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The Treatment of Sexual Dysfunctions
- Diagnosis |
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Sex History |
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Interviewing Technique
In order
to be successful, a "sex history"
interview must follow these rules:
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Each person must be
assured of absolute
confidentiality.
This is best
accomplished by
using a code when
recording the
answers. This can be
an adaptation of
Kinsey's unbreakable
code or the
therapist's own
invention. No one
but the therapist
should be able to
read the person's
sex history.
each person must be
interviewed
separately.
Even when couples
are being
interviewed, they
must be separated
for the purpose of
taking their sex
histories. Otherwise
they may try to
conceal certain
important actions or
feelings from the
therapist and from
each other.
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nothing should be
assumed about the person
being interviewed.
Appearances can be
deceiving. Never
presuppose some "normal"
sexual behavior because
the person looks
"normal" or unobtrusive!
Do not skip interview
questions, but ask about
everything and you may
be surprised!
the interviewers
must adopt a
neutral, but
generally supportive
attitude.
They must remain
unfazed by whatever
they hear and
refrain from any
moral judgement.
This means that they
also have to control
their own body
language and be
careful not to show
any surprise or to
convey approval or
disapproval through
voice inflection,
frowning, or other
voluntary or
involuntary
gestures.
the interview should
begin with
non-threatening
general items.
It should then
gradually move to
the more intimate
issues. This will
help to relax the
person being
interviewed and
establish a trusting
relationship with
the interviewer.
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the interview should
proceed in a
matter-of-fact manner at
a neutral pace.
This is the best way to
obtain reliable results.
Interrupting the flow of
questions or slowing
down too much impairs
the participants'
concentration and
invites unhelpful
digressions and denials.
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