Couple Sexuality After 60: Intimate, Pleasurable, and Satisfying

Confronting taboos and misunderstandings about sexuality and aging, Couple Sexuality After 60: Intimate, Pleasurable, and Satisfying motivates couples to embrace sex and sexuality in their 60s, 70s, and 80s. The book busts two extreme myths--that people over 60 cannot and should not be sexual and that the best way to be sexual is to emphasize eroticism, using sex toys, and kinky sex.

Using a variable, flexible approach to couple sexuality based on the Good Enough Sex (GES) model, this book places the essence of sexuality in pleasure-oriented touching, not individual sex performance. Barry and Emily McCarthy introduce a new sexual mantra of desire/pleasure/eroticism/satisfaction with the goal of presenting a healthy model of sexuality to replace the traditional double standard that couples learn in young adulthood. Specific chapters focus on important areas like coming to terms with the new normal, female-male sexual equity, satisfaction being about more than intercourse and orgasm, valuing synchronous and asynchronous sexuality, psychobiosocial approaches to sexuality, and more.

In addition to aging heterosexual couples, single individuals and queer couples will find this book interesting. Additionally, sexual health clinicians and sex therapists with clients over the age of 60 will find this a fascinating read.

Barry McCarthy is professor emeritus of psychology at American University, a diplomate in clinical psychology, a diplomate in sex therapy, and a certified couple therapist. He is the author of over 100 articles, 33 book chapters and 21 books. He has presented over 450 professional workshops nationally and internationally. Barry received the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR) Masters and Johnson award for lifetime contributions to the sex therapy field.

Emily McCarthy received a BS degree in speech communication, and her writing and wisdom provide a balanced humanistic perspective. This is Barry and Emily's 16th co-authored book.