Stephen B. Levine - Böcker

The author has written an unusually fresh work, applying a biopsychosocial approach to the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range and degree of disorders. The book will provide mental health professionals and graduate students with a trustworthy, sophisticated introduction to sexual health and its problems.

I wrote Sexuality in Mid-Life to assist clinicians in considering love, sex, intimacy, and dysfunction as they occur in this epoch of the life cy­ cle. The chapters reflect my belief that understanding the processes of living is vital for both the therapist and the patient. Despite my preoc­ cupation with creating a cohesive book, I often thought of these 11 chapters as essays because in this prose form it is traditional for the author to be palpably present in the text. I tried not to hide behind the passive constructions oftypical psychiatric books. I wanted to create a book that did not restrict itself to scientific findings, clinical experi­ ences, or ideological traditions. I wanted to discuss relevant issues that were generally avoided by professionals. In approaching the topics of love, extramarital affairs, and menopause, for instance, I hoped to em­ phasize the developmental potentials inherent in both mid-life's smooth sailing and its underappreciated adversities. Sexuality in Mid-Life is my third solo-authored book. During the writing ofthe first two, I thought I was painting a picture of the life cy­ cle of sexuality. When a young woman said something complimentary to me about Sex Is Not Simple and quickly added that I had left out any consideration of the sexuality of pregnancy, I was stunned by my over­ sight.

I wrote Sexuality in Mid-Life to assist clinicians in considering love, sex, intimacy, and dysfunction as they occur in this epoch of the life cy­ cle. The chapters reflect my belief that understanding the processes of living is vital for both the therapist and the patient. Despite my preoc­ cupation with creating a cohesive book, I often thought of these 11 chapters as essays because in this prose form it is traditional for the author to be palpably present in the text. I tried not to hide behind the passive constructions oftypical psychiatric books. I wanted to create a book that did not restrict itself to scientific findings, clinical experi­ ences, or ideological traditions. I wanted to discuss relevant issues that were generally avoided by professionals. In approaching the topics of love, extramarital affairs, and menopause, for instance, I hoped to em­ phasize the developmental potentials inherent in both mid-life's smooth sailing and its underappreciated adversities. Sexuality in Mid-Life is my third solo-authored book. During the writing ofthe first two, I thought I was painting a picture of the life cy­ cle of sexuality. When a young woman said something complimentary to me about Sex Is Not Simple and quickly added that I had left out any consideration of the sexuality of pregnancy, I was stunned by my over­ sight.

Barriers to Loving is an intriguing exploration of the role of sexual love over the course of life. Beginning with the mental health professions’ avoidance of the topic, Levine proposes a compendium of love’s pathologies by reorganizing what is familiar to clinicians into the barriers that limit the formation of adult-adult love, impediments that diminish a partner’s lovability, and the impediments to feeling and expressing love for a partner. Before reviewing scientific contributions to the understanding of love, he explores the topics of sexual excess and infidelity and how they relate to the aspiration to love and be loved. The final two chapters synthesize with clarity what to teach about love to young professionals in order to prepare them for the complexities they will soon encounter and provide a sophisticated answer to the question, What is love? Barriers to Loving integrates humanism, science, and clinical experience in Levine’s long-appreciated unique and mature voice.

Barriers to Loving is an intriguing exploration of the role of sexual love over the course of life. Beginning with the mental health professions’ avoidance of the topic, Levine proposes a compendium of love’s pathologies by reorganizing what is familiar to clinicians into the barriers that limit the formation of adult-adult love, impediments that diminish a partner’s lovability, and the impediments to feeling and expressing love for a partner. Before reviewing scientific contributions to the understanding of love, he explores the topics of sexual excess and infidelity and how they relate to the aspiration to love and be loved. The final two chapters synthesize with clarity what to teach about love to young professionals in order to prepare them for the complexities they will soon encounter and provide a sophisticated answer to the question, What is love? Barriers to Loving integrates humanism, science, and clinical experience in Levine’s long-appreciated unique and mature voice.

Intended primarily for mental health professionals, Demystifying Love deals plainly with topics rarely written about for clinicians. As the book shows, love is the logical point of departure for a clinical understanding of sexuality and its problems. It is the most conventional framework for understanding sexual behaviors, the one that is broadly endorsed across many cultures, often as the ideal context for sexual expression. The book integrates an analysis of love in patients dealing with intimacy, sexual desire, infidelity, forgiveness and reconciliation. Detailed with compelling case studies, the author’s skill as a therapist comes through in the discussion of these topics—many of which are at the heart of numerous couple problems.

