| 104 Room 520-C | Sexual Dysfunction Sunday, July 10, 2005 Time: 9:00 AM-12:00 PM |
Visually Enhanced Psycho-Sexual Therapy (VEST).
Sommers, Frank *,1, 1 Private Practice, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
ABSTRACT- The use of films and videos as an educational tool have a well established history. Accumulating research is providing promising data on efficacy. An offshoot, virtual reality technology (VRT), is also finding significant applications in the treatment of a variety of disabling symptoms, such as fear of heights. In the field of sexology, recent work by a number of investigators has focused primarily on the erectile or libidinal response to audiovisual sexual stimulation. As we enter the age of pharmacological options for treatment of erectile dysfunction, at least, a new look at, or even evaluation of, the therapeutic journey maybe indicated. This is furthered by the renewed focus on the kindling of desire, a necessary condition for the success of sexual pharmacotherapy, and a major therapeutic challenge for clinicians. Visual stimuli integral to the role of imagination in the arousal process are well known, and the internet has become a significant, if anemic, delivery channel for millions. However, the audio-visual medium has a powerful potential beyond arousal. As a teaching and therapy tool, properly used, it can form a crucial part of modern sex therapy, counselling and education. After some 27 years of using audio and visual aids in this subspecialty Psychosexual/Psychiatric Therapy Practice, our perception has been strengthened that these aids form a most powerful component in our therapeutic armamentarium. Indeed, these tools maybe looked upon as quasi \'medication\', as it were, with the power that this implies for doing good, or doing harm. This workshop will describe the preparation of patient(s) (couples and single men and women), and the careful introduction, setting and detailed debriefing that should accompany the use of any visual aid in order to promote optimal therapeutic progress. The appropriate use of audio-visual aids in modern sex therapy facilitating cognitive restructuring, behavioral change and emotional healing will be explored. Additionally, significant beneficial application of audio-visual aids in a multicultural sex therapy environment will also be discussed. Please note: This workshop will utilize sexually explicit videos.
Key words: Sex, Dysfunction, Treatment, Clinical, videos