This volume describes the treatment of uniquely complex and profound sexual problems that the therapeutic community has been largely unsuccessful in treating. The reader is drawn to understand and even identify with the people experiencing sexual disturbance. This process of identification helps to mitigate the biases that we use to dehumanize the sexually disturbed.

This work is developed around a case study format, with chapters on specific psychosexual disturbances. All of these cases experienced early childhood sexual trauma or mislearning that interrupted the course of normal sexual development. Such victims then frequently repeat the learned behavior in later life, acting out the role of perpetrator. In addition to presenting the treatment process as it is formulated in the mind of the therapist, the author offers a blueprint for therapy that makes specific treatment possible for clients with similar disorders. Therapists are also guided in developing an effective clinical presence, covering such matters as initial contact, boundary setting, self awareness, dress, voice tone, and overall demeanor. Strategies for avoiding becoming enmeshed in psychological defenses are presented in detail.

A scientific work made accessible for lay readers--without sacrificing its technical and scholarly underpinnings--this book presents regression as a universal and necessary process. Regression is viewed as inherent in our biology and designed as an aid to integration of trauma through repetitive association and reassociation. Childhood sexuality's definition includes touching patterns, sensate reactions to urination and defecation, and spanking and other forms of abuse. Infantile reactions to pleasure and pain create memory traces that are cued during later adult sexual encounters. Sexual dysfunction and paraphilic conditions such as masochism, sadism, fetishism, and exhibitionism often develop as a result of these early sensate memories. This work describes how parents, educators, therapists and medical caregivers contribute to mis-learning by failing to recognize and understand the sensitive nature of learning and the remediative process of regression. Graphic descriptions of severe, moderate, and mild cases of regression are presented. Doyle challenges the notion that regression is only a psychological defense utilized by a limited segment of the population. This book combines concepts drawn from learning theory, neuroscience, neuropsychology, child development, and trauma revival in an unprecedented manner, and aims to stimulate interest in--and exploration of--regression as a phenomena that transcends diagnostic categories, one that recognizes the continuum between normal and abnormal associations we all form in the process of development.

This volume describes how culturally transmitted messages delude people about who they are and what they want in relationships. Expectations of mates, children, parents, friends, and business associates are based on stereotypes and misperceptions, and are therefore delusional. Our current educational system has failed to provide adequate information on relating, communications, and self awareness. As a result, disturbed or failed relationships continue to be a major source of pain and conflict. The results of gender based enculturation are graphically depicted. Both males and females will immediately acknowledge the process as similar to their own. The family system is discussed, clarifying the indelible imprint of early learning on subsequent relationships. Presented from inside the people experiencing delusionary relationships, this book gives the reader an opportunity to understand and identify with the process of attraction, relationship formation, disturbance, and restructuring. Depictions of therapy and treatment are included which furnish guidelines for restructuring delusional relationships with or without professional assistance.