History Main / IntimatePsychotherapy

Intimate Healing is much more however than 'sex' as a mood elevator to raise molecular serotonin background. The feeling of deep intimacy with another human being can and does heal major psychological wounds, and is often expressed through the act of lovemaking. It is often shown in this way in fiction, but the [[AnythingThatMoves 'just had sex']] is not the point.

* Horrendously subverted in the movie ''Film/TheLegendOfHellHouse''. The young female psychic thinks that by offering herself to the ghost of a tormented young man, he might know peace and move on. Let's just say that this does ''[[{{Squick}} not]]'' turn out to be a romantic and cathartic experience like that one scene in ''Film/Ghost1990''. She [[spoiler:gets violated by the vindictive apparition, which was never a young troubled man but the ghost of the house's murderous old owner]].

* In ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', while Guts and Casca are making love - Guts begins to have flashbacks of his [[DarkAndTroubledPast dark and horrific childhood ordeal]] of [[spoiler: being anally raped and being betrayed by his adoptive father altogether]]. When this happens, years of repressed post traumatic stress are released as Guts has an emotional breakdown in front of Casca. Afterwards, he tries to go away and deal with his issues on his own, thinking himself a freak and [[DefiledForever soiled]], but Casca gives Guts a CooldownHug and says that now they've revealed their crappy childhoods to each other, they are truly equal, as friends and as lovers.

See also GladToBeAliveSex, celebrating the feeling of aliveness through sex in the aftermath of life-threatening experiences.

* In ''LightNovel/LordMarksmanAndVanadis'', after Elen is rescued from the hands of Greast, she confesses to Tigre how terrified she was during the ordeal, and her description of her reactions in the days points to her having symptoms of PTSD and a sense of SurvivorsGuilt over shame that she's so traumatized when she knows many other women out there have it far worse than her (since Greast never got around to actually raping her). In a moment of impulse, Tigre then proposes he make love to her. In all fairness, the two have had feelings for each other for quite some time, and she does call him out on how [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness unusual this is for him]] before accepting and having TheirFirstTime together, and the much more significant part of this for her comes from the two finally having a real chance to resolve their UST and have a long emotional talk about where their relationship will go from there.

The key issue is ''overstating'' this effect. For instance, someone with a case of Dissociative Identity Disorder (a.k.a. multiple personalities) won't suddenly "get better" after some great sex. After all, [[FridgeLogic if sex completely and instantly cured all emotional wounds]], [[ThereAreNoTherapists there would be no therapists]]. Note, however, that the depressed are less likely in the first place to be going out, to make contact or meet a partner. In fact, a person can be mentally impaired to the point they cannot consent to sex, making any sexual actions upon them sexual assault. None of this is even getting into the possibility that a patient could identify as UsefulNotes/{{asexual}}, meaning this method would be out of the question either way. Lastly, it's completely unethical for real therapists or psychiatrists to have sex with their patients, and could cost them their licenses.

Note that Administrivia/TropesAreNotBad. Sex can be a great mood-elevator and, to some degree, help with certain hang-ups or insecurities, or even depression, due to it releasing large amounts of serotonin, a neurotransmitter, the lack of which is believed to be a significant molecular background to depression. The key issue is ''overstating'' this effect. For instance, someone with a case of Dissociative Identity Disorder (a.k.a. multiple personalities) won't suddenly "get better" after some great sex. After all, [[FridgeLogic if sex completely and instantly cured all emotional wounds]], [[ThereAreNoTherapists there would be no therapists]] (note however that the depressed are less likely in the first place to be going out, to make contact or meet a partner). In fact, a person can be mentally impaired to the point they cannot consent to sex, making any sexual actions upon them sexual assault. Also, it's completely unethical for real therapists or psychiatrists to have sex with their patients, and could cost them their licenses.

* ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService''. Invoked by Draco, who thinks his daughter Tracy just needs a [[WomenPreferStrongMen strong man to dominate]] and make love to her. Bond correctly points out she needs a doctor instead. In the [[Literature/OnHerMajestysSecretService original novel she does go and see one]] on Bond's recommendation; though sleeping with Bond [[YouNeedToGetLaid did make her feel better]], given that she did it as an act of despair rather than passion.

* Used in ''Manga/KusattaKyoushinoHouteishiki'', when [[spoiler:Masami and Tooru have sex shortly after Masami tells Tooru about having been sexually abused in the past, then collapses crying since he feels tainted -- and Tooru tells him "You're NOT DefiledForever by your past, I love you anyway!"]]

* Horrendously subverted in the movie ''Film/TheLegendOfHellHouse''. The young female psychic thinks that by offering herself to the ghost of a tormented young man, he might know peace and move on. Let's just say that this does ''[[{{Squick}} not]]'' turn out to be a romantic and cathartic experience like that one scene in ''Film/{{Ghost}}''. She [[spoiler:gets violated by the vindictive apparition, which was never a young troubled man but the ghost of the house's murderous old owner]].

* ''Fanfic/BloodBondBloodOmenSeries'': When Kim is nearly killed, Ron does not cope well. He [[AllMyFault blames himself]], cuts himself off emotionally, and refuses to accept help for himself. Meanwhile, his overprotectiveness actually interferes with Kim's recovery, and he terrifies everyone by going full KnightTemplar and coming right up to the edge of Too Far with his RoaringRampageOfRevenge. Kim is only able to break through his emotional shell by initiating TheirFirstTime. The story is very clear about the fact that this is the ''beginning'' of Ron's healing, not the end, and that it was the increased ''emotional'' intimacy that was more important than the sex itself. It does become a regular habit for the characters to engage in SexForSolace for the rest of the story.