Laurie J. Watson - Wanting Sex Again: How to Rediscover Your Desire and Heal a Sexless Marriage

For married couples facing dilemmas of desire, Laurie Watson offers a blueprint for growing more personally conscious, trusting each other more, and reconnecting with the realm of sensual and sexual pleasure.

Gina Ogden, PhD, LMFT, author of
The Return of Desire: Rediscovering Your Sexual Passion

I have read many books on this common problem. Rarely does one come along thats as good as Wanting Sex Again. This book is beyond helpful. It works on so many different levels that I would recommend it for anyone in a long-term relationship whether they are having desire problems or not. I cant recommend it highly enough.

Paul Joannides, PsyD, author of Guide to Getting It On

This book challenges women to not passively accept low desire but rather to identify possible barriers preventing them from experiencing their innate femininity with all its mysterious pleasure.

Deborah C. Neel, PhD, Licensed Psychologist and Certified Sex Therapist

Low libido is a difficult, bedeviling problem for many women and couples. Laurie Watson has helped many women recover lost libido, and her book will help many more. Two thumbs up!

Michael Castleman, author of Great Sex

Laurie Watson has a gift for relating to women.

Julie R. McQueen, CHES, Oncology Patient Navigator,
Duke Cancer Center, Raleigh

A valuable therapeutic resource.

Carol Casper Figuers, PT, EdD, Associate Professor,
Doctor of Physical Therapy Division, Department of Community and
Family Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine

Laurie Watson has a wonderful methodHer warmth, caring and passion for what she does really shines through.

Ingrid Harm-Ernandes PT, WCS, BCIA-PMDB,
Orthopedic/Womens Health Specialties, Duke Hospital

This insightful book is a compass that guides women back to their lost libido. Lauries message, rich in experience, inspires us to reconnect with our partners and ourselves.

Polly Watson, MD, FACOG, NCMP, Boylen Healthcare, Raleigh

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HOW TO REDISCOVER
YOUR DESIRE AND HEAL A
SEXLESS MARRIAGE

Laurie J. Watson

BERKLEY BOOKS, NEW YORK

BERKLEY BOOKS

Published by the Penguin Group

Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.) Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England Penguin Group Ireland, 25 St. Stephens Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.) Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.) Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi110 017, India Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.) Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa

Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

This book is an original publication of The Berkley Publishing Group.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this book is complete and accurate. However, neither the publisher nor the author is engaged in rendering professional advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures, and suggestions contained in this book are not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician. All matters regarding your health require medical supervision. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestion in this book.

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers and Internet addresses at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors, or for changes that occur after publication. Further, the publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

Copyright 2012 by Laurie J. Watson, LMFT, LPC.

Cover design by Rita Frangie.

Book design by Tiffany Estreicher.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the authors rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

BERKLEY is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

The B design is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

PUBLISHING HISTORY

Berkley trade paperback edition / December 2012

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Watson, Laurie J.

Wanting sex again : how to rediscover your desire and heal a sexless marriage / Laurie J. Watson.1st ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN: 978-1-101-61353-5

1. Marriage. 2. Sex. 3. Man-woman relationships. I. Title.

HQ734.W38 2012

306.81dc23

2012029575

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For Derek

I am honored that youve told me your secret fantasies, worst fears, wildest hopes and sacred details of your relationships and sex lives. With gratitude, I acknowledge my many clients for all youve taught me.

Id like to thank Denise Silvestro and the team (Meredith Giordan, Martin Karlow, and Melissa Broder) at Berkley for believing that women with low libido needed a soft voice to help them. Your painstaking polishing of the manuscript gave the book clarity and crispness. Im grateful to be working with such an enthusiastic, experienced, and respected publishing house.

My agent, Stephany Evans, with FinePrint Literary Managementyouve been a huge champion, not just for my writing but for my career. Your initial call on my birthday was my best-ever present. Thank you!

For all youve taught me in your own writing and in practice and for your generous endorsement of my book, I am humbled. Thanking Michael Castleman, Gina Ogden, Paul Joannides, and Debbie Neel!

With deep gratitude to Susan Perry, my first editor, my endless cheerleader. Your long hours of discussion, revision, teaching, and editing gave birth to this book and to a writer.

Terry Carter for scrupulously advising on commas and content using your long editing experience (and all your vacation days)thank you. I am proud you think the book will change the lives of women. I would be adrift in the world without your thirty-seven years of friendship.

Thanking Reed Watson for his sharp editing, last-minute, late-night research, and thoughtful, youthful, compassionate commentary on female sexual problems.

Id like to thank my early encouragers: Sue Weems, who said write the book! when I hesitated, my cousin Steve Irvine who thought I could write the book fifteen years ago, Tom and Ilse Mann, salt of the earth, Joy Irvine Garratt, my cousin and experienced publicistyou made platform development sound easy and possible. Your support both professionally and personally has been a blessing.