Working with couples in a diabetes clinic: The role of the therapist in a medical setting

Abstract

This paper describes a multidisciplinary clinic for men with diabetes suffering from sexual dysfunction. Fifty-eight men were seen along with their female partners. The process of assessment, counselling and therapy of these couples is described. The importance of relationship factors in men with chronic illness and sexual dysfunction is often ignored in medical out-patient clinics, yet these factors may substantially affect the outcome of medical treatment. The model of care developed in the diabetes clinic includes a couples therapist in the assessment and treatment, shifting emphasis from the individual to the relationship. This could be adapted for other medical settings.