Contemporary Sexuality - March 2009 - (Page 12)

Book and Media Reviews Children with Sexual Behavior Problems: Family-Based Attachment-Focused Therapy By William N. Friedrich. W.W. Norton & Co., 2007. $32. “I was deeply moved by the connectedness they demonstrate as they kiss and caress one another passionately, sway and hum in unison, and talk and laugh and cry together.” — Linda Newhart Lotz It’s not often that one finds a highly readable book about problematic child sexual behavior that incorporates solid research, clinical wisdom and a genuine appreciation of children as sexual beings. So, for that reason alone, I highly recommend Children with Sexual Behavior Problems to any student or professional interested in learning more about the topic or trying to decide whether this line of clinical work is a good professional fit. Part I begins with a discussion of the literature related to problematic sexual behavior in children. Most of the literature was published in the 1980s and 1990s. Nonetheless, it serves as an excellent introduction to the theoretical models developed by professionals focusing on child sexual abuse and its sequelae. It also provides excellent case examples. While Friedrich recognized several situations in which individual child therapy may be helpful, he maintained that parent-child therapy is essential in addressing problematic sexual behavior. He challenged clinicians to “look beyond a child’s history of sexual abuse and consider how sexuality and intimacy are expressed in the family” (p. 99). The middle of Part I reviews attachment theory and its bi-directional relationship with abuse, discusses the child’s behavior within the context of family sexuality and outlines the rationale for exploring various topics as part of a comprehensive assessment. The chapter on assessment provides a useful description of various instruments that can be incorporated into the assessment process. Friedrich’s overview of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy is rather brief, but gives the reader a basic idea of the process he endorsed. That process becomes clearer in Part II, which is referred to as the “Assessment and Treatment Manual.” This section outlines a 19-session protocol for assessing and treating children ages 3 to 12 “who exhibit sexualized behavior that warrants intervention” (p. 189). The aims, activities and key questions to be answered are described for each session. Several of the sessions include both the parent and the child. The manual also includes a variety of forms, which may inspire readers to create something similar for their practices. (These forms are copyrighted and not meant for mass reproduction.) Unlike many researchers and clinicians who address problematic sexual behavior in youth, Friedrich maintains a respectful, non-blaming tone while emphasizing the importance of helping parents develop their capacity to monitor and helpfully respond to their child’s intrusive sexual behavior. Friedrich died of cancer shortly after finishing this book. Fortunately, he left us this valuable clinical legacy. Kelly J. Ace, PhD, JD, LPC, is chief operating officer at The Sexual Health Network. She can be reached at kelly@kellyace.com. ——— Orgasmic Birth: The Best Kept Secret Sunken Treasure, 2008. DVD, $34.99. Beautifully filmed and enhanced by an exquisite score, Orgasmic Birth explores the process of childbirth from the perspective of women who are empowered to view it as an ecstatic, even erotic, experience. Eleven couples share their journey from childbirth classes to labor and birth in this documentary by filmmaker Debra Pascali-Bonaro. Most are home births, and over half are facilitated by laboring and/or birthing in water. An expert narrative by midwives (Ina May Gaskin and Elizabeth Davis) and obstetricians (Christiane Northrup and Marsden Wagner) along with other specialists, is both educational and revealing of the facts regarding the ongoing controversy between proponents of “natural” birth and hospital-based, anesthesia-assisted delivery. A theme running through this important film is rhythm: the ebb and flow of labor, the rocking embrace of the couples as they go with the natural rhythms of the woman’s body in a kind of primal dance. I was deeply moved by the connectedness they demonstrate as they kiss and caress one another passionately, sway and hum in unison, and talk and laugh and cry together. All of this underscores the physical and psychological preparation that the woman is making to unfold, to open herself to the experience, and to allow her body to do what it must without any intrusion. Several of the women talk about the intensity of the labor, rather than the pain; the ecstasy and empowerment they feel in connectedness with their partners and the ease with www.aasect.org | March 2009 Vol. 43, No. 3 12 Contemporary Sexuality http://www.aasect.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Contemporary Sexuality - March 2009

Contemporary Sexuality - March 2009 Contents Member Profile AASECT Conference Registration Form and Information Quick Hits: Sex in the News Book and Media Reviews Educational Opportunities

Contemporary Sexuality - March 2009

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.