Wendy Maltz

Last updated

Wendy Maltz
Wendy Maltz.jpeg
Maltz at home in Eugene, OR 2011
Born
Wendy Lee Becker

(1950-01-12) January 12, 1950 (age 74)
Washington, D.C.
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Sex therapist, psychotherapist, author, educator
Website http://www.healthysex.com

Wendy Maltz (born January 12, 1950) is an American sex therapist, psychotherapist, author, educator, and clinical social worker. She is an expert on the sexual repercussions of sexual abuse, understanding women's sexual fantasies, treating pornography-related problems, and promoting healthy sexuality. She has taught at the University of Oregon and, up until her retirement in 2016 from providing counseling services, was co-director with her husband, Larry Maltz, of Maltz Counseling Associates therapy practice in Eugene, Oregon. [1]

Contents

Personal life and education

Maltz graduated from the University of Colorado-Boulder with a bachelor of arts degree in Psychology. She also has a master's degree in social welfare from the University of California at Berkeley. She has been married to Larry Maltz, a sex and relationship therapist, since 1978. They live and work in Eugene, Oregon and have two grown children. [1]

Career

On October 25, 2014, Maltz received the Carnes Award from the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health for her "outstanding work in the field of sexual addiction." [2]

Maltz began her career as a therapist providing sexuality education in schools, counseling survivors of sexual abuse, and conducting sexual enrichment programs for pre-orgasmic women. Maltz was influenced by advancements in women's rights and sexual freedoms. In an article in Contemporary Sexuality, she explained, "I'm passionate about empowering women and men to overcome silence and unnecessary shame about sexual concerns." [1]

Maltz has developed models for understanding healthy sexuality. These include the CERTS Conditions for Healthy Sexuality (consent, equality, respect, trust, and safety) model first described in Maltz, Wendy and Beverly Holman. Incest and Sexuality: A Guide to Understanding and Healing. Lanham: Lexington Books (1991) and The Maltz Hierarchy for Sexual Interaction. (Maltz, 1995). [3]

Her work has been included and/or discussed in sexuality textbooks, including: Carroll, Janell, Sexuality Now: Embracing Diversity (2013) Cengage Learning: Belmont, CA; Kleinplatz, Peggy, New Directions in Sex Therapy (2012) Taylor & Francis Publishers: New York, NY; Wilmer, Graham, et al. Understanding and Treating the Life-Long Consequences of Childhood Sexual Abuse (2012) The Lantern Project, UK; Long, Lynn, Burnett, Judith & Thomas, Valerie, Sexuality Counseling: An Integrative Approach (2005) Pearson, Merrill, Prentice Hall Publishers: Upper Saddle River, NJ; Crooks, Robert & Karla Baur, Our Sexuality (5th edition, 1993) Benjamin Cummings Publishing: Redwood City, CA, pp. 498–501; Crooks, Robert & Karla Baur, Our Sexuality (11th edition, 2011) Cengage Learning: Belmont, CA; and; and, Katz, Lori S., Treating Military Sexual Trauma (2015) Springer Publishing, New York, NY.

Her books have been reviewed in Sexual and Relationship Therapy, [4] Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, [5] Journal of Poetry Therapy, [6] The Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality, [7] Annals of Behavioral Sciences and Medical Education, [8] and Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. [9]

Maltz has been a keynote presenter, speaker and workshop presenter at psychology and sexuality conferences in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand. She presented a keynote address at the 2009 Utah Coalition Against Pornography on pornography problems and healthy sexuality that was made available online by UCAP in 2015. Maltz presented a keynote entitled, "Let's Talk About Sex: Sexual Nature, Harm and Healing", as well as an advanced workshop on "Healing Unwanted Sexual Fantasies" at the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health 2015 annual conference in Philadelphia, PA.

Sexual abuse recovery

During her four-decade career, Maltz has written numerous books, chapters and articles on sexuality and sexual recovery topics (see Bibliography). Her first book, Incest and Sexuality: A Guide to Understanding and Healing (coauthored with Beverly Holman, 1987), was the first book to address the sexual problems caused by incest and remains a professional classic. [1] It was followed by her most popular book, The Sexual Healing Journey: A Guide for Survivors of Sexual Abuse, [1] which was also called a "classic" in Psychology Today. [10]

An article in the Pandora's Box Newsletter (March 2013) included a detailed description and illustration of the "Drawing on Body" exercise. [11]

In the fall of 2015, Maltz, along with Intervision Media Services, made both of her sexual healing videos, "Partners in Healing: Couples Overcoming the Sexual Repercussions of Incest," and "Relearning Touch: Healing Techniques for Couples" available for viewing at her HealthySex.com website.

