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New directions in sex therapy and research, and how to stay sexually sane in the 21st Century

Sex
Charles Blow: "Up From Pain," Sex Abuse, and Bisexuality

Stephen Snyder M.D. on September 23, 2014

I'd hoped in reading "Fire Shut Up in My Bones" to gain some new perspectives on bisexuality. But when I finished it, I realized it had mainly served to remind me how complicated sexual feelings are, how tightly they are bound up with a person's other struggles, and how humble we must be in trying to theorize about them.

I'd hoped in reading "Fire Shut Up in My Bones" to gain some new perspectives on bisexuality. But when I finished it, I realized it had mainly served to remind me how complicated sexual feelings are, how tightly they are bound up with a person's other struggles, and how humble we must be in trying to theorize about them.

Mating
Should You Be Dating Your LinkedIn Network?

Stephen Snyder M.D. on May 5, 2014

Of course, we advise people NOT to mix business and romance. But something about this new Tinder-like dating app for LinkedIn intrigued me.

Of course, we advise people NOT to mix business and romance. But something about this new Tinder-like dating app for LinkedIn intrigued me.

Sex
A Sex Therapist's Guide to Twitter, Part 1

Stephen Snyder M.D. on April 28, 2014

Most sex therapists haven't begun to scratch the surface of what's available on Twitter these days, even though it may be the best source for new information about sexuality.

Most sex therapists haven't begun to scratch the surface of what's available on Twitter these days, even though it may be the best source for new information about sexuality.

Sex
Sex in the Kitchen

Stephen Snyder M.D. on April 24, 2014

"How are you different from a prostitute?" It's the most common question sex surrogates are asked. One says she struggled for years to frame a coherent response. Finally a colleague taught her the following analogy, which she's used ever since.

"How are you different from a prostitute?" It's the most common question sex surrogates are asked. One says she struggled for years to frame a coherent response. Finally a colleague taught her the following analogy, which she's used ever since.

Sex
The Healing Power of Erotic Love

Stephen Snyder M.D. on April 17, 2014

The goofy idea that eros might help heal a fractured world still probably occurs now and then to young couples discovering the paradise of shared sexual pleasure for the first time. It's an idea we probably shouldn't let vanish completely.

The goofy idea that eros might help heal a fractured world still probably occurs now and then to young couples discovering the paradise of shared sexual pleasure for the first time. It's an idea we probably shouldn't let vanish completely.

Parenting
More on Parenting a Non-Girlie Girl

Stephen Snyder M.D. on April 13, 2014

People smile indulgently at a tom-boy girl. A sissy-boy doesn't elicit the same kind of indulgence. Some of us get to choose whether to play dress-up or baseball. Some of us don't. It's not exactly fair. But neither are most things where gender is concerned.

People smile indulgently at a tom-boy girl. A sissy-boy doesn't elicit the same kind of indulgence. Some of us get to choose whether to play dress-up or baseball. Some of us don't. It's not exactly fair. But neither are most things where gender is concerned.

Sex
Sex Surrogate from "The Sessions" Tells All

Stephen Snyder M.D. on April 11, 2014

After reading An Intimate Life, the autobiography of sex surrogate Cheryl Cohen Greene, I asked Cheryl if she'd be willing to be interviewed for this column. We ended up talking on the phone about sex, surrogacy, the movie, disability, and a host of other subjects.

After reading An Intimate Life, the autobiography of sex surrogate Cheryl Cohen Greene, I asked Cheryl if she'd be willing to be interviewed for this column. We ended up talking on the phone about sex, surrogacy, the movie, disability, and a host of other subjects.

Sex
Sex Research Takes a Strange Turn

Stephen Snyder M.D. on March 24, 2014

Culture in the developed West has become much more tolerant of sexual differences. The arc of sexual culture is long, but it bends toward diversity. Female bisexuality has had a seat at the table of acceptable diversities for awhile. Male bisexuality is now waiting for a seat at that table.

Culture in the developed West has become much more tolerant of sexual differences. The arc of sexual culture is long, but it bends toward diversity. Female bisexuality has had a seat at the table of acceptable diversities for awhile. Male bisexuality is now waiting for a seat at that table.

Sex
She's Too Hot to Handle

Stephen Snyder M.D. on March 4, 2014

The fact of women's extra erotic potential is not lost on their male partners. Will he really be able to satisfy her? Did her last partner satisfy her more completely? After he's given her all he's got, will she still be hungry for more?

