Carepartner Connect: Maintaining Sexual Intimacy While Coping with Parkinson's (2016)

In this webinar, registered psychologist Dr. Laurel Paterson emphasizes the importance of sexual satisfaction in relationships affected by Parkinson's disease. She addresses both physical and psychological factors contributing to sexual problems for patients and carepartners. Dr. Paterson offers practical tips for maintaining sexual connection, including maintaining individual desire, expressing appreciation, scheduling date nights, engaging in open communication about desires, and addressing personal sexual needs.

Strategies like expressing appreciation, scheduling date nights for novelty, and creating a relaxed environment are suggested. She introduces the circular model of sexual response in long-term relationships, emphasizing the contextual factors influencing desire and satisfaction.

Dr. Paterson discusses various strategies on maintaining sexual connection in long-term relationships, including understanding that spontaneous desire is not essential, effective communication about desires, seeking support from confidants, managing medical and medication-related contributors to sexual difficulties, seeking therapy, and exploring self-help resources and sex toy stores for added variety.

**Disclaimer: These sessions are designed to provide general education and are not intended for individual advice and/or clinical care. The information conveyed in this recording was accurate at the time of presentation.**