EMPOWERMENT a Group Therapy Curriculum
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EMPOWERMENT A Group Therapy Curriculum Treating Young Adult Women Experiencing Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder Ana K. Jaimes Aragón Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Participant Criteria ................................................................................................................ 3 Treatment Format .................................................................................................................. 7 Treatment Evaluation Questionnaire ........................................................................... 11 Self of the Therapist ............................................................................................................. 14 Session 1: Meet and Greet .................................................................................................................. 15 Handout 1 .................................................................................................................................. 27 Handout 2 .................................................................................................................................. 29 Handout 3 .................................................................................................................................. 30 Session 2: What is Shame? ................................................................................................................. 32 Handout 4 .................................................................................................................................. 38 Handout 5 .................................................................................................................................. 39 Session 3: Exploring Sexual Shame and FSIAD ........................................................................................... 41 Handout 6 .................................................................................................................................. 51 Handout 7 .................................................................................................................................. 52 Handout 8 .................................................................................................................................. 54 Session 4: The Social and Psychological Dimensions of Sexual Shame ............................................................... 56 Handout 9 .................................................................................................................................. 66 Handout 10 ................................................................................................................................ 68 Handout 11 ................................................................................................................................ 70 Handout 12 ................................................................................................................................ 71 Session 5: Mind-Body Connectivity ......................................................................................................... 72 Handout 13 ................................................................................................................................ 77 Handout 14 ................................................................................................................................ 79 Handout 15 ................................................................................................................................ 81 Session 6: Focusing Attention Attitude .................................................................................................. 83 ii Handout 16 ................................................................................................................................ 92 Session 7: Understanding Sexual and Emotional Satisfaction ........................................................................ 93 Handout 17 ................................................................................................................................ 98 Handout 18 ................................................................................................................................ 99 Handout 19 .............................................................................................................................. 100 Handout 20 .............................................................................................................................. 101 Handout 21 .............................................................................................................................. 102 Session 8: Redefining Sexuality and Sex .............................................................................................. 103 Handout 22 .............................................................................................................................. 109 Handout 23 .............................................................................................................................. 110 Session 9: Speaking Up About Sexual Concerns ........................................................................................ 111 Session 10: Reflecting on The Re-Self-Discovery Journey ........................................................................... 118 Handout 24 .............................................................................................................................. 121 References ................................................................................................................................... 122 iii Introduction Sexuality is a continuum comprised of biopsychosocial elements that affect how people experience romantic and sexual feelings towards themselves and others. Awareness about how these biopsychosocial elements affect the sexual psyche permits a person to develop a congruent sexual self-concept. Having a congruent sexual self-concept helps a person navigate interpersonal and intrapersonal intimacy and gain emotional and sexual satisfaction. However, sexuality is a fragile construct easily influenced by psychosocial factors. When sexuality is ensnared by sexual shame, it consumes the capacity for sexual pleasure and sexual interest. Young-adult women who are in the midst of the developmental phase of exploration and solidifying their sexual identity can feel confused or distressed at the reduced or absence of sexual interest/arousal. Empowerment is a group-based therapy curriculum tailored towards young-adult women who experience female sexual interest/arousal disorder (FSIAD). The goal of this curriculum is to decrease the impact sexual shame has on young-adult women’s sexual self-concept in order to increase sexual and emotional satisfaction. The impact sexual shame has on the sexual self- concept will be evident by the quality of emotional and sexual experiences with self and/or partner. For women to learn how to navigate sexual shame by exploring various aspects of their sexual self-concept and sexual identity, interventions and strategies within Empowerment are aimed to culminate in healthy sexual practice and lead towards emotional and sexual satisfaction. Important Note: Regrettably, since most research to date focuses on the female cisgender brain, the Empower curriculum addresses sexual arousal and sexual interest concerns among young cisgender women. This does not mean that LGBTQIA+ people do not express such issues, but 1 that this project chose to centralize sessions on the current body of research that exists around FSIAD. Diversity consideration sections were included in some sessions of Empower, but it should be recognized that this curriculum may not address issues that may be reported in LGBTQIA+, BDSM, and polyamorous communities. Design and Framework of Curriculum Empower, A Group Therapy Curriculum: Treating Young-Adult Women Experiencing Female Sexual Interest/Arousal Disorder utilizes narrative therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness. Concepts in narrative therapy assist the facilitator’s conceptualization of FSIAD and psychosocial issues, while CBT strategies are used to restructure the thought process around FSIAD. Mindfulness concepts are implemented to match to sensate focus phase 1, commonly used in couples therapy. By practicing mind-body connectivity and present-mind awareness the automatic nervous system will calm, enhancing attentive focus on sensations and away from the analytical mind concerning sex. 2 Participant Criteria Screening Group members will be screened using a personal interview method. Using a personal interview method will allow the facilitator to assess appropriateness of treatment for interviewees, as well as suitability for group membership. Conducting a personal interview is an opportunity to inform prospective members about the theoretical framework (handout 1), session content, rules and regulations, and to acquire informed consent and confidentiality agreement. A personal interview also creates an opportunity for the facilitator to build rapport with each prospective member. Physical and Mental Health FSIAD can result as a secondary symptom of a psychological diagnosis, medical condition, and medication or medical treatment, thus will involve a multi-disciplinary team (Kaplan & Horwith, 1983; Aslan & Fynes, 2008). The facilitator should place special consideration