Dagmar O’Connor, Ph.D.

Dagmar O’Connor Ph.D.was the first female sex therapist trained by Masters and Johnson in New York City. For more than four decades Dr. O’Connor has practiced in New York City.

Swedish-born Dr. O’Connor is the sex therapist who caused a sensation at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland with her seminar “All You Ever Wanted To Know About Relationships—But Were Afraid to Ask” and “Relationships and Self-Esteem” given to world leaders. Her groundbreaking discussion was so over-subscribed that for the first time in the history of this invitation-only summit, Dr. O’Connor was asked to repeat the session in following years. She was featured speaker at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt with U.S. President George Bush, Middle East Quartet Envoy Tony Blair, and H.M. Kim Abdullah Ibn Al Hussein.

She has also appeared as a guest expert on television shows, including Donahue, CNN, and The Oprah Show, Barbara Walters and Charlie Rose.

As a pioneer in her field, Dr. O’Connor developed treatment methods based on understanding the connection between childhood development leading to problems with sexual responsiveness and performance anxiety. Couple attachment is usually a reflection and repetition of learned attachments in childhood. Dr. O’Connor’s treatment method combines marriage counseling with sex therapy, utilizing cognitive and psychodynamic techniques that result in more satisfying attachments and better sex.

Dr. O’Connor was Director of the Sex Therapy Clinic, Department of Psychiatry at St. Luke Roosevelt Hospital Center; a “Lecturer in Psychiatry” at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center; and Director of Training/Instructor at New York Medical College’s Department of OB/GYN sex therapy program.

She pioneered the first group therapy for women who have been sexually abused. She was also active in developing legislation with the New York Women’s Bar Association for providing children who have been sexually abused with therapeutic support and protection as they make statements of record about their abusive experiences.

Her books How To Make Love To The Same Person For The Rest Of Your Life And Still Love ItandHow to Put the Love Back into Making Lovebecame instant bestsellers and have been translated into 16 languages. Of the first book, the Publisher’s Weekly review said “This book deserves to be on every bedside table.” These books remain the bestselling sex therapy books in the world. Dr. O’Connor is currently working on a new book: “How We Learn About Love.”

In addition to her research and private practice, Dr. O’Connor holds vacation workshops in “Sexual Self-Esteem” and “Sex Therapy for Couples” for men and women in Puerto Rico.

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