Psychotherapy Day at your local branch

22nd September 2023 – 7pm at your local branch

Working with sexual issues in psychotherapy

Professor Desa Markovic

Sexual issues have been marginalised as a topic in psychotherapy training, literature, research and clinical practice. A secretive and taboo treatment of sex can increase clients’ anxieties, thus reinforcing their sexual difficulties. While many psychotherapists work skilfully and creatively with the subject of sex, the lack of professional support systems means that the topic is often still treated as a taboo in the psychotherapy room. Bringing the medical perspective of sexology together with systemic psychotherapy informed by social constructionism, this presentation will offer practical guidance and theoretical framework for effective therapeutic interventions.

Drawing on her recently published book ‘Working with sexual issues in psychotherapy; a practical guide using social constructionist framework’ (2017), Desa will share her knowledge and expertise in both systemic and psychosexual therapy in relation to topics such as: sexual and gender diversity; sexual myths and misconceptions; useful techniques for working with the variety of sexual concerns; ways of integrating sexology and systemic psychotherapy. Clinical vignettes will be used to illustrate working within the MOST (Multidimensional Open-minded Sex Therapy) Model – a working framework that she has developed, which integrates sexology and social constructionist psychotherapy, a comprehensive Model that emphasises the multidimensional nature of human sexuality.

Desa Markovic is a Professor in Systemic Psychotherapy at Regent’s University London. She is an accredited systemic, as well as a psychosexual therapist and supervisor.  She worked in psychiatric hospitals, psychosexual clinics and private practice. She held senior academic posts at Kensington Consultation Centre, Central School of Counselling and Therapy, Relate, Porterbrook Clinic at Sheffield, Institute of Family Therapy, and Regent’s University. In 2014 she was awarded a fellowship from the Sheffield Society for the Study of Sexuality and Relationships for her contribution to sexology. She published chapters, articles in peer-reviewed journals, and a book on the integration of sexology and systemic social constructionist psychotherapy. She is currently the Clinical Director at The School of Life in London.

Recommended reading

Markovic, D. (2007). Working with Sexual Issues in Systemic Therapy; A Discourse Analysis, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, Special edition: Research.

Markovic, D. (2010). A Case of Enhancing Sexual Confidence: Both the Client and the Therapist are the Experts,Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy.

Markovic, D. (2017). Working with Sexual Issues in Psychotherapy: A Practical Guide Using Social Constructionist Framework. Palgrave McMillan.

Markovic, D. (2020). The Pie of Desire: A Case Study. The Journal of Family Therapy Association of Ireland. https://www.researchgate.net/search.Search.html?type=publication&query=gate%20desa%20markovic%20pie%20of%20desire%20case%20study