About the Book
This integrative book is like having a wise supervisor in the room with you. Stop "fixing" your clients--engage them in their own healing through the Four-Dimensional Wheel of Sexual Experience. Gina Ogden guides you in helping your clients explore the full range of their sexual issues and challenges—including couple communication, erectile dysfunction, vaginismus, low desire, affairs, trauma, religious proscriptions, pornography use, and more. Part I offers strategies that correspond to the core knowledge areas required for certification as a sexuality professional, while Part II puts these innovative approaches into action through following five case examples from seasoned practitioners. The numerous user-friendly elements, such as quizzes, worksheets, and "hot tips," will help you see the larger picture of an issue, become fluent with a diversity of sexual identities and behaviors, and expand your ability to offer safe, ethical, evidence-based therapy.
Table of Contents:
I: Innovative Approaches: Strategies for Change and Transformation through the Four-Dimensional Wheel of Sexual Experience 1. Asking New Questions of Our Clients: Body, Mind, Heart, and Spirit 2. Creating Safe Space and Effective Rituals for Change 3. Inviting Clients Out of Their Chairs to Access Body Intelligence 4. Helping Clients Concretize Abstract Concepts to Expand Awareness 5. "Re-Membering"--Helping Clients Move from "No!" to "Yes!" 6. Core Knowledge Areas and More: What We Need to Know about Desire and Intimacy 7. Making Your Own Wheel: Adapting it to Your Office and Your Unique Strengths II. Practical Applications: Protocols for Challenging Clients Using the Four-Dimensional Wheel of Sexual Experience 8. Naomi--Discovering the Heart in Sexual Desire 9. Steve--Erectile Dysfunction Meets Two Objects 10. Deborah and Danny--Confronting the Voices of Vaginismus 11. Ben--From Porn Addiction to Conversations with God 12. Marnie--Low Libido, Trauma, and the Wheel 13. Making Your Own Practical Applications--and Handouts for Your Clients Appreciations Index
About the Author :
Gina Ogden, PhD, LMFT, is an adjunct professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies, an award-winning sex therapist, supervisor, researcher, and founder of the 4-D Network for Body, Mind, Heart, and Spirit. She conducts retreats, trainings, and online courses in how to use the Four-Dimensional Wheel. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts (www.GinaOgden.com and www.4-DNetwork.com).
Review :
"This is an amazing resource for any clinician working to assist clients with sex and intimacy. Wonderfully practical and useful!"—Eli Coleman, PhD, director, Program in Human Sexuality, University of Minnesota Medical School
"A workbook that works for all therapists. I will definitely recommend it to my students, and adapt the exercises and worksheets for couples."—Esther Perel, author of Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence
"Exploring Desire & Intimacy offers resources to create everything from initial exploratory conversations to deep, revelatory insights. Gina Ogden's Four Dimensions model is invaluable as a practical framework for understanding where sexuality and sensuality fit in an individual's or couple's life."—Emilie Nagoski, author of Come As You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life.
"Gina Ogden is one of the world’s foremost sex therapists and sex educators. Almost every page of this book resonates with her thoughtfulness and heart. It’s a book I wish I had been able to read when I was in training, but nothing like it existed at the time."—Paul Joannides, PsyD, author of Guide to Getting It On
"This book is a masterpiece. So practical--inspired and inspiring! A dynamic practitioner guidebook that presents a truly remarkable roadmap for unlocking the mysteries of sexual suffering while alchemically transforming our clients’ journey toward sexual wholeness."—Patti Britton, PhD, MPH, past president of AASECT, co-founder of SexCoachU.com, author of The Art of Sex Coaching.
"Gina Ogden has created a sex therapy workbook for clinicians based on her emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual approach. Her unique exercises explore the complexity of sexual desire and intimacy. This will be a valuable resource for body-oriented creative clinicians who advocate breaking barriers so individuals and couples can experience a vital sexuality."—Barry McCarthy, PhD, professor of psychology at American University, author of Rekindling Desire
"Exploring Desire and Intimacy is a brilliant, action-packed, must-have part of any competent therapist’s toolkit!"—P. Michele Sugg, MSW, LCSW, CST, past president of AASECT.
