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Psychosexual Therapy: Thinking About and Working with Relationships

Overview

  • Credit value: 30 credits at Level 7
  • Convenors: Andrew Davidson, Bridget Wilkins
  • Assessment: a 3000-word essay (100%) and nine-minute role play (pass/fail)

Module description

In this module you will deepen your understanding of the complexities involved in working with both couples and individuals from a psychodynamic perspective. You will critically explore the underlying dynamics that influence relationships, examining both conscious and unconscious factors that can contribute to various sexual and relational challenges.

Interactive discussions, case studies and practical exercises will help you gain a nuanced understanding of the typical patterns individuals and couples encounter, so that you can navigate and address these issues effectively in your practice. By the end of the module, you will be better equipped to understand the complex unconscious dynamics of relationships and support clients in understanding their sexual and relationship difficulties.

Indicative syllabus

  • Unconscious couple fit - what attracts us to our partner
  • Sexual genograms - facts, beliefs and unconscious connections in couple and family relationships
  • Sex/Sexualities/Oedipal issues - theoretical
  • Envy, shame and narcissism - the defences to a good enough sexual relationship
  • Transference and countertransference - what happens in the space between a couple and the therapist
  • Object relations, the projective system and projective identification
  • Containment, the unconscious phantasy and the couple fit
  • Sexual beliefs, myths and sexual desire and their influence on the sexual relationship
  • Attachment, parental experiences and the couple relationship
  • Aggression, violence, borderline processes in individuals and couples - safeguarding for the couple

Learning objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • understand advanced psychodynamic theories of the couple relationship
  • understand complex theoretical concepts and their application to the couple relationship
  • critically evaluate psychodynamic concepts and apply them to the couple relationship and sexual dysfunction
  • work with couples utilising appropriate theoretical frameworks and understand the differences when working with couples from a sexually diverse or culturally different background
  • use a genogram and show how it influences a couple's relational dynamics and influence about sex
  • operate in a clinical setting utilising knowledge of issues governing good practice
  • demonstrate awareness of the implications of working within the current COSRT Code of Ethics and Principles of Good Practice
  • understand working online, safeguarding, personal safety, and the legal requirements to practise safely and for the safety of patients.