featuring couples therapist Anette Frankenberger and podcast host Oliver Schmidt
Body & Soul

Episode 37: Myths about sexuality in long-term relationships

In this episode, we talk to Anette Frankenberger, an experienced couples and family therapist from Munich, about the challenges and myths surrounding sexuality in long-term relationships. Anette debunks six common myths and shows how couples can improve their communication about sexuality. Because if you can talk openly about sexuality with your partner, you are well on the way to a fulfilling relationship. Anette Frankenberger gives valuable tips on how couples can communicate their needs and desires openly.

 In this podcast you will learn:

Whichcommon myths persist and how can we dispel them? 

  • Myth 1: Less sex is a bad sign - what's the truth?
  • Myth 2: The standard of twice a week - how do you free yourself from this pressure?
  • Myth 3: Spontaneous desire - is that really the norm?
  • Myth 4: Techniques and tricks - how do they affect sex life expectations?
  • Myth 5: Sex has to be wild and fast - how can slow sex strengthen the relationship?
  • Myth 6: Everything has already been said - why do couples find it difficult to communicate openly? 

Cheerful to stormy - the everyday podcast with Olli Schmidt

Welcome to "Heiter bis stürmisch" - the everyday podcast. Cheerful or saddened to death: life has its ups and downs. That's what we're all about: everyday crises such as arguments with your partner, parenting issues, work overload, insecurities and anxiety. We talk to experts and give you practical tips to help you deal better with crises and challenges. 

You can listen to our podcast on all known podcast platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Audible etc.)! Questions, suggestions, criticism, wishes? Feel free to write to us at: podcast@familienservice.de

Couples and individual counseling by experienced therapists 

At pme Familienservice , we offer couples and families support in talking openly about their needs and clearing up misunderstandings.

zero New offer: referral to psychotherapeutic care

Woman is afraid
Offer

New: Referral to psychotherapeutic care

Psychosocial counseling or coaching often helps to overcome a difficult life situation or conflict. For people with mental illnesses, however, this offer falls short. This is why the pme specialist counseling service refers its clients to initial therapeutic counseling, psychosomatic clinics or health insurance-financed psychotherapy if required.

Anyone looking for therapy needs two things above all: time and patience. Psychotherapy is hard to come by. On average, it takes up to six months to find a suitable psychotherapist. The waiting lists are long, and those looking can usually only reach the answering machines of the practices. The frustration threshold is quickly reached.

Tackling this hurdle is particularly difficult or even impossible if you are mentally ill yourself and suffer from depression, for example. "Then even the simplest things in everyday life are incredibly difficult. People with depression don't pick up the phone and spend months looking for a place in therapy," says Jutta Dreyer, Product Manager for Life Situation Coaching and pme Assistance. "That's why we want to provide support here and have put together a team that will start the search for a suitable place in therapy exclusively for pme customers."

Range of services (depending on the contractual agreement):

1. initial consultation/crisis intervention 24/7

2. referral to psychiatric care

3. anamnesis and discharge interviews by a psychological psychotherapist

4. placement in psychotherapy financed by health insurance (up to 8 hours of research)

5th consultation hour at the Schön Kliniken

6. shortened admission to the Schön Klinik Bad Arolsen (specialist clinic for psychosomatics)

7. online psychotherapy via MindDoc (online psychotherapy)

8. ongoing group coaching (type of self-help group to provide support and stability in difficult times)
 

Frequently requested counseling topics for mental illness/crisis are:

  • Dealing with employees who are mentally very stressed and ill (by managers)
  • Overburdened teams due to long-term absences
  • Crises and suicidal tendencies
  • Mentally ill employees who are desperately looking for psychotherapeutic care (hours of fruitless phone calls, waiting list, etc.)

Initial consultation with a psychological psychotherapist

Before a place in therapy or psychiatry can be arranged, it is often helpful for clients to have an initial consultation with a psychotherapist. During this consultation, the therapist clarifies, among other things, whether a mental illness is present and which treatment is the right one.

"The initial consultation is very important. Sometimes clients ask for psychotherapy. However, after we have talked to them in detail about their condition and medical history, addiction counseling or family counseling turns out to be suitable. Here, too, we start looking for a place".

Jutta Dreyer, family therapist, pme Familienservice

Focus of content:

1. anamnesis

2. psychoeducation about the disorder

3. joint development of an individual explanatory model for the problem

4. use of psychotherapeutic interventions

5. assistance with the problem

Note: The anamnesis is conducted by a psychological psychotherapist permanently employed by the pme Familienservice .

Good to know: 52 percent increase in days absent due to mental illness

Depression, anxiety, burnout: mental illness has a major impact on employee absenteeism and reached a new high in 2023. This is shown by the current DAK-Gesundheit mental health report based on the sick notes of 2.39 million DAK-insured employees. Across all occupational groups. DAK-insured employees had a total of 323 days of incapacity to work per 100 insured persons.



​​​​​​​The statistics show the development of days of incapacity for work (AU days) due to mental illness (F00-F99) in Germany from 2013 to 2023 (source: Statista).
 

Life coaching: Counseling and coaching for conflicts and crises

In our consultations and coaching sessions, we work according to the approach of solution-oriented consulting and support your employees in professional and private crises such as conflicts at work, psychological stress, parenting issues, addiction problems, financial emergencies and much more.

In recent years, the pme Familienservice has continued to develop its range of services in order to find suitable solutions for employees and companies.