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Insight Horizon Media

What is sensate focus exercises?

Author

Sarah Cherry

Published Feb 24, 2026

What is sensate focus exercises?

Sensate focus is a technique used to improve intimacy and communication between partners around sex, reduce sexual performance anxiety, and shift away from ingrained, goal-oriented sexual patterns that may not be serving a couple. The technique, developed by Dr. William H. Masters and Virginia E.

How do you teach sensate focus?

You can maximize the potential of sensate focus by beginning without preconceived notions— of what you will experience, how it will feel, how much pleasure it will produce. In other words, begin with an open mind so as not to color your experience and feelings. Try to avoid being judgmental or evaluative.

Is sensate focus effective?

Effectiveness. Studies suggest that sensate focus is useful not just for addressing specific sexual problems but also for helping to improve sexual satisfaction in couples with more general dissatisfaction.

What is Masters and Johnson behavioral approach?

In the Masters and Johnson technique, a sex history is first taken and the couple given physical examinations to rule out physical problems. Therapists then employ exercises focusing on the giving and receiving of sensual, but not necessarily sexual, pleasure to help the couple overcome anxieties about sex.

What are Masters and Johnson best known for?

William Masters and Virginia Johnson have been widely recognized for their contributions to sexual, psychological, and psychiatric research, particularly for their theory of a four-stage model of sexual response (also known as, the human sexual response cycle) and their study of sexual response among the elderly.

What is sensate focus and what type of dysfunctions are best used to treat?

Sensate focus has been used to treat problems with body image, erectile dysfunction, orgasm disorders, and lack of sexual arousal.

Can you do sensate focus by yourself?

Sensate Focus is a technique used in sex therapy. While you can complete these sensate focus exercises at home without the help of a sex therapist, combining other forms of sex therapy with sensate exercises can be helpful.

Is sensate focus evidence based?

There are three types of sexual problems: medically related, emotional, or a combination of the two. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish the causal factors involved, but by using sensate focus techniques regardless of etiology, the elements begin to evidence themselves.

What did Masters and Johnson’s research focused on?

About Masters & Johnson. In the late 1950s, Masters and Johnson pioneered research into the understanding human sexual response, dysfunction, and disorders through the direct observation of anatomical and physiological sexual responses of human subjects.

How did the Kinsey research differ from the Masters and Johnson research?

MASTERS AND JOHNSON’S RESEARCH Unlike Kinsey, who used personal interviews and surveys to collect data, Masters and Johnson observed people having intercourse in a variety of positions, and they observed people masturbating, manually or with the aid of a device.

What are sensate focus exercises?

Sensate Focus Exercises Sensate focus exercises were developed by sex therapists Masters & Johnson. They can be used by any couple seeking to explore a new kind of intimacy. These exercises are typically done in steps or stages over a period of several weeks.

What is sexsensate focus?

Sensate focus is a technique used to improve intimacy and communication between partners around sex, reduce sexual performance anxiety, and shift away from ingrained, goal-oriented sexual patterns that may not be serving a couple.

What should my partner wear during sensate focus exercises?

Ideally, both partners should be clean, well-rested, and unclothed during sensate focus exercises. If they are not able to be naked, they should wear loose, comfortable clothing. The couple begins by deciding who will be the toucher and who will be the receiver for the first phase of the process.