Megan McCoy

Who's in Our Clients’ Bed? A Case Illustration of Sex Therapy With a Polyamorous Couple

Polyamory is a term used to describe when individuals pursue multiple concurrent romantic relationships with the permission of their partners. Polyamory is an underrecognized and underresearched area of interest in the mental health field. Therefore, little guidance is available on best practice for couple and sex therapy interventions. The present article explores a case study involving the successful implementation of sensate focus therapy with a polyamorous couple. The unique issues that arose while performing sex therapy with a couple in this type of coupling were explored to provide clinicians with recommendations for practice.

The Role of Tele-Mental Health in Therapy for Couples in Long-Distance Relationships

The rates of long distance romantic relationships are increasing, and it is important to realize that many of these couples may face unique challenges compared with geographically close couples. However, because of geographical separation, couples in long distance relationships may not have access to therapy services that could benefit their relationships. Therefore, therapists need to make accommodations for working with them. One way of supporting this population is through videoconferencing. Videoconference services are programs that allow people in different places to talk to each other in real time. One of the more popular videoconferencing services is Skype. This article will explore the use of Skype in therapy with couples in long distance relationships. The current state of the literature on Internet based psychotherapeutic interventions and the ethical considerations associated with this type of treatment will be addressed. Drawing on a clinical case study, implications of Skype therapy for long distance relationships will be discussed.

Afro-Caribbean Mothers in the U.S.: An Exploratory Study From a Transnational Feminist Perspective

Afro-Caribbean immigrants are a growing and marginalized population in the U.S. Although they have much in common with African Americans and Latino immigrants, they are a unique and diverse group that is often misunderstood and understudied. This exploratory study highlights the struggles of these mothers as they navigate contrasting parenting values and practices as transnational families. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted, and a thematic analysis revealed four themes related to culture, discipline, education, and collectivism. Data were interpreted from a transnational feminist lens. Clinical implications are offered to strengthen cultural sensitivity and effectiveness with Afro-Caribbean immigrant mothers and their families.

Narrative Financial Therapy

This chapter provides an introduction to narrative financial therapy (NFT), which is an integrated theoretical approach to financial therapy that both mental health and financial planning professionals can utilize. The NFT approach integrates aspects of the six-step financial planning process with empirically supported narrative therapeutic techniques. This integration provides the underpinnings to a manualized approach. Concluding the chapter, a case study is presented to demonstrate the approach, explore potential ethical considerations, and introduce future considerations.

Utilizing a Narrative Approach to Increasing Intimacy After Prostate Cancer

Attitudes about sexual intimacy are an important aspect of relationship satisfaction, especially for couples dealing with prostate cancer. Prostate cancer can have profound effects on men and their partners, and more research is needed to better understand potential sexual barriers for these couples. Five major themes identified in the literature related to prostate cancer survivors and their partners are sexual intimacy, self-esteem, sense of masculinity, role change, and communication. These themes can help counselors identify key clinical issues for helping couples recover from prostate cancer. We integrated these themes with narrative therapy questions to help couples deconstruct problematic narratives and move toward preferred narratives about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences as they learn and grow in their recovery process.