The Dilemmas of Intimacy

Grounded in the cognitive-behavioral approach, The Dilemmas of Intimacy focuses exclusively on understanding, assessing, and treating common problems with intimacy.

Karen J. Prager, PhD, ABPP, is a professor of psychology and program head for gender studies at The University of Texas at Dallas. She is also a diplomate in couple and family psychology, specializes in the treatment of troubled relationships, and offers supervision and continuing education for mental health professionals on couple therapy.

Introduction. 1. Rewards, Risks, and Intimacy Dilemmas 2. The Assessment of Intimacy-Related Problems 3. Getting Started and Building the Therapeutic Alliance 4. Behavioral Interventions 5.  Affective Interventions 6. Cognitive Intervention 7. Intimacy's Core Dilemma: Joy Vs. Protection from Pain 8. Intimacy Dilemma 2: How Much "I" Vs. How Much "We?" 9. The Urge to Merge, Dilemma 2 and the Challenges of Differentiation 10. Dilemma 3: "The Past Lives in the Present." Concluding Thoughts