Introduction to Psychosexual Medicine Doctor Gillian Vanhegan Member of the Institute of Psychosexual Medicine

Course Objectives To understand psychosexual problems To be familiar with different treatment methods for psychosexual problems To be able to use the practitioner/patient relationship therapeutically and the psychosomatic examination of the genitalia To have confidence to manage psychosexual problems in your normal practice

Session One Background to the Institute of Psychosexual Medicine method of treatment Psychosexual Problems The Practitioner/Patient Relationship Psychosomatic examination of the genitalia

Session Two Analysis of the events before the consultation What happens in the consultation Interpretation of the conscious and unconscious feelings in the room Basic psychoanalytical principles

Session Three Psychosomatic examination of the genitalia When to examine the patient, trigger events When not to examine the patient, interpretation of this to the patient Preparation for the examination What happens on the couch Other Therapies

Session Four Male problems Medical treatment Surgical treatment Psychotherapeutic treatment

Session Five Female problems Pain with sex Vulvodynia Vaginismus

Session Six Reflection on the course Evaluation of the sessions What happens next? Summing up

Dr Michael Balint The study of the pharmacology of the drug ‘doctor’ Restrict to a minimum the use of written material in the discussion groups A frank account of the doctor-patient relationship, the discussion should be free enough to enable the doctor to speak spontaneously

Dr Tom Main Training for skill rather than knowledge Doctors are required to think for themselves To investigate the patient’s and doctor’s feelings during each clinical encounter Knowledge can be taught by a scholar to a pupil, skill must be acquired

Dr Tom Main The strength of the patient’s defences Reasons for the psychosomatic examination of the genitalia Fantasies and how we deal with them The doctor/patient relationship

Psychosexual Problems Lack of libido and anorgasmia occur in both sexes Female problems are deep and superficial dyspareunia (vulvodynia) and vaginismus Male problems are ED, premature or retarded ejaculation

The patient and the psychosexual problem Presentation of problem Practitioner/patient relationship Interpretation of the relationship The patient’s response The practitioner’s and patient’s defences Subconscious feelings in the consultation

The patient and the psychosexual problem The psychosomatic examination of the genitalia How the feelings reflect other relationships in the patient’s life Ongoing clinical plans

Case Presentation Develop free floating attention Think about what the patient was like What was said and how was it said How did you feel and what were the feelings in the room What happened during the examination Reflections on the case

Case Discussion Listen carefully to the presentation, noticing what you are feeling about the patient In the discussion express your thoughts and feelings about the case, try not to ask too many questions Think about how the practitioner/patient relationship might relate to the patient’s problem

Websites and contact details www.ipm.org.uk gmvanhegan@gmail.com