Rediscover intimacy without shame

Sex therapy is a specialized form of psychotherapy focused on sexual concerns and intimacy. Sessions are entirely talk-based, no physical contact between therapist and client occurs. Together we explore your history, understand patterns, and develop personalized strategies. Common issues include low desire, orgasm difficulties, sexual pain, erectile dysfunction, and intimacy blocks. The most frequent outcome clients describe is profound relief at finally being able to speak openly about their sexual feelings without judgment, often for the first time in their lives.

A sex therapy session looks much like any therapy session: we talk. You might share what brought you in, what you've noticed in your body or relationship, and what you hope to change. I listen, ask clarifying questions, and offer observations informed by 13+ years of clinical experience and doctoral-level training in human sexuality. Sessions may include somatic awareness exercises, communication tools, and occasionally reading or practice assignments between sessions. Everything is at your pace, and nothing is ever required.

I do not bill insurance directly, but many clients successfully receive reimbursement through their PPO plans. I provide detailed superbills (itemized receipts) you can submit to your insurer for out-of-network reimbursement. HSA and FSA funds can typically be used as well. I encourage you to call your insurance company before your first session to ask about your out-of-network mental health benefits.

Traditional couples therapy focuses on communication, conflict, and relationship patterns. Sex therapy specifically addresses sexual concerns, whether experienced individually or as a couple. Many clients need both, which is why my practice integrates them. A couple might come in because of desire discrepancy, and we will inevitably address the relational dynamics driving it. An individual might come in about orgasm difficulties, and we will explore the relational context of their sexuality. The two are deeply intertwined, and my approach honors that connection.

It varies depending on the complexity of the concern, your history, and how quickly you want to move. Some focused issues may resolve in 8 to 12 sessions. Longer-standing patterns rooted in trauma, attachment wounds, or relationship gridlock often benefit from deeper work over several months to a year or more. I work at your pace and we reassess regularly. Many clients continue beyond their original goals because the work opens new dimensions of themselves they want to explore.

Somatic sex therapy integrates body awareness into the therapeutic process. The premise is that the body holds experiences the mind cannot always articulate, particularly around sexuality, pleasure, and trauma. Rather than only talking about experiences, we pay attention to physical sensations, breath, tension, and pleasure responses as they arise. I am trained in somatic experiencing and the Somatica Method, which means sessions help you become more present in your body, access buried emotions, and develop a richer relationship with sensation and desire.

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy uses a carefully monitored, low dose of ketamine, a legal and FDA-approved dissociative medicine, to support deeper therapeutic work. In a safe, medically supervised setting, ketamine can dissolve the rigid defenses that make certain emotional territories difficult to reach in standard talk therapy. For clients with treatment-resistant sexual trauma, deep-seated intimacy blocks, or entrenched relational patterns, this approach can catalyze breakthroughs that might otherwise take years. I integrate ketamine sessions within an ongoing therapeutic relationship, with thorough preparation and integration support.

If sexual concerns are causing distress, affecting your relationships, or limiting your quality of life, a sex therapist can help. You do not need a diagnosable sexual dysfunction to benefit. Many clients come because they feel disconnected from desire, have never experienced orgasm, feel shame around their sexual feelings, struggle with sexual compulsivity, or simply want to expand their erotic lives. Others come because a relationship issue has a strong sexual dimension. If you are wondering whether sex therapy might help, that wondering itself is often the clearest sign to start.

Yes. Low desire, also called hypoactive sexual desire, is one of the most common concerns I work with. It is rarely as simple as a hormonal imbalance, though that is worth ruling out medically. More often, low desire is linked to stress, unresolved resentment, body shame, a history of trauma, medication side effects, or a mismatch between how partners seek connection. My doctoral research specifically examined the relationship between attachment patterns and sexual desire, and that research shapes the way I understand and work with desire issues in every session.

A Certified Sex Therapist (CST) is a mental health professional who has completed specialized post-graduate training in human sexuality and sex therapy, typically credentialed through AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists). Certification requires a graduate degree in a mental health discipline, supervised clinical hours specifically in sex therapy, and demonstrated competency in sexuality education and ethics. I hold a PhD in Human Sexuality from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, a California LCSW license, and am a Certified Clinical Sexologist and active member of AASECT.

Absolutely. Many clients start their therapy as a solo experience and choose to include their partners later, once they have achieved certain goals and objectives on their own. This is a common and natural progression, and the individual work often strengthens the couples work significantly when you are ready for it.

Yes, wholeheartedly. My practice is affirming and inclusive of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and relationship structures, including LGBTQ+ individuals and couples, polyamorous and ethically non-monogamous relationships, kink-identified clients, and anyone whose sexuality falls outside mainstream scripts. I approach all expressions of human sexuality from a lens of curiosity, compassion, and respect for your autonomy.

This is one of the most common concerns people bring to their first session, and it is entirely understandable. Part of my role as a therapist is to create an environment where you feel genuinely safe to share. Most clients find that the relief of finally speaking these things aloud, in a non-judgmental space, is far greater than the initial discomfort. We go at your pace, and you never have to share anything before you are ready.