The fact of women's extra erotic potential is not lost on their male partners. Will he really be able to satisfy her? Did her last partner satisfy her more completely? After he's given her all he's got, will she still be hungry for more?

Sex
What's the Matter with "Nice Guys"?

Stephen Snyder M.D. on February 10, 2014

Robert Glover wrote the definitive self-help book for nice guys in 2000 with "No More Mr Nice Guy"—a sort of field guide to the American Nice Guy. The Joaquin Phoenix character in the new movie HER is fairly representative of the species. It turns out that nice guys don't far any better in the future than they do today. What exactly is their problem? Let's see.

Robert Glover wrote the definitive self-help book for nice guys in 2000 with "No More Mr Nice Guy"—a sort of field guide to the American Nice Guy. The Joaquin Phoenix character in the new movie HER is fairly representative of the species. It turns out that nice guys don't far any better in the future than they do today. What exactly is their problem? Let's see.

Sexual Orientation
Why Is Male Bisexuality Like the Higgs Boson?

Stephen Snyder M.D. on January 6, 2014

The mental health field has historically had a bad habit of mistrusting what people say about their erotic feelings. Now that we know for sure that the Higgs Boson of complete male bisexuality exists, let's see if we can believe our patients about other things as well.

The mental health field has historically had a bad habit of mistrusting what people say about their erotic feelings. Now that we know for sure that the Higgs Boson of complete male bisexuality exists, let's see if we can believe our patients about other things as well.

Orgasm
Two Roads to Orgasm

Stephen Snyder M.D. on January 2, 2014

Most of us are capable of having orgasms without too much arousal. The right friction in the right spot can often be sufficient. But the result is usually rather disappointing.

Most of us are capable of having orgasms without too much arousal. The right friction in the right spot can often be sufficient. But the result is usually rather disappointing.

Sex
Do Women Like Casual Sex?

Stephen Snyder M.D. on December 30, 2013

When does feeling sexy lead to a desire to have sex? Obviously it depends. But as my friends and I discovered at 15, it seems to usually depend on a lot more things for women than for men.

When does feeling sexy lead to a desire to have sex? Obviously it depends. But as my friends and I discovered at 15, it seems to usually depend on a lot more things for women than for men.

Sex
Sex in the Second Half of Life

Stephen Snyder M.D. on October 11, 2013

I remember at 20 wondering about whether older people still had sex. Now after 25 years as a sex therapist, I'm pretty convinced that they do. Either that, or a lot of older people in my office have been paying a lot of money just to make me seem foolish.

I remember at 20 wondering about whether older people still had sex. Now after 25 years as a sex therapist, I'm pretty convinced that they do. Either that, or a lot of older people in my office have been paying a lot of money just to make me seem foolish.

Sexual Orientation
On Male Bisexuality—the Elle interview

Stephen Snyder M.D. on July 29, 2013

Griffith maintained that he was bisexual—equally attracted to both men and women. But male bisexuality is a difficult label to make stick. Even now when it’s reasonably safe in at least some parts of the developed world to be openly gay, and when female bisexuality is well recognized, there remains a great deal of skepticism about whether male bisexuality exists.

Griffith maintained that he was bisexual—equally attracted to both men and women. But male bisexuality is a difficult label to make stick. Even now when it’s reasonably safe in at least some parts of the developed world to be openly gay, and when female bisexuality is well recognized, there remains a great deal of skepticism about whether male bisexuality exists.

Sex
Can a Man Make Love Like a Woman?

Stephen Snyder M.D. on April 10, 2013

What was this man's problem, exactly? He wanted to have sex with his wife, even though he wasn't feeling that strongly turned on. Evidently there were other reasons he wanted to do it.

What was this man's problem, exactly? He wanted to have sex with his wife, even though he wasn't feeling that strongly turned on. Evidently there were other reasons he wanted to do it.

Sex
Sex Therapist at the Academy Awards: Part 2

Stephen Snyder M.D. on February 21, 2013

Sex gets us where we live. Eros finds the self at its most vulnerable. Who wouldn't yearn for that? And who wouldn't dread it?

Sex gets us where we live. Eros finds the self at its most vulnerable. Who wouldn't yearn for that? And who wouldn't dread it?

Sex
A Sex Therapist at the Academy Awards

Stephen Snyder M.D. on February 20, 2013

Among the most natural and profound meanings of sex is to be fully known, and fully seen. It's no accident that one of this film's climactic scenes involves a mirror.

Among the most natural and profound meanings of sex is to be fully known, and fully seen. It's no accident that one of this film's climactic scenes involves a mirror.