EMDR and Sexual Disorders: A Practitioner's Guide to Treating Sexual Trauma and Dysfunction

EMDR and Sexual Disorders provides fundamental guidelines for the treatment of sexual dysfunctions with EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) within the conceptual framework of attachment theory.

This book demonstrates how the EMDR method, which works specifically on the reprocessing of traumatic memories, can be used to addresses the overall well-being of the patient with the goal of restoring a state of 'sexual health'. The goal is not only the absence of dysfunctions and diseases but a general condition of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being. After a thorough examination of sexual pathologies and dysfunctions, the authors focus on the traumatic origin of sexual disorders, drawing on extensive clinical experience with victims of abuse and negative attachment stories. A clear and documented picture emerges of how EMDR can provide an innovative and effective contribution to the treatment of pathologies so closely connected to the patient’s personal history. The book also introduces two new ground-breaking tools for practitioners: the EMDR protocol for individual sexual dysfunction and the EMDR protocol for sexual dysfunction within couples.

This book offers key essentials to EMDR therapists and any health professional (psychologists, doctors, social workers etc.) who work in the field of sexology.

Elena Isola, psychologist and psychotherapist, specialises in systemic-relational psychotherapy and clinical sexology. She’s an expert in psychotraumatology and in EMDR treatment. She is also a supervisor, child adolescent consultant and facilitator. She’s a speaker in national and European congresses on sexological issues and author of several scientific papers. Her main areas of interest and research concern EMDR therapy, couples therapy and sexual disorders.

Bruna Maccarrone is a psychologist and psychotherapist, specialising in psychotraumatology and EMDR treatment. She is also an EMDR Europe consultant and facilitator, former secretary of the board of the EMDR Italy Association and is currently chair of the Conference Committee of the EMDR Europe Association.