Sexual health is an integral part of whole health. Sexual wellness provides some of the most joyous parts of life, yet it can be a deep source of pain and dissatisfaction when it's compromised. Sex Therapy can help. It is not unusual to feel like your sexual wants, needs, and fantasies are at odds with your actual behaviors. This may be due to shame, guilt, insecurity, misinformation, past hurts, religious/purity messaging, a strong need to please a partner, your attachment style, aging, medical concerns, or many other reasons. My aim is to create a safe, honest, and non-judgmental therapy environment where you can be free to express your unique gender and sexual expression. My approach integrates mind and body therapies to address the full range of sexual wellness. Sex Therapy can be attended individually or with partners. There is NEVER touching between client and the therapist. I support all people who identify as LGBTQIA+.
Sex Therapy is offered to individuals, couples, or partners. Please see my fees and insurance and policies in regards to paying for Sex Therapy.
You have concerns about sexual function or painful sex i.e. erectile dysfunction, ejaculation issues, low libido, orgasm difficulty, vulvodynia, vaginismus, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, STIs, etc. Please do not tolerate sexual pain.
Hormonal changes due to Perimenopause, Menopause, Andropause or other circumstances are affecting your physical, sexual or mental health.
A sexual loss (betrayal, breach in relationship agreements, emotional, cyber, or physical infidelity, end of sexual relationship, etc) is impacting your wellbeing.
You and your partner aren't on the same page sexually; desire or arousal are suffering and you're bothered by this.
Your use of pornography or sexual behaviors feels out of control.
Your body is not responding in the same manner as before due to a health condition or medical diagnosis such as cancer, diabetes, or chronic pain.
You wish to explore sexual feelings, your sexual orientation, intimacy issues, or distress related to sexual health.
You want to heal from sexual trauma such as a partner's unexpected sexual behaviors, childhood abuse, incest, misguidance of a high demand religion, harassment, or a non-consensual sexual experience.
You want to discuss concerns related to your "other than vanilla" erotic orientation and want to meet with a therapist who will not shame or pathologize your interests.
You're seeking support to explore or affirm your gender identity, gender expression, and body presentation without pathology being attached to it.
You want help with your other than monogamous relationship (i.e. ethical non-monogamy, swinging-Lifestyle, polyamory, living apart together, mixed orientation, open relationship, or your unique relationship style).
You'd like education and support to better understand a loved one's gender expression/identity or their sexual orientation.
A sex positive approach seeks to bring balance and represent the range of possible sexual experiences. A sex positive approach does not endorse persons having more or less sex, but encourages an exploration of self and partners in order to help people have a healthier relationship with sex and more satisfaction in life overall.
I oppose any reparative or conversion therapy that seeks to cure an individual's sexual orientation. I do not believe that sexual orientation is something that needs to be fixed. In fact, for most, sexual orientation is fluid and can change over time. Asexuality is an orientation and includes a range of experiences. Additionally, I understand that gender is not binary. A person's sense of self is one that can change over time. Expression of gender identity is unique to each person. I am an LGBTQIA affirmative counselor.
I support the right to reproductive health care, including access to birth control and safe and legal abortion care. Your reproductive health is an essential part of your wellness.
There is much debate about whether sex addiction is a valid diagnosis. There is no such diagnosis in the medical model. I do not use this term and do not promote this model of treatment. What is currently known as the sex addiction model was developed in the 1980s from conservative, religious based origins. It has become a billion dollar industry predicated on pathologizing healthy sexual functioning. The founder of this model has a net worth of more than $250 million. Certified Sex Addiction Therapists (CSAT) are not Sex Therapists. They have a completely different approach to addressing sexual health issues, including advising clients of complete abstinence from sexual contact with self or others as part of their model.
I work from a sex positive approach influenced by the Out of Control Sexual Behavior model, developed by Doug Braun-Harvey and Michael Vigorito. I adhere to these six sexual health principles:
Consent, Nonexploitation, Protection from HIV/STIs and unintended pregnancy, Honesty, Shared values, Mutual pleasure.
Using this model clients examine origins of their behaviors, better understand their histories and motivations, explore their patterns, and regain control over their sexual activities. Often anxiety, trauma, systemic issues, cultural beliefs, or other influences are at the root of the behavior. Once known the impact can be addressed. No two clients are alike. I help each person reach their treatment goals at their pace in alignment with their values, strengths, and desires.
Anyone can call themselves a Sex Therapist without receiving any post graduate training in sexual health areas. Sex Therapist and Sex Therapy are not protected terms in Michigan. An AASECT Certified Sex Therapist recognizes that rigorous training and supervision are necessary to support our clients in an ethical, legal, and compassionate manner. If you are considering meeting with a Sex Therapist, ask about their training, ethical standards, and credentials. There are several other organizations that offer valuable contributions to the sexual health field and it's important that clients are supported through a wide range of ethical and evidence based information. Find out more about AASECT certification here.