Intended primarily for mental health professionals, Demystifying Love deals plainly with topics rarely written about for clinicians. The book discusses in a small package highly readable and useful topics, such as love (as both noun and verb), psychological intimacy, sexual desire, as well as infidelity, both in background concepts and clinical guidelines. As the book shows, love is the logical point of departure for a clinical understanding of sexuality and its problems. It is the most conventional framework for understanding sexual behaviors, the one that is broadly endorsed across many cultures, often as the ideal context for sexual expression. The book integrates an analysis of love in patients dealing with intimacy, sexual desire, infidelity, forgiveness and reconciliation. Detailed with compelling case studies, the author’s skill as a therapist comes through in the discussion of these topics—many of which are at the heart of numerous couple problems.In creating this illuminating work for mental health professionals, Dr. Levine may have underestimated its appeal. Dr. Levine’s ability to shed light on our internal processes as we love and attempt to be loved throughout life may prove to be of interest to a far broader audience.

This book provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the forces that influence sexual dysfunction across the lifespan and equips clinicians with effective strategies to help individuals and couples enhance their intimate connections and overall relationship satisfaction.Drawing from over five decades of clinical experience, master teacher Dr. Stephen B. Levine guides mental health professionals of all experience levels to acquire a deep understanding of the treatment of sexual concerns. Moving beyond the traditional approaches and models for sex therapy, this practical guide illuminates the profound subjectivity behind sexual behavior, exploring the predisposing developmental experiences, precipitating events, and maintaining factors that shape patients' intimate lives. This book offers insights into problems not addressed in diagnostic manuals such as premature cessation of partner sex, betrayal, extra-dyadic relationships, and sexual aversion. Clinical vignettes demonstrate how to compassionately explore the private thoughts, feelings, and conflicts that can create obstacles in loving relationships. This revised edition also includes new chapters on developmental forces that impact sexual dysfunction as well as working with transgender youth and adults. Written in an engaging, supervisory tone that fosters a personal connection with readers, this book reveals how sexuality serves as both a mechanism of self-discovery and a profound means of intimate connection and offers enduring principles that clinicians can apply throughout their careers.This essential resource is designed to help therapists, counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and mental health professionals of all kinds increase their confidence and effectiveness when addressing the sexual concerns that inevitably arise in clinical practice.

This book provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the forces that influence sexual dysfunction across the lifespan and equips clinicians with effective strategies to help individuals and couples enhance their intimate connections and overall relationship satisfaction.Drawing from over five decades of clinical experience, master teacher Dr. Stephen B. Levine guides mental health professionals of all experience levels to acquire a deep understanding of the treatment of sexual concerns. Moving beyond the traditional approaches and models for sex therapy, this practical guide illuminates the profound subjectivity behind sexual behavior, exploring the predisposing developmental experiences, precipitating events, and maintaining factors that shape patients' intimate lives. This book offers insights into problems not addressed in diagnostic manuals such as premature cessation of partner sex, betrayal, extra-dyadic relationships, and sexual aversion. Clinical vignettes demonstrate how to compassionately explore the private thoughts, feelings, and conflicts that can create obstacles in loving relationships. This revised edition also includes new chapters on developmental forces that impact sexual dysfunction as well as working with transgender youth and adults. Written in an engaging, supervisory tone that fosters a personal connection with readers, this book reveals how sexuality serves as both a mechanism of self-discovery and a profound means of intimate connection and offers enduring principles that clinicians can apply throughout their careers.This essential resource is designed to help therapists, counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and mental health professionals of all kinds increase their confidence and effectiveness when addressing the sexual concerns that inevitably arise in clinical practice.

The Handbook of Clinical Sexuality for Mental Health Professionals, 3rd Edition, builds on the authors’ authoritative first person voice on sexual matters of the previous editions. The work reflects the field's growing sophistication about sexual disorders and their therapies. The scope has been expanded to keep pace with new literature and research in the field, and eight additional chapters have been added. New topics include the politics of diagnosis, persistent genital arousal, asexuality, post orgasm illness, scientific findings concerning origin of orientation, and partnering with the pharmaceutical industry. Easily accessible, the Handbook is divided into sections that touch on fundamental knowledge and skills; treatment; men’s major sexual concerns; women’s major sexual concerns; problems common to both genders; the diversity of sexual lives; and future and trending topics. Written in a personal, supervisory style, the book will help new therapists anticipate clinical contingencies and help experienced therapists refine their thinking and teaching.

The Handbook of Clinical Sexuality for Mental Health Professionals, 3rd Edition, builds on the authors’ authoritative first person voice on sexual matters of the previous editions. The work reflects the field's growing sophistication about sexual disorders and their therapies. The scope has been expanded to keep pace with new literature and research in the field, and eight additional chapters have been added. New topics include the politics of diagnosis, persistent genital arousal, asexuality, post orgasm illness, scientific findings concerning origin of orientation, and partnering with the pharmaceutical industry. Easily accessible, the Handbook is divided into sections that touch on fundamental knowledge and skills; treatment; men’s major sexual concerns; women’s major sexual concerns; problems common to both genders; the diversity of sexual lives; and future and trending topics. Written in a personal, supervisory style, the book will help new therapists anticipate clinical contingencies and help experienced therapists refine their thinking and teaching.

The author has written an unusually fresh work, applying a biopsychosocial approach to the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range and degree of disorders. The book will provide mental health professionals and graduate students with a trustworthy, sophisticated introduction to sexual health and its problems.