[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-347800-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-347800-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","sensate-focus-touching-exercises-to-rediscover-intimacy","Sensate Focus - Touching Exercises to Rediscover Intimacy","","Sensate Focus offers progressive, relaxing sensual touching exercises designed to help couples after cancer feel safer with intimacy. It addresses altered body image and the resulting sexual self-consciousness by shifting attention to sensory touch—pressure, texture, and temperature—rather than sexual performance expectations. The guide highlights strong reported effectiveness for reducing performance anxiety and supporting communication, while noting its relevance for relieving sexual dysfunction. It is presented as a communication aid and not a replacement for clinical diagnosis or treatment.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/sensate-focus-touching-exercises-to-rediscover-intimacy/347800/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/sensate-focus-touching-exercises-to-rediscover-intimacy/347800.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Franzy","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-30","2026-09-22",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",14,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is Sensate Focus and who is it intended for?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Sensate Focus is a practical technique using progressive sensual touching exercises. It is intended to help couples, especially cancer survivors who may feel self-conscious and face challenges with sexual intimacy.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How is Sensate Focus practiced?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Sensate Focus is practiced through progressive stages of intimate touching that focus on sensory aspects such as pressure, texture, and temperature. The goal is to lower guard and enjoy sensual touch without sexual expectations.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"How effective is Sensate Focus for sexual dysfunction?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"The handout cites an 83% effectiveness rate reported by sexual therapists for relieving sexual dysfunction. It also notes support from oncology guidance for cancer-related sexual dysfunction as an effective intervention.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},347800,1790162304,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,110,115,120,123,127],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":102,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":107,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":126},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":128,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":130},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":132},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":133,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":107,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":26,"language":140,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":144,"read_time":97},2336478945519,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_085a072bc5b1113ac321206ff7593b45","Sensate Focus:  \nTouching Exercises to Rediscover Intimacy  \nContributor: Jill McCullough-Squire, BSN, RN, OCN  \nIntroduction  \nAfter cancer, people often have an altered body image that may cause them to feel self-conscious. This can lead to significant challenges with sexual intimacy, even with a familiar partner.  \nSexual therapists frequently recommend Sensate Focus. Sensate Focus is a practical and effective relaxing and progressive sensual touching technique. Per various studies, Sensate Focus has a high success rate in reducing sexual performance anxiety while enhancing communication and intimacy. More counselors and medical professionals have recently jumped onto the Sensate Focus bandwagon in recent years, referring their patients to this easy-to-practice technique.  \nHow to Practice Sensate Focus  \nCornell University has published an exceptional guide on engaging in the progressive stages of Sensate Focus. You can access it at [https://health.cornell.edu/sites/](https://health.cornell.edu/sites/)[ ](https://health.cornell.edu/sites/)[health/files/pdf-library/sensate-focus.pdf.](health/files/pdf-library/sensate-focus.pdf.)  \nHistory and Purpose of Sensate Focus  \nDr. William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson (commonly referred to as Masters and Johnson) developed the technique in the 1960s. Sensate Focus emphasizes sensory aspects of touch, including pressure, texture, and temperature. The series of progressively intimate touching exercises are designed to allow the couple to lower their guard and enjoy sensual touching experiences without expectations, thereby reducing anxiety. Sensate Focus is designed to use sensual touch rather than sexual.  \nEffectiveness of Sensate Focus  \nSensate Focus has an 83% effectiveness rate for sexual therapists in relieving various sexual dysfunctions. Sexual therapists report high success rates with resolving  \ncancer survivor sexual dysfunction when couples use this technique.  \nAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) highlights Sensate Focus as an effective intervention for cancerrelated sexual dysfunction.  \nConsider Sensate Focus as Time with Your Partner, Being Present in the Moment  \nIf you are self-conscious or nervous while being intimate or contemplating intimacy, consider taking things in a less intimidating yet enjoyable direction. Consider trying the Sensate Focus technique to spend sensual and attentive time with each other.  \nNote: This handout is offered as a communication aid for patients and their providers. It is not a substitute for professional examination, diagnosis, or treatment.  \n| Talk with Your Oncologist, PCP, Urologist, or Gynecologist, and Your Intimate Partner\u003Cbr>To further your knowledge and comfort, After Cancer recommends also reading the following patient handouts: |  |  |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| • Dating During and after Cancer\u003Cbr>• Managing Sexual Dysfunction with Pelvic Floor Therapy\u003Cbr>• Living Your Best Life When Affected by Cancer | • Navigating Intimacy with an Ostomy\u003Cbr>• For the Partner of Those Impacted by Cancer\u003Cbr>• Practical Considerations for Anal Intimacy |  |\n| Scan for More Patient Resources & Handouts |  | |\n\nAll content within this patient and provider education material is copyrighted. Copyright © 2023 After Cancer. Reproduction, distribution, or transmission of any part of this material, whether electronically or mechanically, without the explicit written consent of After Cancer, is prohibited and subject to legal action.  \nVisit [aftercancer.co](aftercancer.co) to learn more.","cbCaiqXLbVbIx055","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiqXLbVbIx055","pdf",562680,"English","# Introduction\n# How to Practice Sensate Focus\n# History and Purpose of Sensate Focus\n# Effectiveness of Sensate Focus\n# Consider Sensate Focus as Time with Your Partner\n# Additional Resources and Disclaimer","[{\"question\":\"What is Sensate Focus and who is it intended for?\",\"answer\":\"Sensate Focus is a practical technique using progressive sensual touching exercises. It is intended to help couples, especially cancer survivors who may feel self-conscious and face challenges with sexual intimacy.\"},{\"question\":\"How is Sensate Focus practiced?\",\"answer\":\"Sensate Focus is practiced through progressive stages of intimate touching that focus on sensory aspects such as pressure, texture, and temperature. The goal is to lower guard and enjoy sensual touch without sexual expectations.\"},{\"question\":\"How effective is Sensate Focus for sexual dysfunction?\",\"answer\":\"The handout cites an 83% effectiveness rate reported by sexual therapists for relieving sexual dysfunction. It also notes support from oncology guidance for cancer-related sexual dysfunction as an effective intervention.\"}]","Sensate Focus - Touching Exercises to Rediscover Intimacy | PDF",1790069184]