In recent years, clinicians have shifted the traditional interest in the individualʼs sexual performance to focus on the level of sexual satisfaction within the couple. The latter in fact represents the “place” of junction for the difficulties occurring both in the individual and in the relationship. Therefore, it is necessary to have a holistic approach to any changes occurring within the couple, be it physiological, psychological or relational, considering the strong inter-relatedness between the various components.

The definition of a therapeutic plan must inevitably also take into account all of those social and cultural aspects that influence the set of values or beliefs of each individual partner in relation to oneʼs own condition and to the possibility of change.

The beliefs of the patients are strongly connected to their expectations, and can have important effects on the success of treatment. It is crucial to investigate the different ways in which these expectations can influence the process of intervention. For some couples, partly influenced by widespread stereotypes, sexuality is strictly the expression of an instinctual dimension in human beings and as such, it has rigid and repetitive characteristics rarely predictable, and hardly influenced by oneʼs will.

This may indicate treatment acceptance or rejection, realistic or unrealistic expectations. The treatment will never be able to modify what nature has determined.

On the other hand, if you believe that sexuality is above all a psychosocial phenomenon the couple will more easily adapt to the integrative approach to cure sexual dysfunction.