Book review: How Psychotherapy Helps Us Understand Sexual Relationships

I enjoyed reading this very honest and engaging book about the much avoided subject of sex which is often present in the clinical setting but not written about in such an open way.  She explains the complexities of sexual relationships and incorporates the family and Socio-cultural influences of the time on our view of what is acceptable/unacceptable in sexual relationships.

Cherry Integrates theories from Freud, Bowlby and others.  She writes that Freud’s Oedipus complex remains the source of feelings and projections that arise in later love relationships. However, although she  explains that secure attachment relationships tend to hold couple together, she believes that the sexual system thrives on excitement, novelty and fresh stimulation.  This provides some understanding to the allure of the unobtainable and forbidden love relationships, sexual addiction and pornography.

She drew on personal and clinical examples from her work to deepen understanding on this subject.  I would recommend this book to anyone and not only those working in the psychotherapy setting.

Group analyst