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Chapter 10 Sex: Therapy in Finland

I. How did it all Begin:

A. Training of sex therapist begin in the autumn of 1980, their training framework was based on a modification of the Masters and Johnson sex therapy method.

B. The training of sex therapists in Finland some 20 years ago started with an intensive period of one week in the fall, 3-day course in January, 1-week course later in spring, between course, trainees meet in peer groups to continue their studies.

C. Many participants in the Alison and David Glegg experienced shock when they could not evade matters but had to talk about sexual behaviors directly using real names.

D. A sex therapist does not succeed without being totally familiar with his/her own sexuality.

E. The road to becoming a sex therapist usually involves (1) being trained as a professional social worker, psychologist, physician, theologian, and so on, (2) obtaining professional experience, and (3) then followed by three weeks of family therapy training and one week of training in sex therapy.

II. What kind of Training:

A. Training in the pioneer phase during 1980-1981 consisted of three seminars.

i. First seminar started y bringing trainees face-to-face with sexuality combining glossaries of sex words, viewing films and videos, participating in small group work.

B. PLISSIT comes from the initials of Permission, Limited Information, Special Suggestions and Intensive Therapy.

C. Self-examination of her own genitals may be the first step a woman takes to accept her own sexuality. In men, the small size of a penis may be a problem.

D. Some sexual beliefs are used for making sex less dangerous and for trying to find a balance when one's own helplessness, fears, and disappointments are too difficult to handle.

E. In the training period from 1980-1981 training was based on cognitive therapy.

III. What is Sex Therapy in Finland:

A. Define: short therapy, the goal of which is solving the sexual problem of problems regardless of the therapeutic model of combination of models.

B. Sex therapy is considered to be one application of behavioral therapy

C. Sex therapy is primarily couple therapy; attempts have been made to treat various functional disorders in group settings.

Sex Therapy includes:

a. Treating functional disorders of sexual behaviors through structured behavior- guiding exercises.

b. Giving Information

c. Helping both partners realize that the couples functional problem is a "shared problem" and that both people are responsible for its treatment.

d. Creating an atmosphere where the clients attitudes can change from negative to positive

e. Helping clients eliminate performance pressures;

f. Lifestyles guidance