LiveWorld Transcripts

HBO presents

Dr. Ken Rosenberg
"Sex and the City" Shrink Talk

June 14, 2000

"Sex and the City" presents Dr. Ken Rosenberg who discusses, in an online chat, issues concerning sex, relationships, and dating.

Page 1 of 8

HBO: Welcome! In "Sex and the City," Carrie asks, "Can there be sex without politics?" Dr. Ken Rosenberg, a New York based psychiatrist, will be leading tonight's session.

Dr. Rosenberg: It's my pleasure to be here. Welcome, everyone. As we talked about last week, this is not therapy, but a chat and a chance to chat in a general way. If you are in need of therapy--feeling you have a sexual disorder or any medical or psychiatric condition--I urge you to contact a professional. With that caveat, let the questions begin!

Toby: What do I do if my significant other, or I has a fetish or sex disorder?

Dr. Rosenberg: If it is a problem in your relationship, the best thing to do is contact a professional who can help you deal with it on an individual or couples basis. Fetishes are a group a disorders in which the individual is sexually aroused by an inanimate object--bras, stockings, pantyhose, and that sort of thing. A class of disorders, if you will, that belongs to the category called paraphilias--a fascinating group that includes voyeurism, exhibitionism, and something called Frotteurism, which has to deal with rubbing up against people in strange public places. You see, I could go on and on.it's a complicated manner, and grist for the therapy mill.

Lisa: What exactly do sex therapists do?

Dr. Rosenberg: Sex therapists are licensed professionals who see patients with sexual disorders. An individual who calls him or herself a sex therapist must have been trained in a variety of ways, from a weekend retreat of training, to a several year program like we have at Cornell University. In essence, a sex therapist diagnoses and treats people with sexual disorders, either as individuals, or as couples, and tries to enhance and improve their sexual lives. Psychiatrists, like myself, may even prescribe medication for sexual disorders, which may be indicated, for instance, if someone has a fetish or compulsive sexual desire that is getting them in a great deal of trouble.

Larry: What happened between Carrie and her political beau? They seemed so promising together. Why did it end so abruptly?

Dr. Rosenberg: That's an interesting question, Larry! What happened with Carrie and her last beau is that it seems as if they had a fight. He felt humiliated due to her rejection of his fetishistic desire to have a woman pee on him. Feeling rejected by Carrie, Bill then rejected her, claiming that her column made her a liability to him. Upping the ante, she lashed out and humiliated him further--doing it in a public way in her column. Well, maybe this made the show more interesting, and will enable Carrie to hook up with a new guy next week. After all, we're not watching "The Brady Bunch!" But it's not the best way to deal with conflict in a relationship.

Jonoel: What if you're on medication that drastically reduces your sex drive and your partner doesn't understand.

Page 1 of 8