Affirming Diversity and Targeting Pleasure

Sex therapy as developed by Masters and Johnson targets an array of sexual dysfunctions ranging from issues such as Erectile Disorder performance anxiety and sexual pleasure. Although sex therapy has been developed and conceptualized for heterosexual couples by theorists like Masters and Johnson, its main techniques combined with affirmative and cognitive strategies have been broadly used for sexual problems with gay male couples. This chapter provides a review of classical to contemporary sex therapy with gay male clients, characterizes sexual dysfunctions and difficulties affecting gay men, and explores issues relevant to gay male couples, particularly sex roles, relationship types, HIV status, and sexual pleasure. Finally, an illustrative case study and intervention recommendations are presented, and future research directions are addressed.