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Integrated Sensate Focus Therapy (ISF)

Exploring Deeper Emotions In Couples Therapy

AZRI is the leader of ISF Therapy, as this groundbreaking technique was pioneered by AZRI Founder Dr. Lisa Gold. Express your desires,  care, and love while having fun, exploring and relaxing together as a couple.

Integrated Sensate Focus
Developed by, Lisa L. Gold, Ph.D. (2010) ©

Dr. Lisa Gold, Founder of AZRI, created Integrated Sensate Focus (ISF) as an exercise to support couples in developing their ability to effectively reach and respond to one another emotionally and sexually.

With your therapist, you will explore the way these experiences are impairing or enhancing your ability to intimately connect.

Counseling in Mesa Arizona - Dr. Lisa Gold Founder Supervisor and Trainer - The Arizona Relationship Institute

ISF is best used in conjunction with couples therapy, working with a therapist experienced in helping couples improve emotional and sexual intimacy. It is not to be used as a substitution for therapy, but rather as a framework for identifying, accessing, and processing the way you experience sexuality. It increases your awareness of the thoughts, feelings, and responses experienced during your intimate interactions (affectionate and sexual touch). 

The Goal of ISF

The only goal is for you and your partner to become more fully attuned to your own and each other’s emotional and physical (affectionate and sexual) responses, as you experience them in the moment with one another.  There is nothing more sexually fulfilling than taking the risk to fully be yourself and let your partner see you, then having your partner respond by accepting and embracing you. 

 

Integrated Sensate Focus: Scaffolding For Developing Integrated Intimacy

The goal of Integrated Sensate Focus (ISF) is to rewire your brain to integrate physical touch and sexual interaction with emotional connection.  In short, the goal is for sex to become one of the ways you and your partner effectively connect.  It helps you liberate your sexual relationship from anything that is preventing you from being fully yourselves with each other. 

It helps you to put sexuality in the context of your relationship as a means of

1.) expressing your desire, care, and love and

2.) having fun exploring and relaxing together. 

ISF for Sex Therapy

It is designed to help facilitate your ability to co-create your sexual relationship to be whatever you want it to be in that moment, with respect for each other’s emotional, spiritual, and sexual needs and desires.

ISF is a guide to assist you in deepening and enhancing your intimate connection.  It is intended to help you break free from the destructive myths of one size fits all sex.