The easiest way to answer this question is to first talk about what sex therapy isn’t.  Sex therapists do not have sex with their clients, they do not watch couples have sex, they don’t watch individuals have sex, and they do not provide hands-on instruction.

In a lot of ways, sex therapy really isn’t that different from more traditional therapy (i.e. psychotherapy, talk therapy). I just happen to have a significant amount of post-graduate education on sexual health and I’m a certified ASECT therapist. During our time together, we will talk about the concerns you have relating to your sexual health and focus on resolving or managing those areas of concern.

Absolutely not. Our sexual health is a component of the rest of us. How we feel in terms of our overall wellbeing–our mental health, our physical health, our spiritual health–affects our sexual health. And, vice versa–how we feel about our sexual health affects all those other areas of our wellbeing.

During our sessions, we often talk about things like job stress, parenting stress, or how your partner is getting on your nerves, in addition to talking about the sexual concerns that people bring to therapy.

I am a Certified Relational Life Therapist (RLT). The theoretical framework of RLT is that we help clients achieve an authentic connection with themselves and others. I believe that sexual health is part of achieving that kind of authenticity with self and others. The RLS model, and therefore, my approach, is more directive.

I’m not the expert in the room, but rather a guide or coach, helping couples get to the heart of the dysfunctional dance between them, figuring out the adult skills we don’t want to use in relationships, and helping build upon those skills that we need to practice. I meet with couples for at least 90-minute sessions.

For individual therapy, I accept insurance where there is a diagnosable mental health concern. I do not accept insurance for relationship therapy. It is possible that some sexual health concerns may not be covered by your insurance. I have a great billing team who can answer all of your insurance billing questions and concerns. Click here to contact my office now.

Relationship therapy is actually not a covered service with health insurance. Although family therapy is covered, couples and relationships do not fall under the family category. Why?

Theoretically, family therapy is covered when one person who is the identified patient also has a diagnosable mental health issue. That person is the focus and all treatment is focused on them getting better and improving their outcomes. Even when we bring in other family members, the focus is still on helping the one primary person get better. In relationship therapy, there is not an identified patient. The patient is the relationship between the two people and I can’t diagnose a relationship.

Unfortunately, the healthcare system is a medical model–it is supposed to treat an illness–and relationship therapy is sort of like trying to stick a square peg in a round hole that it never was supposed to fit in in the first place.