple levels.William Miller gives an excellent but brief explication of the social psycho-logical impact of rape on the victim, the victim's partner, and the relationship.In his therapeutic directives he notes why and how balance of individual andconjoin sessions can be maintained.Weeks talks about inhibited sexual desire as the discrepancy in levels ofdesire expressed by the couple. Individual, couple interaction, and intergenera-tional issues are shown to impact on this problem. Each area is addressedthrough setting therapeutic goals and procedures. He skillfully demonstrates thesystemic nature of the problem and its resolution.The central assumption of Goldberg's insightful work on hypersexuality isthat labeling this type of sexual behavior is a problem in a couple process. Hepoints out the importance of age and gender status as pivotal criteria for judginga person's level of sexual activity. Although he makes a strong case for the"social definition" being an etiological part of the problem, he lists and dis-cusses other contributing factors ranging from drugs to physical and mentalhealth. He proposes that couple therapy is most effective for treating this sexualproblem.Finally, marital and sexual counseling of elderly couples is discussed byStone. Because this is an ever-increasing segment of the clinical population, theauthor defines aging as a normal human process which in no way precludes anactive sexual relationship for the couple. A major part of his work is the discus-sion the age-specific sexual problems and therapeutic suggestions for counselingelderly couples.The editors of this book have accomplished what they set out to do increating an integrated set of readings that conceptually and substantively "fittogether." The chapters are well-written and parsimonious; the authors use casestudies very effectively for illustration and clarification. I think this is a goodbook for use in academic training of both graduate students and clinicians. It isa significant contribution to the literature in the field.Becoming an EX: The Process of Role Exit, edited by Helen Rose FuchsEbaugh. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1988. 247 pp.Katherine WilliamsAnyone who has ever played the "Who Am I?" game recognizes thecentrality of major social roles—spouse, parent, doctor, woman, man, etc.—to

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