In 2021 HarperCollinsMéxico published a Spanish-language edition of The Sexual Healing Journey, El viaje para sanar la sexualidad: Una guía para sobrevivientes de abuso sexual.

In 2022 Horusz, an imprint of Angyali Menedek, published a Hungarian edition of The Sexual Healing Journey, A Szexuális Gyógyulás Útján.

Pornography recovery

During the mid-2000s, with the growing proliferation of high-speed Internet pornography, Maltz began seeing increasing numbers of people in her therapy practice who were suffering from pornography-related problems. This occurrence led her to research and study how accessible, on-demand pornography was impacting sexuality and relationships, and what interventions were helpful to individuals and couples if they were experiencing negative consequences from using pornography. Maltz and her husband, Larry Maltz, coauthored a sexual recovery book entitled, The Porn Trap: The Essential Guide to Overcoming Problems Caused by Pornography, which describes serious porn-related problems, such as pornography addiction and intimate relationship concerns, and provides strategies and techniques for effectively addressing them. In a 2009 article in The Daily Beast/Newsweek discussing potential negative effects of heavy porn use, Maltz recommends that pornography, like cigarettes, be subject to regulation and warning labels. "I often feel like doctors must have in the 1950s," she said, "seeing firsthand the devastating consequences of cigarette smoking while living in a society that continues to glamorize use, ignore research, overlook consequences and resist regulation." [12]

In 2014 a Chinese translation of The Porn Trap was published by Law Press of China, and a Polish translation by Media Rodzina.

According to DSM-5, DSM-5-TR, ICD-10, and ICD-11, sex or pornography addictions are not recognized diagnoses and the compulsive sexual behaviour disorder is not an addiction. [13]

Media

Maltz has been written about in publications such as Salon, Self, Therapy Today, Psychology Today, The Daily Beast/Newsweek, [12] [14] Mother Jones, Natural News, Times of India, New York Times, The Oregonian, The Register-Guard, Examiner, Bottomline Health, [15] WebMD, [16] Alternet, [17] Metro, [18] The Daily Emerald, [19] [20] St. George Utah News, [21] The Atlantic, [22] CBC News, [23] Refinery29 , [24] Irish Times, [25] and O: The Oprah Magazine. [26]

She has been written about in sexual recovery publications, including Pandora's Project Newsletter, [27] Porn Addict Hubby, [28] and Cybersolutions Today. [29]

Maltz has also been interviewed on television and radio programs, and podcasts, discussing sexual healing from sexual abuse, [30] [31] [32] [33] sexual fantasies, [34] porn addiction recovery, [35] [36] [37] and sexual love poetry. [38] [39]

Singer/songwriter Alanis Morissette features Maltz in her "Conversation with Alanis" podcast series, Episode No. 5, with Maltz discussing a variety of intimacy topics, including sex, love, porn issues, fantasies, and sexual healing. [40]

Quotes

"Sexual abuse is not only an attack on one's body, but also an attack on one's sexuality." [41] [42]

"Sexual healing is an empowering process in which you reclaim your sexuality as both positive and pleasurable. It involves using special healing strategies and techniques to actively change sexual attitudes and behaviors that resulted from the abuse." [43]

"Healthy sex is something everyone deserves and can achieve." [44]

"Carpets can 'get laid' and bugs can 'have sex,' but 'making love' is something uniquely human. It's worth opening our hearts to the experience." [45]

"Love is stronger than abuse." [46]

"Sex is momentary, and sex is transcendent. That's the paradox. The most intense physical sharing we experience with another person is gone in a matter of minutes. And yet, it connects us with a larger energy, a life force. Real, authentic intimacy leaves behind an inner glow that warms every aspect of our lives. Sex reminds us of our limitations and our expansiveness as humans. We are alone, and we are together." [47]

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

Hypersexuality is a medical condition that causes unwanted or excessive sexual arousal, causing people to engage in or think about sexual activity to a point of distress or impairment. It is controversial whether it should be included as a clinical diagnosis used by mental healthcare professionals. Nymphomania, satyromania and sex maniac were terms previously used for the condition in women and men, respectively.

Pornography addiction is the scientifically controversial application of an addiction model to the use of pornography. Pornography use may be part of compulsive behavior, with negative consequences to one's physical, mental, social, or financial well-being. While the World Health Organization's ICD-11 (2022) has recognized compulsive sexual behaviour disorder (CSBD) as an "impulsive control disorder". CSBD is not an addiction, and the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-5 (2013) and the DSM-5-TR (2022) do not classify compulsive pornography consumption as a mental disorder or a behavioral addiction.

