Profiles of couples seeking sex therapy and marital therapy.

Assessment of 29 couples seeking marital therapy and 25 seeking sexual therapy at the same institution permitted the delineation of two distinct profiles. Although the two groups were similar in the degree of their sexual and marital difficulties and in demographic characteristics, the relationships of the sex therapy couples were generally characterized by satisfaction and affection, whereas those of the marital therapy couples were often antagonistic. In addition, the sex therapy couples tended to be less conservative and more thoughtful in their approach to life and their problems.