Sexuality and Chronic Illness

Lee Phillips, EdD, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Washington DC., Maryland, Virginia, New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. He is also a Certified Sex Therapist (CST) and supervisor accredited by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT). He is in private practice in New York City where he specializes in sex and couples therapy.

“Sexuality and Chronic Illness is a compassionate, clinically rigorous, and long-overdue contribution to sexual health care. Dr. Lee Phillips powerfully affirms that sexuality remains central to well-being, even in the presence of illness, and offers clinicians practical, sex-positive guidance for supporting patients without shame or avoidance. An essential read for anyone committed to holistic care.”Laurie Mintz, PhD, author of Becoming Cliterate“Sexuality and Chronic Illness: A Clinician’s Guide to Sexual Wellness and Healing is a necessary and beautifully written contribution to our field. Readers will learn that sexuality does not disappear because of illness; it evolves. Grounded in a bio-psycho-social-sexual framework, this book offers clinicians a guide to conversations that are often avoided. The author integrates trauma-informed care and sex therapy with practical tools for anyone experiencing illness or who wants to heal their lives. It is an essential, compassionate resource and belongs on every clinician’s shelf.”Tammy Nelson, PhD, executive director and founder of Integrative Sex Therapy Institute and author of Open Monogamy“Lee Phillips has written an insightful, thought-provoking, and deeply compassionate work about one of the biggest blind spots in our sex-phobic yet sex-obsessed culture: sex and chronic illness. This book is an invaluable resource for clinicians, chronically ill people, and those looking to broaden their understanding of the healing powers of sex and pleasure. His radical yet sensible message that chronic illness and disability do not spell the end of sex will change lives for the better.”Wednesday Martin, PhD, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Primates of Park Avenue and UNTRUE“All too often, sexuality gets sidelined in conversations about chronic illness. That’s why this book is so important. Dr. Lee Phillips puts sexuality back where it belongs: at the center of holistic care. This book equips clinicians across disciplines with the insight and practical tools needed to navigate the complex intersection of sexuality and chronic illness with clarity and compassion. An essential guide for helping patients adapt, reconnect, and cultivate meaningful, fulfilling erotic lives.”Justin Lehmiller, PhD, Senior Research Fellow at the Kinsey Institute and author of Tell Me What You Want“Sexuality and Chronic Illness: A Clinician’s Guide to Sexual Wellness and Healing is an essential and overdue contribution to the field. This book does what too few clinical texts dare to do: it places sexual pleasure where it belongs, at the center of human dignity, embodiment, and relational life, even in the presence of chronic illness. With clarity, compassion, and clinical sophistication, Dr. Phillips guides clinicians beyond function-focused, deficit-based models and toward a sexual wellness framework grounded in agency, curiosity, and erotic possibility. This is not a book about “fixing” sex; it is a guide to helping clients mourn, adapt, and reimagine erotic life with honesty and hope. Every clinician working with illness, disability, trauma, or long-term health conditions should have this book within reach.”Joe Kort, PhD, LMSW, sex & relationship therapist; author of Side Guys: It’s Still Sex Even if You Don’t Have Intercourse“Dr. Lee Phillip's text provides a detailed and comprehensive overview of the impact of chronic illness on sexuality for individuals and couples. Additionally, it provides valuable insights into assessment and treatment models for clinicians, along with interesting and illustrative case examples.”Anne Katz, PhD, RN, author of Cancer, Sex, and Intimacy: A Couple's Guide

• Introduction Part I: Foundations 1. Understanding Sexual Health In The Context Of Chronic Illness 2. Assessment Through A Sexual Wellness Lens 3. Intersectionality And Identity Part II: Interventions 4. Mental Health, Depression, Shame, And Grief 5. Reframing Desire And Pleasure 6. Medication, Devices, And Sexual Aids 7. Navigating Your Discomfort Conclusion