Virtual sex is sexual activity where two or more people gather together via some form of communications equipment to arouse each other, often by the means of transmitting sexually explicit messages. Virtual sex describes the phenomenon, no matter the communications equipment used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opposition to pornography</span> Overview of opposing views to pornography

Reasons for opposition to pornography include religious objections and feminist concerns, as well as alleged harmful effects, such as pornography addiction and erectile dysfunction. Pornography addiction is not a condition recognized by the DSM-5, the ICD-11, or the DSM-5-TR. Anti-pornography movements have allied disparate social activists in opposition to pornography, from social conservatives to harm reduction advocates. The definition of "pornography" varies between countries and movements, and many make distinctions between pornography, which they oppose, and erotica, which they consider acceptable. Sometimes opposition will deem certain forms of pornography more or less harmful, while others draw no such distinctions.

Sexual addiction is a state characterized by compulsive participation or engagement in sexual activity, particularly sexual intercourse, despite negative consequences. The concept is contentious; as of 2023, sexual addiction is not a clinical diagnosis in either the DSM or ICD medical classifications of diseases and medical disorders, which instead categorize such behaviors under labels such as compulsive sexual behavior.

Sexual anorexia is a term coined in 1975 by psychologist Nathan Hare to describe a fear of or deep aversion to sexual activity. It is considered a loss of "appetite" for sexual contact, and may result in a fear of intimacy or an aversion to any type of sexual interaction. The term largely exists in a colloquial sense and is not presently classified as a disorder in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual.

Pedophilia is a psychiatric disorder in which an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescent children. Although girls typically begin the process of puberty at age 10 or 11, and boys at age 11 or 12, psychiatric diagnostic criteria for pedophilia extend the cut-off point for prepubescence to age 13. People with the disorder are often referred to as pedophiles.

Internet sex addiction, also known as cybersex addiction, has been proposed as a sexual addiction characterized by virtual Internet sexual activity that causes serious negative consequences to one's physical, mental, social, and/or financial well-being. It may also be considered a subset of the theorized Internet addiction disorder. Internet sex addiction manifests various behaviours: reading erotic stories; viewing, downloading or trading online pornography; online activity in adult fantasy chat rooms; cybersex relationships; masturbation while engaged in online activity that contributes to one's sexual arousal; the search for offline sexual partners and information about sexual activity.

Human sexuality covers a broad range of topics, including the physiological, psychological, social, cultural, political, philosophical, ethical, moral, theological, legal and spiritual or religious aspects of sex and human sexual behavior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Effects of pornography</span> Influence of pornography on an individual and their intimate relationships

Pornography has been defined as any material in varying forms, including texts, video, photos or audio that is consumed for sexual satisfaction and arousal of an individual or partnership. The effects of pornography on individuals or their intimate relationships have been a subject of research.

Behavioral addiction, process addiction, or non-substance-related disorder is a form of addiction that involves a compulsion to engage in a rewarding non-substance-related behavior – sometimes called a natural reward – despite any negative consequences to the person's physical, mental, social or financial well-being. In the brain's reward system, a gene transcription factor known as ΔFosB has been identified as a necessary common factor involved in both behavioral and drug addictions, which are associated with the same set of neural adaptations.

Religious views on pornography are based on the broader views of religions on topics such as modesty, dignity, and sexuality. Different religious groups view pornography and sexuality differently.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexandra Katehakis</span> American psychotherapist

Alexandra Katehakis is the clinical director of the Center for Healthy Sex in Los Angeles and an author. Katehakis is a clinical supervisor at American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and clinical supervisor and member of the teaching faculty for the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP) a national certifying body for sex addiction therapists. She has been a contributor to Psychology Today, Los Angeles Times and The Huffington Post, as well as a panelist at sexuality conferences and public events.

Robert Weiss is an American author, educator, and clinical expert in the treatment of Sexual Addiction and Related intimacy disorders. Weiss currently serves as Founder Seeking Integrity Treatment Programs.

Compulsive sexual behaviour disorder (CSBD), is an impulse control disorder. CSBD manifests as a pattern of behavior involving intense preoccupation with sexual fantasies and behaviours that cause significant levels of psychological distress, are inappropriately used to cope with psychological stress, cannot be voluntarily curtailed, and risk or cause harm to oneself or others. This disorder can also cause impairment in social, occupational, personal, or other important functions. CSBD is not an addiction, and is typically used to describe behavior, rather than "sexual addiction".

