Adverse reaction of the apparently healthy partner in response to improvement in the overtly dysfunctional partner.

The increase in the number of couples and individuals seeking sex therapy is yielding an increase in the variety as well as number of therapeutic complications. We wish to discuss briefly one complication: the development of emotional and sexual disability in the seemingly healthy member of a couple in treatment as the dysfunctional partner "gets well." The disruption is serious enough to require separate treatment.

Countertransference as a factor in premature termination of apparently successful cases.

In brief sex therapy rapid disappearance of symptoms may appear to signal success. However, superficial indications of success may be utilized by the sex therapist as an opportunity to escape from a therapeutic situation which evokes uncomfortable feelings. The need to terminate treatment abruptly may be conscious or unconscious.

Technical considerations of the therapeutic and working alliances.

A brief survey of the development of the idea of the analytic pact and its relationship to the concepts of the therapeutic and working alliances has been presented. I have suggested that the therapeutic alliance be defined as the full-scale therapeutic rapport which includes all the the elements favorable to the progress of therapy. This includes such factors as the patient's motivation for treatment based on ego-alien symptoms, positive transference, and the rational relationship between patient and therapist.