GAMES FOR DEPRESSED COUPLES – GAME 4: HOPELESS SEX (PART 1)
Players: Depressed spouse and nondepressed spouse. Activists: Both. Setting: Home.
Aim: To join and mirror the depressed spouse’s defensive posture in order to facilitate him or her in developing more insight.
Game Plan: The depressed spouse has been rejecting all sexual overtures for some time. Let us say that in this case the depressed spouse is the husband. The wife now tries a different approach. She asks the husband to play this game with her.
They sit facing one another on a bed or rug. She fondles him to get him aroused. He fondles her too, although indifferently.
“It’s hopeless,” she says. “Everything’s hopeless,” he says. “Sex is hopeless,” she says. “Why bother?” he says. “I’m too depressed,” she says. “I’m too depressed, too,” he says. “It’s all so hopeless,” she says. “Why bother?” he says.
“What’s the use?” she says.
“I won’t get an erection,” he says.
“I won’t get wet,” she says.
“I’ll come too quickly,” he says.
“I’ll end up frustrated,” she says.
“Why bother?” he says.
“Yes, it’s hopeless,” she says.
*75/196/1*
