In search of Aphrodite: working with archetypes and an inner cast of characters in women with low sexual desire

摘要

While much research has been done on sex roles and scripts, an analysis of how archetypes influence sexuality has yet to be articulated. Archetypes are inherent patterns of energy found in the seedbed of the psyche. They have a "felt sense" in the body and move through the psyche shaping perception and motivating behavior. They lie dormant until developmental milestones or life experiences awaken them. This article will describe an archetypal and "inner cast of characters" approach to treating the problem of low sexual desire in women. This method is experiential and acknowledges the range and niultidimensionality of human sexual experience. It opens a dimension that can help unlock treatment impasses as the practitioner respectfully engages Sexual Gatekeepers. Identifying the impact of "eros-inhibiting" archetypes and negotiating space for a Sexual Self are part of the work. An archetypal perspective empowers women to define their own erotic identities as they explore the creative realm of the sexual psyche.