Psychoanalytic Sex Therapy

“Sexuality, Desire, the Unconscious, the Unspoken! Finally, the connections are being made. This is a groundbreaking book that has been a long time coming. It warmed my heart and stimulated my mind.” Mark Epstein MD, author of Going to Pieces without Falling Apart and The Zen of Therapy: Uncovering a Hidden Kindness in Life “This book is a sterling addition to the growing movement within sex therapy toward integrative relational practice. Maxwald demonstrates a deep appreciation of both conscious and unconscious sources of desire, arousal and erotic connection. Her cases come alive as she deftly describes common challenges that lead, under her wise guidance, to pathways of transformation. Clearly written, she makes psychodynamic sex therapy not only accessible but compelling. A must read for psychoanalysts who want to better understand sexuality and sex therapists who want to understand the psychodynamics of sexuality.” Suzanne Iasenza, PhD, Author, Transforming Sexual Narratives: A Relational Approach to Sex Therapy. ""Masters and Johnson may have taken the field of sex therapy from Freud to the laboratory, but Juliane Maxwald, with her modern psychoanalytic perspective, puts sex therapy back on the couch and shows us that everything old is new again. Her book Psychoanalytic Sex Therapy: Exploring the Unconscious Life of Sexuality is a meaningful contribution to the literature and sure to deepen the toolset of any clinician working with sexuality"" – Ian Kerner, sex therapist and NY Times best-selling author of She Comes First. “Juliane Maxwald takes you deep into the mind of the psychoanalytically oriented sex therapist. Wonderfully written with a heavy reliance on case studies, Maxwald has made a substantial contribution to the next wave of sex therapy. This is a book that I will most certainly be recommending to both my sex therapy trainees and seasoned colleagues.” Daniel N. Watter, Ph.D., Past-President, The Society of Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR), author The Existential Importance of the Penis: A Guide to Understanding Male Sexuality. “Psychoanalytic Sex Therapy: Exploring the Unconscious Life of Sexuality is a deeply honest and provocative dive into the undercurrents of sexuality. Juliane Maxwald leads readers into conversations that few have had but all of us need, particularly through a psychoanalytic framework. It is a first of its kind read on the shadow side of sexuality within a solidly clinical lens. Bravo Juliane!” Holly Richmond, PhD, author of Reclaiming Pleasure: A Sex Positive Guide for Moving Past Sexual Trauma & Living a Passionate Life “In her elegant and incisive debut, Psychoanalytic Sex Therapy: Exploring the Unconscious Life of Sexuality, maverick therapist and psychoanalyst Juliane Maxwald does what many thought impossible: she explores sexuality and desire through a psychoanalytic lens while dispelling the tired notion that such work must be sex-negative, pathologizing, or dull. This brave book marks a bold new era for those of us integrating psychological wisdom and sexual intelligence into our healing practices. With a voice that blends clinical expertise, scholarship, compassion, and unapologetic power, Maxwald offers a much-needed—and deeply welcome—contribution to the field.” David M. Ortman, author of Sexual Outsiders: Understanding BDSM Sexualities and Communities “Juliane Maxwald’s new book, Psychoanalytic Sex Therapy, dives into a much-needed discussion about sexuality, intimacy, and meaning. Clinicians and members of the broader public will benefit tremendously from this warm and wise invitation to aliveness and connection.” Alexandra H. Solomon, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist, faculty at Northwestern University, bestselling author of Love Every Day, and host of the podcast, Reimagining Love