Sex Therapy
Are You Feeling Ashamed, Frustrated, And Alone In Your Sex Life?
Do you experience avoidance, guilt or anxiety when it comes to your sexuality and sex life?
Are physical issues such as hormonal changes, pain, or sexual disorders creating a barrier in your ability to be intimate?
Is there a discrepancy between what you and your partner want, causing misunderstanding, awkwardness, or tension in your sexual relationship?
Sex and intimacy are essential aspects of being human. However, there can be a lot of shame and stigma around discussing these topics, especially if you were raised in an environment with sexually shaming or avoidant beliefs.
You may feel like you’ve never had the language or space to describe your thoughts or questions about your body and how it enjoys pleasure. And now, it may feel overwhelming to address this for yourself and/or with your partner.
Working with a qualified therapist in individual or couples therapy can be the start of a new understanding of what you need to make sex feel safe, exciting, and satisfying.
Together, we will work to unpack old narratives and shape your authentic needs, beliefs, and desires into a new reality built upon honoring the past and creating a connection with your sexual self without shame. As you learn to challenge harmful narratives, foster open communication, identify desires, explore how you experience pleasure, and heal relational wounds, therapy can help you achieve a sex life that is both authentic and connective.
We Often Don’t Have Space To Explore And Discuss Our Desires
Sex can be complicated, and our society does not often make space for vulnerable, open dialogue about it. From a young age, we may have been conditioned by conflicting ideas about sex and gender, made worse by what we see in the media and pornography.
Despite living in a highly sexualized culture in the US, it’s hard to escape narratives that perpetuate sexual shame. Many of us come from traditions that view sex as something dangerous, immoral, or purely procreative. This can create painful double standards within heterosexual relationships, as well as stigmatize LGBTQ+ and nonbinary identities.
Furthermore, it’s common to experience individual circumstances that complicate our relationships with our sexuality. Physical and relational traumas are at the root of many sexual issues, and in some cases, official diagnoses—including erectile dysfunction, vaginismus, and dyspareunia (or pain disorder)—are present.
Some of these conditions may benefit from a collaboration of efforts with medical providers to treat symptoms, which may include medication or pelvic floor therapy, for example. In addition to these options, working through how these issues have impacted you sexually and/or how psycho-emotional experiences have impacted these conditions is beneficial.
Therapy provides you with a safe space to explore both what you desire and meaningfully work through the barriers creating pain and disconnection.
Therapy Paves The Way Toward A Healthier, More Connected Sex Life
As a Certified Sex Therapy Informed Professional (CSTIP), I am passionate about helping people achieve a more authentic and pleasurable sex life. By combining aspects of mindfulness, parts of self work, narrative therapy, and behavioral strategies, my goal is to tailor therapy to your short- and long-term needs, hopes, desires, and dreams.
This process is culturally aware and trauma-informed, open to adult individuals and couples of all genders and sexual orientations.
What To Expect
I work holistically with clients to support insight development and awareness of themselves and others around their sexuality. This may include—but is not limited to—aspects of intimacy, safety, shame, pleasure, loss, and identity. In doing so, we will explore relational patterns, triggers, and behaviors.
We will also work to normalize the experiences you’re having as we examine and challenge some of the messages you’ve received about sex and sexuality. In an effort to fully understand and embrace your values and identity, we will create new narratives for how to achieve intimacy and fulfillment.
Therapy is individualized to each client’s goals, and I am likely to incorporate aspects of grounding techniques, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and trauma work to nurture a more emotionally and physically satisfying sex life. To learn more about these therapies and my approach to relational work in general, I invite you to visit my Couples Therapy page.
I know struggles with desire, performance, identity, and intimacy can feel isolating and overwhelming. These challenges are more common than you think. A therapist offers you a safe atmosphere to explore your sex life and sexuality with compassion, understanding, and support for new, healthy experiences. Change is possible, and together, we can work toward a genuine and fulfilling sexual relationship with yourself and others.
Common Questions About Therapy For Sex And Sexual Issues…
How do I know that a therapist will handle concerns about sex with care?
When internal struggles feel intense—especially if they’re shrouded in shame and secrecy—it is normal to worry about how you will be treated when you share things you've kept to yourself for a long time.
It’s important to receive support from a trained and experienced professional who creates a safe, nonjudgmental therapeutic atmosphere. As a Certified Sex Therapy Informed Professional (CSTIP) with advanced training, I am invested in providing a safe space that helps to reduce shame, guilt, anxiety, and discomfort around sex. I’d be happy to discuss my credentials with you at any time, and I will always work at your pace, honoring your progress and preferences.
Your sexuality is incredibly vulnerable and deserves to be treated with care and compassion. We will work at your pace to ensure there is safety and trust.
Will I be judged for seeing a therapist?
Your therapy is your business! This process is entirely confidential, so it’s really up to you who you decide to talk to about it.
It’s worth noting that mental health treatment is on the rise in the US, having become more normalized and less stigmatized over the years. Additionally, your sex life is an important aspect of your identity and relationship; nurturing it through counseling will not only improve sexual anxiety and discomfort—it will likely deepen your connection to yourself and others.
Is therapy effective?
While there is no exact formula for therapy’s efficacy, the experience is designed to open up space in your life to understand patterns, needs, and pains. A significant aspect of therapeutic success relies on a strong, effective client-therapist connection through which a sense of safety and openness can be achieved. Clients tend to feel that the more they can explore, tune into, and talk about their authentic desires, the better they feel.Is therapy effective?
While there is no exact formula for therapy’s efficacy, the experience is designed to open up space in your life to understand patterns, needs, and pains. A significant aspect of therapeutic success relies on a strong, effective client-therapist connection through which a sense of safety and openness can be achieved. Clients tend to feel that the more they can explore, tune into, and talk about their authentic desires, the better they feel.
You Deserve True Connection
If your sex life lacks satisfaction, authenticity, or depth, I specialize in counseling for adult individuals and couples experiencing issues with their sex life and sexual identity. Contact me for more information or to schedule an appointment. Sessions are available in person to clients in the greater Philadelphia area and online to clients throughout Pennsylvania.
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