Book Recommendations
A curated reading list for patients, couples, and professionals. Books marked with ★ are especially approachable places to start. Beyond book recs, this resource hub features professional referrals and insightful blog posts designed to empower, educate, and support you every step of the way.
Women's Sexual Health, Pleasure & Orgasm
★ Better Sex Through Mindfulness
Lori Brotto, PhD
Uses mindfulness-based approaches to address low desire, arousal difficulties, distraction, and sexual distress.
★ Becoming Cliterate
Emily Nagoski, PhD
Clear, approachable education about sexual anatomy, pleasure, orgasm, and the orgasm gap.
Becoming Orgasmic
Julia Heiman, PhD & Joseph LoPiccolo, PhD
A structured self-help program for women who have difficulty experiencing orgasm.
Women's Anatomy of Arousal
Sheri Winston
A detailed exploration of female sexual anatomy, arousal, and pleasure.
Sex Matters for Women
Sallie Foley, Sally Kope & Dennis Sugrue
A broad guide covering sexual health, anatomy, desire, pleasure, relationships, and common concerns.
Painful Sex, Pelvic Pain & Reconnecting With the Body
★ When Sex Hurts
Andrew Goldstein, MD, Caroline Pukall, PhD & Irwin Goldstein, MD
A valuable resource for understanding painful intercourse, vulvar pain, and related sexual-health concerns.
★ The Sexual Healing Journey
Wendy Maltz, LCSW
A compassionate guide for reclaiming healthy sexuality following sexual trauma or abuse.
Whole-Body Sex
Melissa Walker, LPC, CST, R-DMT
A somatic approach to sexuality emphasizing body awareness, pleasure, emotions, and connection.
Eve's Blessing
Suzannah Weiss
Explores pleasure in the context of female sexual and pelvic pain.
Couples, Intimacy & Communication
★ Hold Me Tight
Sue Johnson, EdD
A relationship resource grounded in attachment and emotional connection that can help couples understand recurring patterns.
★ Sex Without Stress
Jessa Zimmerman, MA, LMHC, CST
Especially helpful for couples experiencing cycles of sexual pressure, disappointment, avoidance, and anxiety.
Getting the Sex You Want
Tammy Nelson, PhD
Exercises and guidance to improve sexual communication and develop a more satisfying intimate relationship.
Enduring Desire
Michael Metz, PhD & Barry McCarthy, PhD
Focuses on sustaining intimacy, desire, and sexual satisfaction in long-term relationships.
So Tell Me About the Last Time You Had Sex
Ian Kerner, PhD
Uses patterns within sexual encounters to identify barriers and opportunities for greater satisfaction.
Sexual Anxiety & Performance Concerns
Coping with Erectile Dysfunction
Michael Metz, PhD & Barry McCarthy, PhD
A couples-oriented approach emphasizing intimacy, confidence, and reduced performance pressure.
Coping With Premature Ejaculation
Michael Metz, PhD & Barry McCarthy, PhD
Practical guidance for individuals and couples navigating premature ejaculation.
Overcoming Anxiety in Sex and Relationships
Paula Leech, LMFT, CST-S
Addresses sexual and relationship anxiety and strategies for greater intimate and emotional freedom.
Sensate Focus in Sex Therapy
Linda Weiner & Constance Avery-Clark
A structured guide to sensate-focus exercises used to reduce performance pressure and rebuild sensual connection.
Sexual Fantasies, Exploration & Understanding Your Sexuality
Tell Me What You Want
Justin Lehmiller, PhD
Research-based exploration of sexual fantasies and the diversity of human sexual interests.
The Erotic Mind
Jack Morin, PhD
Explores the psychology of sexual excitement, fantasy, and eroticism.
Guide to Getting It On
Paul Joannides
A comprehensive, approachable guide to sexuality, communication, and sexual pleasure.
Magnificent Sex
Peggy Kleinplatz, PhD & A. Dana Ménard, PhD
Examines what people reporting extraordinary sexual experiences have in common.
LGBTQ+, Gender & Inclusive Sexuality
Gender Magic
Rae McDaniel, MEd, LCPC, CST
An affirming guide to gender exploration, authenticity, pleasure, and building a life that feels more fully one's own.
Refusing Compulsory Sexuality
Sherronda J. Brown
Examines asexuality through a Black asexual lens and challenges cultural assumptions about sexuality.
Trans Sex
Lucie Fielding
A comprehensive, approachable guide to sexuality, communication, and sexual pleasure.
Kink, Non-Monogamy & Alternative Relationships
With Sprinkles on Top
Stefani Goerlich, LMSW, CST
Helps kinky and vanilla partners communicate, understand one another, explore, and connect.
Open Monogamy
Tammy Nelson, PhD
Explores intentionally developing relationship agreements and discussing the meaning of monogamy.
The Ethical Slut
Lucie Fielding
A comprehensive, approachable guide to sexuality, communication, and sexual pleasure.
Sex After 50, Menopause & Aging
★ The Ultimate Guide to Sex After Fifty
Joan Price
A sex-positive guide to desire, changing bodies, relationships, and pleasure in later adulthood.
Naked at Our Age
Joan Price
Addresses intimacy, sexuality, and sexual changes later in life.
Couple Sexuality After 60
Barry McCarthy & Emily McCarthy
Focuses specifically on maintaining sexual intimacy and satisfaction among older couples.
Healing After Infidelity & Rebuilding Trust
The State of Affairs
Esther Perel, LMFT
Explores infidelity, its meaning within relationships, and pathways toward understanding and recovery.
The New Monogamy
Tammy Nelson, PhD
Focuses on rebuilding relationships and intentionally creating new agreements following infidelity.
The Trust Solution
Merry Frons, PhD
A couples-oriented guide to healing intimate betrayal and rebuilding trust.
Trauma & Sexual Healing
★ The Sexual Healing Journey
Wendy Maltz, LCSW
A patient-friendly resource for survivors who want to reclaim sexuality following sexual abuse or trauma.
Healing Sex
Staci Haines
A body-oriented approach to healing sexual trauma and developing a safer relationship with sexuality.
Coming Home to Passion
Ruth Cohn, MFT
Addresses sexuality and intimacy when childhood trauma or neglect affects adult relationships.
For Clinicians & Professionals
Principles and Practice of Sex Therapy
Kathryn Hall & Yitzchak Binik, eds.
A major clinical reference covering contemporary assessment and treatment in sex therapy.
A Clinician's Guide to Systemic Sex Therapy
Gerald Weeks, Nancy Gambescia & Katherine Hertlein
A clinical framework for conceptualizing and treating sexual concerns systemically.
New Directions in Sex Therapy
Peggy Kleinplatz, ed.
Explores innovative and alternative approaches to sex therapy.
What Every Mental Health Professional Needs to Know About Sex
Stephanie Buehler, PsyD
A practical clinical introduction to addressing sexuality in mental-health treatment.
Treating Out of Control Sexual Behavior
Douglas Braun-Harvey & Michael Vigorito
A sexual-health framework for assessing and treating out-of-control sexual behavior.
Website note: This reading list is provided for educational purposes and does not replace individualized medical, mental-health, or sex-therapy care. Readers may wish to discuss specific concerns and book recommendations with an appropriately qualified healthcare or mental-health professional.
Selection notes: The list was curated using established sexual-health resources, including books recognized or listed by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and patient resources from the University of Michigan Center for Vulvar Diseases.
Let's Start Together
Take the next step in your journey towards addressing your sexual concerns by working through general mental health concerns like anxiety and life transitions. Start working with one of our therapists today!