"Such a thoughtful, practical resource that enables all of us—layperson and professionals alike—to explore those aspects of sexuality and intimacy that impact our lives in so many complicated ways. Another treasure from Gina Ogden on our book shelves and in our ‘tool kits.’"—Judy Norsigian, executive director of Our Bodies Ourselves.
"In Exploring Desire and Intimacy, Dr. Gina Ogden supports her innovations in therapy with the latest neuroscience research findings as she guides practitioners to help clients learn how body, mind, heart, and spirit are all integral parts of sexual experience." --Beverly Whipple, PhD, RN, FAAN, past president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS), co-author of The G-Spot and other bestselling books.
"A treasure! I will definitely be getting it for my students. It will help them see that their job as sexuality educators is to help clients or students find their own vision of sexual life—not intrude into their story but simply offer tools for its construction. The exercises, especially ‘Re-Membering,’ ensure that they will consult with the dark side as well as the light."—Susan Stiritz, PhD, senior lecturer and coordinator of sexuality studies for the Brown School, Washington University, St. Louis
"WOW! This book is simply brilliant and a wonderful contribution to our field. Dr. Gina Ogden has taken the powerful concept of the Four-Dimensional Wheel and brought it to clinicians in an easy to use, practical format that will be wonderful adjunct therapy for any clinician who works with individuals or couples on matters related to sex, intimacy and relationships."—Neil Cannon, PhD, LMFT, instructor, University of Michigan School of Social Work Sexual Health Certificate Program
"In her most comprehensive volume thus far, Gina Ogden both elucidates theory and offers practical treatment tools that transcend standard sex therapy treatment models. Drawing on her original 4-Dimensional Wheel paradigm, and introducing original intervention strategies from actual sessions with clients and supervisees, Ogden’s wisdom will surely inspire and enhance your practice."—Talli Y. Rosenbaum, MSc, CST, academic advisor, The Yahel Center for Jewish Intimacy
"Reading this workbook made me feel I had just spent the weekend with a mentor and friend, and I cannot imagine teaching her work without including this book. As you read Exploring Desire & Intimacy, you’ll be guided by a master as she gives you specific ideas and practices for integrating the Wheel into your particular setting."—Tina Schermer Sellers, PhD, founder of the Northwest Institute on Intimacy, Seattle, WA
"Exploring Desire and Intimacy is a bit of magic that interweaves the processes of learning, experiencing, teaching, listening, and interacting. Gina Ogden has more than just authored this workbook, she also stands within the text, mirroring the journey we wish our clients to take: coaching, inviting, challenging readers to better understand themselves, their clients, and the field of sex therapy itself."—Daniel Rosen, LCSW-R, sex therapist, neurofeedback therapist, EMDR practitioner
"After 20 years of practicing gynecology, I have discovered that introducing women to the 4-Dimensional Wheel makes pelvic exams more informative and empowering. This workbook provides a consistent, reproducible framework to help clinicians communicate efficiently and powerfully about reproductive anatomy, sexual function, and the lifelong effects of a woman's sexual experience."—Debra S. Wickman, MD, FACOG
"This workbook is filled with vast wisdom about how all kinds of people can regain sexual health and wholeness. It's presented so that even a busy doctor can use it to engage patients in their own healing—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual."—Pebble Kranz, MD, family physician, University of Rochester Medical Center
"Once again, Dr. Ogden provides a rich resource full of tools and insightful guidance on how to bring the four dimensions alive. I will be providing copies of this workbook for all members of my staff and introducing it to my students."—Elliott Kronenfeld, LICSW, CST, owner of Insight Psychotherapy, Brookline, MA.
"Award-winning Gina Ogden is recognized by her peers as a thought leader and top expert in sex therapy."—Bill Taverner, editor-in-chief, American Journal of Sexuality Education
