What is Sex Therapy?
My guiding principle? Pleasure is a human right.
Like other types of talk therapy, Sex Therapy can address issues arising from shame, fear, anxiety, trauma, misinformation, and unhelpful thought & behavior patterns. Many individuals and partners seek out Sex Therapy simply because they desire fuller and more pleasurable sexual experiences, but aren’t sure where to start. They may also be looking for support with issues such as desire, sexual dysfunction, pain & discomfort, the effects of a trauma history or traumatic event, or changes through the lifecycle (aging, illness, injury, chronic pain, disability, pregnancy & postpartum, peri/menopause, gender transition, etc.).
Depending on your personal therapeutic goals, we may also look at your experience of gender identity, sexual orientation, relationship structures, body image, cultural & religious background, disability status, or other identities and the ways these aspects of Self can affect attitudes and experiences around sex and sexuality.
Sex therapy does not involve physical contact between client & therapist, although body-based activities for individuals or touch-based, intimacy-building exercises between partners to try outside of sessions are often offered as a complement to our work. While you may be asked to consider exploring new experiences and ideas, you will never be expected to complete any activity to which you do not enthusiastically consent.
Specialty Areas in Sex Therapy
While a lot of Sex Therapy deals with issues around sexual pain, dysfunction, & desire, there are many specialized topics that require a deeper level of knowledge and trust to explore with a therapist. Here is a (non-exhaustive) list of other areas where CJ is knowledgeable and happy to work:Trans & Gender-Expansive issues
gender exploration & fluidity, social & medical transition, gender-affirming surgery support, non-binary & agender identity, family/partners of trans folx, coping with transphobia, transmisogyny, & transmedicalism
Non-Monogamy
CNM/ENM, polyamory, solo polyam, relationship anarchy, swinging, “monogamish”, polycules & triads, hinge partner & metamour issues, “opening up”, intentional monogamy, infidelity/affairs
NEURODIVERGENT Sexuality & relationships
ADHD, Autism, AuDHD, OCD, sensory sensitivities, late-discovery/diagnosis, mixed-neurotype relationships, neuroqueer identity
Trauma histories
healing, recovery & accessing sexuality after family-of-origin, relational, or religious trauma, assault, or childhood sexual abuse
AFAB LIVED experience
PMDD/PME, gestational parenthood & pregnancy, fertility, post-partum, sexuality after surgeries, perimenopause & menopause, navigating the healthcare system & medical trauma
Kink, Fetish, BDSM
D/s & power exchange, TPE & 24/7 dynamics, bondage/rope, impact play, DDlg & age play, CNC, healing through kink play
Queer IDENTITY & relationships
“coming out”, later-in-life sexuality & comp-het, queer dating, non-normative journeys to parenthood