Chemsex and psychotherapy virtual group

Abstract

Chemsex is the intentional use of drugs to have sex for a long period of time (from several hours to several days) with the purpose of enhancing the sexual experience and that only occurs among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). It is considered a public health problem in several countries, which is why it has aroused interest in healthcare authorities.

The content developed in this publication is the characteristics of the chemsex population, the specifics of a online psychotherapy group and the topic brought out by patients. These topics are linked to how post-heteronormative sex- affective ties are built, to responsible use of drugs, to the function of the “consuming” symptom, to sexual consent and to knowledge about the vulnerabilities generated by having suffered (or suffering) LGTBI+phobia.

Video Group psychotherapy helps to manage consumption and to understand the role that drugs are fulfilling in these patients. Therefore, the purpose of the authors is to understand the existing underlying framework between drug consume and sex in this population and, on the other hand, to exhibit the main aspects of online psychotherapy.

Keywords
chemsex, onlinetherapy, LGTBI+, postheteronormative, queer, drugs, groups, sadomasochism, sexualities, consumption substances


Text
[Automatic translation from Spanish]:

[…] The demand for treatment is often focused on the problem consumption of drugs. Patients often complain that they have lost control, lost their job, or explain their relationship difficulties with the family, with their sexy or friendly ties. It is important to focus on the life of sexuality as we are talking about the use of drugs associated with sex. The understanding of sexuality is essential to be able to manage consumption, not only in terms of the practices that are carried out but in terms of the meaning that they have for the patient. Some patients explain that drugs disinhibit them and conduct practices that in sobriety states would not be carried out for shame, guilt, or fear. They explain, however, that they get very satisfying sexual pleasure, so this leads them to repeat it.

Part of the approach to problem consumption is to accept the very way of obtaining pleasure, the fantasies themselves and the satisfaction of libido, to stimulate the most sober sexuality in accordance with pleasure itself. Not being able to enjoy drug-free sexuality for these reasons makes it a vulnerability to consumer management or abstinence. In these cases, it is recommended to stimulate sober sexuality with a psychodramatic base focused on the five pillars of sexual experience proposed by Sexological Bodywork (2005): breathing, attention, touch, voice, and movement. Also to talk about the development of individual sexual experiences and the relationship with male figures throughout life; as we know, to depict helps to understand the current moment, question itself and make better decisions.

Another aspect in this sense […]

Gastón Auguste
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