Optimizing sexual experience: a Sensate Focus protocol

Sensate Focus has two distinct interventions, Sensate Focus 1 and Sensate Focus 2. One is focused on anxiety reduction and has been explained and outlined in published literature. Two is focused on optimizing intimacy but has never been published. This article is the first to outline a proposed protocol for Sensate Focus 2, called Sensate Focus for Pleasure Exploration (SFPE). SFPE is a nine-phase protocol based on the original principles of Sensate Focus 1 (mindfulness and exposure therapy) with the addition of pleasure and arousal exploration and giving and receiving feedback. The foundational principles of SFPE include: Touch for yourself and for your partner, focus on sensations and explore what might be pleasurable and arousing, no pressure, and give and receive feedback. Phases 1–4 are modeled from Sensate Focus 1 but modified to explore pleasure. Phases 5–8 focus on exploring sexual arousal. Phase 9 focuses on helping clients maintain their gains. Clarifying the principles and framework of SFPE is an important first step in implementation and eventually researching the effectiveness of this intervention and its application in optimizing sexual experience.