Straight, judgment-free answers to the questions people ask me most about sex, love, and relationship therapy in Sarasota and online across Florida and Connecticut. If yours is not here, reach out on the contact page and I will get right back to you, usually the same day.
What exactly is sex therapy?
Sex therapy is talk therapy with a specialist trained in sexuality and relationships. It is conversation-based - there is never any physical exam, undressing, or touch of any kind. Together, you and I make sense of what is getting in the way of the intimacy you want, and I give you practical, personalized tools to change it.
Is there ever any physical contact, nudity, or demonstration?
No. Never. Sex therapy is entirely conversation-based and completely professional. Nothing physical, sexual, or demonstrative ever happens in a session - that is an absolute ethical boundary.
Do I need to be in a relationship to come?
Not at all. I work with individuals just as often as couples and partners. Plenty of the work - confidence, desire, shame, past experiences - is deeply personal and does not require a partner in the room.
What kinds of issues do you help with?
Low or mismatched desire, arousal and orgasm difficulties, pain during sex, erectile concerns, performance anxiety, out-of-control sexual behavior, infidelity recovery, communication and conflict, life and medical transitions, LGBTQ+ identity and relationships, non-monogamy, and the shame that so often accompanies all of it.
Is what I share confidential?
Yes. Your sessions are private and confidential, protected by law and by professional ethics, with only the narrow exceptions every licensed therapist is required to follow (such as imminent safety concerns). This is a space where nothing is too taboo to say out loud.
What happens in a first session?
Mostly, you and I get to know each other. You tell me what brought you in and what you are hoping for; I listen, ask questions, and share how I would approach it. There is no pressure and no script - just an honest conversation to see whether I am the right fit for you.
Do you offer virtual sessions, or only in person?
Both. I see clients in person at MindSpa Integrative Wellness Center in Sarasota, and virtually via secure video anywhere in Florida and Connecticut and Connecticut. Many clients mix the two.
Where is your office?
MindSpa Integrative Wellness Center, 5632 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL. There is easy parking, and the setting is calm and private.
How long does therapy usually take?
It depends on what you are working on, but many clients feel meaningful, lasting change in as little as two to six months. Your plan is customized to you - not an open-ended commitment.
What approaches do you use?
My work is integrative and relational. I draw primarily from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Narrative Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy - always tailored to you rather than forced through one model.
What are your credentials?
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), a Certified Sex Therapist (CST), an AASECT-certified sex therapist and supervisor, and a clinical sexologist. I also teach and supervise other therapists in training.
Is this a judgment-free space for LGBTQ+ and non-monogamous clients?
Absolutely. My practice is affirming and inclusive. I support identity development, minority stress, relationship structures of every kind, and authentic sexual expression - without pathologizing who you are or how you love.
What is the difference between sex therapy and coaching?
As a licensed therapist, I am trained and regulated to work with the emotional, relational, and mental-health dimensions of sexuality - including trauma - not just goals and techniques. That clinical depth is what allows lasting change, safely.
Do you take insurance?
Please reach out and I will walk you through current fees, superbills for out-of-network reimbursement, and options. My goal is for cost to be clear and never a source of surprise.
How do I get started?
Book a free, confidential consultation. It is a short conversation - no pressure, no judgment - to talk about what is bringing you here and whether I am the right fit for you. You can request one any time from this site.
More about how I work
I built this page from the questions people actually ask me, and I have tried to answer each one the way I would in a first conversation: plainly, warmly, and without a hint of judgment. You do not need to read it top to bottom. Skim for the question closest to your situation, and if your exact case is not here, that usually just means it is worth a short conversation rather than a canned answer.
Whatever brought you here - curiosity, worry, a hard patch in a relationship, or something you have never said out loud - there is no wrong question and nothing too awkward to ask. Reaching out costs nothing and commits you to nothing, and I would genuinely rather answer a question now than have you sit with it alone.
Still have a question I did not cover? That is exactly what a free consultation is for. You can learn more about how I can help, or simply reach out on the contact page - usually the same day, with no pressure and no obligation.