| This theoretical study explored the concept that American sexuality is a cultural construction and as such has a significant effect upon how sex and sexuality are conceptualized and incorporated into psychology and psychotherapy. The purpose of the study was to gain a better understanding of the factors that contribute to Americans' experience of sexuality and to examine the apparent duality of obsession and repression that many have noted in prior examinations of American sexuality. The literature review focused on a multi-disciplinary sample of sources related to sex including psychology, medicine, sociology, social history, anthropology, and philosophy among others. The study collected anecdotal data regarding sexuality from psychologists and psychotherapists using two separate instruments. First was an anonymous nine-item survey and the second was a face-to-face semi-structured interview. Results indicated that sex is an important aspect of psychotherapy, yet clinicians do not receive appropriate instruction or training regarding sex, which may contribute to clinicians' sexual discomfort in psychotherapy. |
