Table 3 Intimacy Enhancement intervention session overview

1

(75 min)

Introduction to Intimacy Enhancement

1. Sexual response cycle

2. Breast cancer effects on sex and intimacy

3. Intimacy challenges and goal-setting

4. Introduction to physical intimacy skills (sensate focus)

5. Treatments and sexual aids

1. Read educational handouts

2. Sensate focus Practice 1

2

(60 min)

Enhancing Intimacy Through Communication

1. Effective communication about sex and intimacy

2. Challenges in communicating effectively about sex and intimacy

3. Communication skills practice

1. Communication skills practice

2. Sensate focus Practice 2

3

(60 min)

Enhancing Intimacy Through Thinking and Doing

1. Positive and negative thought cycles

2. Flexible and inflexible thinking about sex and intimacy

3. Identifying and changing negative/inflexible thoughts

4. Broadening range of intimate activities (intimacy-building activities)

1. Intimacy-building activities

2. Sensate focus Practice 3

4

(60 min)

Planning Ahead for Intimacy

1. Review of skills and education

2. Evaluate progress toward goals

3. Plan for continued skills practice

4. Anticipate and plan for challenges (“red flags” for maintaining intimacy)