Enhance Sexual Health with Schema Therapy

In this Brief Communication, Schema therapy is described as a way of enhancing the therapist’s ability to incorporate sexual health interventions when treating a couple for sexual infrequency. The sexual health intervention described in this communication is Sensate Focus [1]. After assisting the couple in identifying their unmet needs in childhood, as well as their schemas (rigid belief systems) and modes (default repetitive emotional and behavioral cycles), the therapist can guide the couple to a greater understanding of how these default emotional and behavioral cycles can contribute to intimacy infrequency. The therapist, drawing upon a series of experiential interventions used in schema therapy: connection dialogue, imagery rescripting, mode chair work, empathic confrontation, and limited reparenting, can assist the couple in the resolution of conflict and establish a stronger emotional and physical bond.