Certified Sex Therapists (CST) have graduate degrees in a clinical mental health field and have obtained advanced training in sex therapy from a credentialed training body, resulting in certification. One of the largest such bodies is the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT).

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to human sexuality:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Center for Healthy Sex</span> Community therapy center in Los Angeles, California

Center for Healthy Sex is a community therapy center in Los Angeles that specializes in the treatment of sexual dysfunction, sexual anorexia, sex addiction, and love addiction. The Center is located on Santa Monica Boulevard near Overland Avenue bordering the neighborhoods of Century City and Westwood.

NoFap is a website and community forum that serves as a support group for those who wish to give up pornography and masturbation. Its name comes from the slang term fap, referring to male masturbation. While reasons for this abstinence vary by individual, the main motivation cited is attempting to overcome addiction to pornography, or other compulsive sexual behaviours. Other reasons for abstinence include religious and moral reasons, self-improvement, and physical beliefs that are not supported by medical science.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Miletski, Hani (May 2010). "Member Spotlight: Meet Wendy Maltz of Eugene, Ore" (PDF). Contemporary Sexuality. Vol. 44, no. 5. p. 7.[ dead link ]
  2. ↑ "Wendy Receives the SASH Carnes Award". Healthy Sex. October 29, 2014.
  3. ↑ Maltz, Wendy. (1995). The Maltz Hierarchy of Sexual Interaction.Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity 2, no. 1: 5–18.
  4. ↑ Rosenbaum, Talli Y. (October 11, 2012). "The Sexual Healing Journey". Book Reviews. Sexual and Relationship Therapy. 27 (3): 298–299. doi:10.1080/14681994.2012.734607.
  5. ↑ Edger, Kailla (2008). "Review of The Porn Trap". Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity: The Journal of Prevention & Treatment. 15 (3): 269–270. doi:10.1080/10720160802289173.
  6. ↑ Grayson, Deborah Eve (June 2001). "Book Review: Intimate Kisses: The Poetry of Sexual Pleasure. Edited by Wendy Maltz. Novato, CA: New World Library. (ISBN 1-57731-133-7), 224 pp., $18.00, hardcover". Journal of Poetry Therapy. 14: 241–243. doi:10.1023/A:1017549729815.
  7. ↑ Owens, Annette (October 6, 2001). "Book Review: Private Thoughts. Exploring the Power of Women's Fantasies By Wendy Maltz and Suzie Boss. New World Library; ISBN: 1-57731-146-9; US $ 14". The Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality. 4. Archived from the original on June 23, 2003.
  8. ↑ "Annals Past Table of Contents". ABSAME Online. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Vol 14, No. 2 Fall 2008 ... Review of: The Porn Trap: The Essential Guide to Overcoming Problems Caused by Pornography by Wendy Maltz and Larry Maltz (2008) — Amy Ellwood
  9. ↑ Shaw, Jeanne (May 2009). "A Review of The Porn Trap: The Essential Guide to Overcoming Problems Caused by Pornography By Wendy and Larry Maltz. New York: Harper Collins, 2008. 288 pages, $24.95. (hardcover)". Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. 35 (3): 246–249. doi:10.1080/00926230902835309#.Ufs6DFM1CHk.
  10. ↑ McCall, Catherine. "Healing the Sexual Wounds of Sexual Abuse Survivors". Psychology Today. Retrieved March 26, 2013
  11. ↑ Pandora’s Box Newsletter. March 2013
  12. 1 2 "Rx vs. XXX." The Daily Beast/Newsweek. May 19, 2009. thedailybeast.com. Archived 2011-09-25 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ Dailey, Kate."For Survivors of Sexual Assault, New TSA Screenings Represent a Threat." The Daily Beast/Newsweek. November 10, 2010
  15. ↑ "Sexual Abuse Can Affect Your Physical Health, Too." Bottomline Health. December 1, 2011.
  16. ↑ Heubeck, Elizabeth. "Sharing Your Sex Fantasies With your Partner: Sizzler or Fizzler?." WebMD. Feb.7, 2007
  17. ↑ Maltz, Wendy and Boss, Susie. "9 Reasons Sex Fantasies Are Good For You." Alternet. April 10, 2010.,
