The weekend workshop for dysfunctional couples: assets and limitations.

Two major new trends are emerging in the field of sexual counseling: the use of self-help programs and the increasing reliance on group therapy to overcome specific sexual complaints. The weekend sexual enhancement workshop represents a synthesis of both trends, but efficacy regarding outcome has not been well documented. In order to investigate specific changes in sexual and marital adjustment, two intensive weekend programs were conducted. Pre- and postmeasures were obtained for both groups. Based on the results of 15 couples who displayed a diversity of sexual dysfunctions, several conclusions can be drawn. The weekend workshop format appears effective in achieving three of its four major goals: (1) Couple communication improves via the stimulus of new information, group discussion, and permission to talk sexually. Marital satisfaction increases, particularly where the history of marital conflict is not chronic. (2) Attitude change occurs, and erroneous beliefs are relinquished in the face of new input. (3) The frequency of sexual interaction increases. (4) Long-standing sexual dysfunctions are not resolved as a result of group participation and information on self-help methods alone. Finally, the role of such weekend programs in sexual counseling in discussed.