FUNCTIONAL ANALYTICAL PSYCHOTHERAPY (FAP) IN SEXOLOGY: AN INTERVENTION MODEL BASED ON THE THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP

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Published: Nov 15, 2025
Keywords:
Functional Analytic Psychotherapy, therapeutic relationship, sexology, sexuality, sexual dysfunctions, sexual shame, intimacy.

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Aldana Lichtenberger
Juan Pablo Coletti Coletti

Abstract

Sexuality does not occur in isolation; it is a profoundly relational experience. Yet, traditional sexological interventions have predominantly emphasized psychoeducation techniques, often and behavioral neglecting the transformative role of the therapeutic relationship in sexual well-being. This article argues that Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) offers a distinctive framework for clinical sexology by leveraging the therapeutic encounter as a live context in which problematic relational patterns can emerge and be reshaped in real time. We outline FAP’s theoretical foundations, the concept of Clinically Relevant Behaviors (CRBs), and the application of its five therapeutic rules to address desire, sexual dysfunctions, and sexual identity formation. Detailed clinical examples illustrate how FAP fosters new patterns of emotional intimacy within sessions, supporting their generalization to clients’ sexual and relational lives. Finally, we discuss FAP’s broader clinical and educational implications for training sex therapists and integrating this approach with other therapeutic models.

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How to Cite
FUNCTIONAL ANALYTICAL PSYCHOTHERAPY (FAP) IN SEXOLOGY: AN INTERVENTION MODEL BASED ON THE THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP. (2025). SASH Journal, 6(2), 11-31. https://doi.org/10.58751/177tz443
Issue
Vol. 6 No. 2 (2025): SPRING 2025
Section
Clínica - Revisión - Debates
Author Biographies

Aldana Lichtenberger

Licenciada y Doctora en Psicología. Terapeuta de pareja. Sexóloga clínica. Especialista en Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso (ACT) y Psicoterapia Analítico Funcional (FAP). Miembro fundadora de Una Vida más Grande (UVMG).

Juan Pablo Coletti Coletti

Licenciado en Psicología (UBA). Entrenador certificado en Psicoterapia Analítico Funcional (FAP) por la Universidad de Washington. Especialista en Terapia de Aceptación y Compromiso (ACT). Miembro fundador y director Académico de la Fundación Centro Argentino de Terapias Contextuales (CATC).

How to Cite

FUNCTIONAL ANALYTICAL PSYCHOTHERAPY (FAP) IN SEXOLOGY: AN INTERVENTION MODEL BASED ON THE THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP. (2025). SASH Journal, 6(2), 11-31. https://doi.org/10.58751/177tz443

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