A couples therapist works on the relationship. A sex therapist works on the relationship and what's happening (or not happening) in your sex life. Plenty of couples therapists are skilled, but most weren't trained to talk about desire, arousal, pain, mismatched libidos, or the specifics of what goes on in bed. A certified sex therapist was. If sex is part of why you're stuck, you want someone who can actually go there with you.

A certified sex therapist is a licensed mental health professional with advanced, specialized training in sexuality, intimacy, and sexual health. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #116296) and a Certified Sex Therapist, which means I've trained specifically in desire, arousal, communication, and the emotional layers underneath them. It's talk therapy. There's no physical exam, no touching, and nothing happens in session beyond conversation.

Desire discrepancy is when two partners want sex at different frequencies or in different ways. It's one of the most common reasons couples come to sex therapy, and it's rarely about one person wanting too much or too little. Usually there's a higher-desire partner and a lower-desire partner, and the gap becomes the thing you fight about instead of the thing you solve together. The work is understanding what drives each person's desire, then building something that fits both of you.

No. You can start sex therapy on your own, even when the concern involves your relationship. Sometimes one partner comes first and the other joins later; sometimes the work stays individual. Starting solo is common, and it's often how change begins.

I see clients throughout California, virtually, and in person in Los Angeles. Sessions happen over secure video, so you can do the work from wherever you actually feel comfortable talking (your couch counts). Because I'm licensed in California, I can work with anyone physically located in the state. Virtual sessions work just as well as in-person for this, and for a lot of people, talking about sex from their own space makes it easier to be honest.

I'm an out-of-network provider, so I don't bill insurance directly. I can give you a superbill (an itemized receipt) to submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement, depending on your plan. It's worth calling your insurer to ask about out-of-network mental health benefits before we start. I'm happy to talk through the practical side on a consultation call.

The first session is mostly me getting to know you. What brought you in, what you've tried, what you want to be different. You don't have to walk in with the perfect way to describe the problem; that's my job. Expect a real conversation, some humor, and zero judgment about whatever you came to talk about.

If sex, desire, or intimacy has become a source of stress, distance, or avoidance, that's reason enough. You don't need a crisis to qualify. People come to me for mismatched desire, low libido, pain, difficulty with arousal or orgasm, the slow fade that happens after years together, recovering after infidelity, and figuring out their own sexuality. If it matters to you, it's worth bringing in.

Yes. My practice is sex-positive and affirming, and I work with queer individuals and couples, people exploring gender or identity, and relationships of every structure (including open relationships and ethical non-monogamy). You won't have to explain or defend who you are or how you love before we get to the actual work.