Bergman Video

Hay y'all.

I was surprised by by attitude towards the Bergman video. I ended up actually enjoying watching it (although those in my cohort know too well my weakness for all television of any kind). I went into it having a negative view of Bergman after watching her suggest loads of people take Viagra and seemingly misrepresent the drug, particularly when it was revealed her ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

For purely entertainment purposes, I loved the video. The different types of couples, their dynamics, the highlights on the super sweet moments and not so sweet moments made for some cute television.

Clinically, there were ups and downs in Bergman's approach for me. I am on the fence about immediately checking out biological reasons behind sexual dysfunctions. For the pro, I think it may help couples overcome the myth that most sexual dysfuntion has to do with hormones or biological agents (while I don't disagree that it can and does play a role!). It may also put this that idea aside for the more resistant individuals who aren't necessarily "buying the therapist process". Testing hormones may also help when hormones are eally the culprint for messing up things such as lubrication and what not.

The not so great part for me was that testing right off the bat could also make this may imply that this is the most common reason for dysfunction and that we need to get this out of the way as it is a "quick and easy fix". I'd fear that those who id have a hormone issue would then not reap the full benefits of the counseling process.

I particularly liked her description of the idea of being dominated related to abuse histories. I have known several folks interested in BDSM or domination related things, many of whom had abused histories. The connection for me (who tends to think deeply into every situation and analyze and reanalyze things) was unsettling and made me feel sad. Looking at it as a way to "retake control" by giving up control to a trusting partner on their own terms, however, put a more positive spin on something that I had a different view on. However provocative this idea may be for some, for me it shed a little new light on something I didn't fully understand.

There were several useful ideas for these couples that they all very much appeared to enjoy (surrender dates, feather ticklers, blindfolds in public, bath-time kisses) which were all very endearing to watch. Many of these, however, seem like "first order changes" in that they are done during a week long "vacation" of sorts. None include real life stressors such as jobs or kids or financial issues that couples may plague. I felt that there could have been much more work done on the deeper meanings behind these things, why they feel so good, and how to prevent relationship relapse once these couples get home.