Sex therapy in the couples context: Therapy issues of victims of sexual trauma

As the incidence of sexual trauma grows, it is becoming increasingly important for family therapists to understand the influence of traumatic events on survivors' sexual and other significant relationships. This paper discusses the relationship between sexual trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the influence of sexual trauma on the significant relationships of survivors, and the clinical issues in sex therapy with couples with one or more survivors of sexual trauma. A cognitive-behavioral model of therapy is discussed as an effective model for integrating sexual trauma healing into the ongoing relationship and sex therapy.