Private Pain: It's About Life, Not Just Sex ... Understanding Vaginismus & Dyspareunia [Paperback]

Ditza Katz (Author), Ross Lynn Tabisel (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0970029810 | ISBN-13: 978-0970029812 | Publication Date: April 1, 2002

Vaginismus and dyspareunia are common female conditions, affecting lives on many levels and causing physical pain, emotional anguish, and the sense of failure and sexual inadequacy. The shame that is associated with the inability to have vaginal penetrations often forces women into hiding behind a veil of silence. Healthcare professionals share the frustration in encountering a void in available resources and training regarding proper management of these conditions. This book, which includes extensive explanations, real - life stories of patients and partners, and treatment options, should be of great value to sufferers, partners, family members, healthcare professionals and spiritual leaders who will now be able to better understand the nature and management of these conditions. Yes, there is a cure!

Editorial Reviews

Review

I endorse the spectacular clinical expertise of these professionals. Their knowledge and experience created this book that comprehensively covers all. -- Wendy Fried, MD, FACOG, FACS, April 2002

The inspiring content reassures women that they are not the only ones who suffer, and that there is a cure. -- Wm. A. Granzig, Ph.D., April 2002

About the Author

Ditza Katz, PT, Ph.D., is the founder of Women’s Therapy Center, a practice limited to treating women's sexual disorders, urogynecologic dysfunctions, abuse, and trauma. She holds an undergraduate degree in Physical Therapy, a Master's degree in Pastoral Psychology & Counseling, a doctorate in Clinical Sexology, and clinical training in manual therapy and urogynecology. Dr. Katz, assistant professor of clinical sexology at Maimonides University and a Diplomate with the American Board of Sexology, is the only physical therapist in the USA who is a clinical sexologist.

Ross Lynn Tabisel, CSW, Ph.D., is Co - Director of the Women's Therapy Center, a Diplomate with the American Board of Sexology, and an assistant professor of clinical sexology at Maimonides University. She holds a Master's degree in Social Work from Adelphi University, a Post - Graduate Certificate in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis from the Institute for the Study of Psychotherapy in New York, a doctorate in Clinical Sexology, and Certificate Training in the area of Sexual Abuse. Dr. Tabisel is the first Social Worker to be accepted as a member of the American Urogynecologic Society and of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology on the merit of her expertise.

Together, Dr. Katz and Dr. Tabisel pioneered the DiRoss Treatment Approach, a successful intervention for vaginismus, for which they have become known worldwide. Because of their expertise, they have been invited lecturers, nationally and internationally, educating healthcare professionals about their unique team approach to female sexual dysfunctions. Media appearances include NBC’s Nightly News, Glamour, Lifetime Online, Newsday, and their videotape documentary, Vaginismus: it’s about life, not just sex. Publications include articles in medical books, professional journals, and online professional publications. Speaking engagements include professional presentations worldwide, as well as extensive community outreach, educating women of all ages about their sexual health.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 287 pages
• Publisher: Womens Therapy Center (April 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970029810
• ISBN-13: 978-0970029812
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,961,487 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars 200-page ad for WTC, December 15, 2004

By 

Angua (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Private Pain: It's About Life, Not Just Sex ... Understanding Vaginismus & Dyspareunia (Paperback)

I got "Private Pain" from Amazon.com yesterday and was very excited, until I started reading it. The whole book consists of two things:
- basic information, available for free on the internet
- personal stories, all of which go, "My life was awful, I went to WTC, now my life is perfect"

If you know nothing about vaginismus, I guess you could find the
basic factual information helpful, since it's gathered conveniently in one place. If you've Googled "vaginismus", you won't learn anything new.

And the stories made me feel frankly depressed, because I will never get the kind of money I need to travel to New York and stay there for weeks, never mind paying for the actual treatment. And I got the feeling from the book that WTC is the one and only solution that works. So I am feeling completely hopeless -- and we all know that your feelings about this affect how your body acts, as a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Anyway, I am sorry I wasted my money on a 200-page ad for WTC, and I just wanted to warn others. I can't comment on the efficiency of the WTC method, I just feel cheated by the book.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book...hope you've been savin' your pennies, October 16, 2002

By 

jackie - See all my reviews

This review is from: Private Pain: It's About Life, Not Just Sex ... Understanding Vaginismus & Dyspareunia (Paperback)

This was certainly a book women with vaginismus need to read, though it really didn't tell me anything I didn't know. I've suffered for a long time, so I'm aware of all the ins and outs of the disorder -- and most of all, how it affects my life. The stories were nice, too...very warm stories of women who have been made well, and are now expecting their first child and such. Very nice. Forgive me, but maybe I'm just a little down, trying to figure out how I will come up with the $8500.00 needed for the treatment. These are wonderful women, these doctors, doing a tremendous service and helping many, many women regain their lives, and I can certainly appreciate that for all it's worth. However, since the treatment center that is nearly guaranteed to heal all your vaginismic woes does not accept any insurance, it's certainly NOT a disorder for the financially challenged to have. Certainly, a great number of women would say they would pay this and MORE to get their lives back...I've probably had this disorder longer than any of them (more than 20 years), but I STILL am in a quandary as to how to come up with that kind of money. I don't need to hear another story of how a person has recovered. Don't get me wrong, I am glad for them, and I hate to be the first to give this book a lower rating. But the doctors who wrote this book have the market cornered, and I think they know that. Women with vaginismus are desperate and would probably pay any amount of money to be over this terrible disorder. I think they know that, too. Pray for the poor among us --- those simply not able to afford the treatment AT ALL. Eventually, I may be able to come up with the money at some point...but there are those who never will.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Must attend their "program" to be cured..., October 30, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Private Pain: It's About Life, Not Just Sex ... Understanding Vaginismus & Dyspareunia (Paperback)

The book was helpful in the sense that it includes many personal stories of other women who have suffered with this condition. Like many others, I felt like there must be something wrong with me. I had never heard of such a problem before, and knowing that I am not alone in my pain is comforting. However, I was disapointed in the fact that every "success" story seemed to end by the women attending the Women's Therapy Center in NY and being "cured". How many people have the money and time to travel to NY and go through that program? If the authors' goal is truly to help sufferers of this, I wish they would have least included countrywide list of approved counselors or facilities that could help on a local level. I am 24 and have been married a month and am still a virgin. Every single day that passes I become more frustrated and hopeless. I bought the book with the hope that I could receive some direction on how to deal with this, but according to the book, the only way I can be cured is to visit the WTC. That is beyond discouraging. Be warned before paying for this overpriced paperback, it's advertised message is deceiving.