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Sex Therapy
What is sex therapy?
Sex therapy is a specialized form of talk therapy focused on sexual health, functioning, pleasure, intimacy, and concerns. It's not just about addressing problems or "dysfunction" though. Sex therapy is also a place to explore curiosity, deepen understanding of yourself sexually, navigate changes, and develop a more flexible relationship with sex and sexuality.
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Very often, sex therapy topics are interwoven in ongoing therapy sessions, but can also be a very focused goal for clients. I generally specialize in individual (1-1) sex therapy work, however sex therapy can and frequently does occur with partners.
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Seeking sex therapy is a sign of self-awareness and courage, not dysfunction. Sexual concerns are common, and therapy can help you explore, understand, and make meaningful changes.​​​
When and why seek sex therapy?
Clients seek sex therapy for many reasons. Many times there's a specific concern that just started or a long-standing experience like erectile dysfunction or desire discrepancy getting in the way. Other times, it may be to open up to curiosity, exploration, and wanting to understand yourself better sexually. It may be to focus on sexual shame or traumatic experiences, or navigating changes in a relationship or in your own body. Sex therapy creates space for all of this.
What happens in sex therapy?
Depending on what you need, sex therapy might include:
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Normalizing your experiences, giving you permission to explore without shame, and creating a space where talking about sex feels safe.
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Psychoeducation or information about sexual health, arousal, desire, or other topics that provide you with clarity and context.
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Specific suggestions, techniques, exercises, or practices for you to try (like communication exercises, mindfulness practices, or ways to explore pleasure). These are tailored to what you're working on.
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Deeper work around trauma, shame, beliefs, relational patterns, identity, body image, or other underlying concerns that shape your relationship with sex and sexuality.
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Some sessions might be focused on one of these, others might include all of them depending on your specific need and goal.
What can we focus on in sex therapy?
We can work with both problem-oriented concerns and exploration-oriented sexuality topics. Sometimes clients come to therapy because something feels off, stuck, or like it’s not working the way they want. Other times, clients come because they want to explore, understand, or develop a different relationship with sex and sexuality.
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​There may also be grief and acceptance work related to sex as our bodies and relationships change over time. A significant part of this work is to develop a more flexible relationship with sex and sexuality... more space, more understanding, more choice in how you engage with your sexuality. Whatever that means for you.
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Specific topics and themes clients focus on in sex therapy include:
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​Men's sexual health: Erection and ejaculation concerns (erectile dysfunction, premature and delayed ejaculation), concerns with arousal and orgasm, concerns about penis or genital appearance and body image, performance anxiety, and formative experiences such as circumcision.
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Sexual identity and orientation: Exploring attraction, identity, and behavior (who you're attracted to, how you identify, what you do/don’t do sexually), making sense of the language around sexual orientation, coming out at any stage of life, and straight men who have sex with men (MSM).
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Communication about sex and intimacy: Developing and improving communication about sex within relationships such as initiating sex, navigating desire differences, expressing boundaries, asking for what you want, conflict and repair, and navigating discomfort around sexual conversations.
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Solo sexuality and individual sexual exploration: Developing a rich individual sexual life outside of partnership, intimacy with self, fantasy, mindful masturbation, solo sexual exploration.
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Navigating relationships with pornography and masturbation: Creating a healthier relationship with sexually explicit material, depending on what that means for you and taking action when things feel “out of control.” Sometimes referred to as “sex” or “porn addiction,” we use an approach for working with out of control sexual behavior (OCSB).
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Sexual trauma and shame: Processing traumatic sexual experiences, rebuilding a sense of safety in your body, and reclaiming sexuality after trauma.
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Kink-positive exploration: Exploring and discovering possibilities and curiosities, and embracing risk-aware and consensual experiences individually and/or with others.
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Deconstructing religious and cultural influences on sex: Unpacking shame, stigma, and cultural/religious trauma and framing of sex, and developing a relationship with sex and sexuality based on your values.
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Session details (fees, investment, insurance, etc.)
My approach
Sex therapy with me is collaborative, flexible, and open minded. I adapt to what you need. Sometimes that means information and practical tools. Sometimes it means deeper exploration of patterns, beliefs, or trauma. Many times it means just creating space to talk about things you've never said out loud before.
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I'm sex-positive, kink and poly-affirming, LGBTQIA+ -affirming, trauma-informed, and sex-worker positive. My goal isn't to "fix" you or impose a vision of what your sexuality should look like. The goal is to help you develop a more flexible, authentic, and fulfilling relationship with sex and sexuality. Whatever that means for you.
My training
I hold the credential of Certified Sex Therapist (CST) through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT). I also completed the Sexual Health Certificate Program through the University of Michigan specializing in Sex Therapy. Specialized training in sex therapy matters because sexuality can intersect with mental health in unique and complex ways, and most therapists don't receive adequate education in this area during their general training.
Schedule
Contact
Address
819 East 64th Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46220
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Broad Ripple