This book explores both psychoanalytic and psychosexual perspectives of sensate focus, a programme of touching exercises for couples with sexual problems, and in so doing provides an original, integrated model for understanding the conscious and unconscious impact of this tactile intervention on couples in treatment.

“In this important and highly informative book Susan Pacey draws on her research and extensive professional experience to bring together body, mind and relationship in addressing the untapped potential of psychosexual therapy. She provides a theoretically grounded basis for overcoming the dualism that has restricted its development for decades. Sensate Focus and the Psyche should be required reading for therapists of every persuasion who work with adult sexuality.”Christopher Clulow PhD, Senior Fellow, Tavistock Institute of Medical Psychology“In this extremely lucid book, Dr. Susan Pacey has provided us with a detailed exploration of the sensate focus approach to couple work with much wisdom, exploring the very close links to the more traditional, familiar forms of psychotherapy. By integrating these different bodies of theory and clinical insight, Pacey has succeeded in encouraging couple psychotherapists to speak about bodily sex in a more direct manner, while also inspiring sex therapists to think more psychoanalytically. Both students and senior practitioners alike will find this well-documented and thoughtful text of great inspiration.”Professor Brett Kahr, Senior Fellow, Tavistock Institute of Medical Psychology, London; Visiting Professor, Psychoanalysis and Mental Health, Regent’s University London; author, Sex and the Psyche“Sensate Focus and the Psyche advances previous efforts to integrate psychoanalytic concepts and sensate focus exercises to treat sexual problems. Numerous clinical vignettes add richness to the ideas and encourage clinicians to use sensate focus exercises in new and imaginative ways, thereby deepening the treatment.”Norma J. Caruso, PsyD, Associate Clinical Professor, VCU School of Medicine; International Psychotherapy Institute, USA