Targeting the Psychosexual Challenges Faced by Couples with Breast Cancer: Can Couples Group Psychotherapy Help?

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Psychology
• Couple's Therapy

Background:

• Breast cancer survivors frequently experience psychosexual difficulties, including concerns about health, sexuality, and emotional distress, often linked to cancer treatments.
• Intimate relationship dynamics and partners' distress significantly impact the psychosexual well-being of cancer patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt and extend the Supportive-Expressive Group Therapy (SEGT) model for the psychosexual rehabilitation of couples affected by cancer.
• To provide a framework for clinicians to implement effective psychosexual interventions for couples in oncology settings.

Main Methods:

• Application of the manualized and empirically validated Supportive-Expressive Group Therapy (SEGT) model.
• Adaptation of the SEGT model for a couples group therapy format targeting psychosexual needs.

Main Results:

• The SEGT model can be effectively extended to address the specific psychosexual needs of couples coping with cancer.
• The discussed approach offers a viable format for psychosexual rehabilitation in clinical practice.

Conclusions:

• There is a clear need for psychosexual rehabilitation interventions for breast cancer survivors and their partners.
• The adapted SEGT couples group therapy model provides a promising avenue for addressing these complex psychosexual issues in oncology care.