  18. ↑ Castillo, Michelle. "The Porn Problem: Too Much of a Good Thing May Be Bad For You." Metro. October 9, 2012.
  19. ↑ Marrone, Katherine. "Sex: Excessive Pornographic Exposure Can Screw You in the Sack." The Daily Emerald. June 6, 2012.
  20. ↑ Owens, Tanner. "Don't Let Porn Show You How It's Done." The Daily Emerald. October 10, 2014
  21. ↑ Steuer, Geoff. "Relationship Connection: Raising Children in a Pornified Culture." St. George Utah News. May 14, 2013.
  22. ↑ Abel, Isaac. "Coming Out as a Porn Addict." The Atlantic. June 26, 2013..
  23. ↑ "Schwartz, Daniel. "Pornography, Kids, and Sex Education: What to Do?" CBC News. November 17, 2014".
  24. ↑ "Clark-Flory, Tracy. "What Sex After Sexual Assault is Really Like." Refinery 29. February 2, 2015". The Irish Times .
  25. ↑ "Murphy, Trish. "Tell Me About It. My life is slipping away from me due to my porn habit. November 25, 2015". The Irish Times .
  26. ↑ "The Reality of Fantasy." October 2015, p. 127".[ dead link ]
  27. ↑ Maltz, Wendy. "Healing Exercise: A Relearning Touch Exercise." Pandora Project Newsletter. March 2013.
  28. ↑ "Relationship Rescue for Wives and Girlfriends of Internet Pornography Addicts." Porn Hubby. 2008.
  29. ↑ Mulligan, Christopher. "Interview with Wendy Maltz LCSW: The Impact of Cyber Porn on Teens." Cybersolutions Today. February 9, 2012.
  30. ↑ August, Chip. "Wendy Maltz: Sexual Healing." Sex, Love and Intimacy Podcast. (SLI 027, Nov 28, 2007).
  31. ↑ Strgar, Wendy. "Healing From Sexual Abuse with Wendy Maltz, LCSW, DST." Good Clean Love Daily/Lunch with the Loveologist. (1483327, Jun 13, 2012).
  32. ↑ "Sattin, Neil. "Deeper Intimacy Through Sexual Healing with Wendy Maltz." Relationship Alive! podcast. October 20, 2015". October 20, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Congdon, Luis. "Sexual Healing: An Interview with Wendy Maltz. Lasting Love Connection podcast. June 2015". June 5, 2015.
  34. ↑ Dillon, Ilene. "50 Shades of Insight: Women's Sexual Fantasies: An Interview with Wendy Maltz author of Private Thoughts." The Emotional Pro/Full Power Living/BlogTalkRadio. (fpl September 5, 2013).
  35. ↑ Cooper, Deborah. "Relationship Problems Caused by Sexual Imagery: An Interview with Wendy Maltz." Date Smarter, Not Harder, The Relationship Talk Show. (03-20-2010).
  36. ↑ Wilson, Gary. "Gary Interviews Wendy Maltz, coauthor of The Porn Trap." Your Brain in the Cybersex Jungle/Your Brain on Porn. (Show #6, Oct 23, 2012).
  37. ↑ Wilson, Gary. "Gary Interviews Therapist Wendy Maltz." Your Brain in the Cybersex Jungle/Your Brain on Porn. (Show #11, November 12, 2012).
  38. ↑ Feraca, Jean. "World's Best Love Poems: An Interview with Wendy Maltz editor of Passionate Hearts: The Poetry of Sexual Love." Wisconsin Public Radio. (2-14-08).
  39. ↑ Gentille, Francesca. "The Soul of Sexual Poetry with Wendy Maltz." Sex: Tantra & Kama Sutra Podcast. (Episode 40, STKS O40, 2007).
  40. ↑ "Podcast Episode 5: Conversation with Wendy Maltz – Alanis Morissette". Alanis Morissette. February 8, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  41. ↑ Ellwood, Amy. "Review of: The Porn Trap: The Essential Guide to Overcoming Problems Caused by Pornography by Wendy Maltz and Larry Maltz." Annals of Behavioral Science and Medical Education. Vol. 14. No. 2 Fall 2008.
  42. ↑ "Sexual Abuse Can Affect Your Physical Health, Too." Bottom Line Health. December 1, 2011.
  43. ↑ Maltz, Wendy. "Sexual Healing from Sexual Abuse: Advice for Adult Survivors." Survivor Safe Haven. May 14, 1999.
  44. ↑ Maltz, Wendy. "Article on The Sexual Healing Journey." Eugene Register-Guard. June 28, 1991.
  45. ↑ Seligmann, Ari. "Love Between the Sheets: An Interview with Wendy Maltz." Eugene Weekly. February 2, 2000.
  46. ↑ Maltz, Wendy. "Healing the Sexual Wounds of Sexual Abuse Survivors." Psychology Today. August 2012.
  47. ↑ Maltz, Wendy. "Introduction to Passionate Hearts: The Poetry of Sexual Love.." Novato: New World Library. 2006.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.