An online sensate focus application to treat sexual desire discrepancy in intimate relationships: contrasting case studies

Abstract

the present study provided an initial evaluation of an online, therapist-free sex therapy application for people struggling with sexual desire discrepancy in their relationship. In the mixed-methods case study, we provided an account of four users (two who improved and two who did not) who engaged in the intervention for eight weeks; the users answered weekly questions about their progress and completed an interview at the end of the study. We found that the intervention was very effective for some users with hope and confidence being related to higher improvement. also seeing the problem as shared rather than one person's issue helped make improvements. Communication (or lack thereof ) was an important contributor to both the problem and the progress. the application can be used as a standalone treatment for sexual desire discrepancy or in combination with a therapist. LAY SUMMARYthe manuscript describes the experience of four individuals who used an online sex therapy app for eight weeks to help with mismatched sexual desire in their relationship. Having hope things would get better, seeing the problem as shared, and beginning to communicate about sex helped improve outcomes.Sexual desire discrepancy (SDD; i.e. when one partner's level of sexual desire is higher or lower, or their preferences are different to that of their partner's) is a common difficulty for couples. Researchers estimate that between 25-30% of couples experience a problematic sexual desire discrepancy in relationships (Mitchell et al., 2013). SDD is also among the most common difficulties presented in couple's therapy (Ellison, 2002). A recent study found that sexual desire fluctuates periodically (M. J. Vowels et al., 2018). Other research has shown that desire ebbs and flows naturally, and therefore partners are unlikely to always be in sync with each other, making desire discrepancy inevitable and potentially problematic unless couples find a way to mitigate these instances in their relationship (Herbenick et al., 2014).

Assessment of the effect of mindfulness monotherapy on sexual dysfunction symptoms and sex-related quality of life in women

“…24 Sensate focus enables partners to focus on experiencing sensations derived from sexual activity and learning how to be attentive to them to limit the formation of unwanted, intrusive thoughts distancing the person from sexual activity at a given moment. 25 Intrusive thoughts and other subjectively experienced distractors make it difficult for a woman to focus on sensations flowing from the body as a result of sexual activity; they effect a negative assessment of a specific activity and, as a result, a reduction of subjectively experienced arousal and desire. 26–28 …”