Feeling worried about sex?
Sex therapy can help.
We help people who want to have sex, but can’t, because of anxiety, nervousness, shame, or past experiences. Here you will find affirming, inclusive, nonjudgmental support to help you have a joyful, satisfying sex life - on your own terms.
Why Get Sex Therapy In DC?
Sex therapy is for anyone who wants to feel better about intimacy and sexuality. Here at the Center for Intimacy and Relationships, we warmly welcome everyone, including people from LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities. We work with both couples and individuals to help you feel more confident and comfortable with sexuality, in a way that is uniquely you.
In sessions, you’ll have a chance to talk with one of our qualified sex therapists about any challenge you may face. Clients often come to us for help with:
Difficulties talking to their partner about sexuality
Challenges with sexual desire, including mismatched desires between partners
Learning to communicate about sex and intimacy with openness and confidence
Discussing challenges like painful sex and inability to orgasm
Opening up a relationship or negotiating boundaries around polyamory or ethical non-monogamy
Sexual trauma from the past that affects the enjoyment of sex today
Erection challenges and erectile dysfunction
Additionally, sex therapy can help you talk about the effects of stigma and negative messages about sex we all receive over time. With sex therapy, you can enjoy pleasure and intimacy, learn how to bolster trust, confidence, and communication in your relationship, and get in touch with your own sexuality.
Are you ready to get started? See what therapy can do for you. Contact us now for a free initial consultation.
“We love each other, so why is this so hard?”
Who is sex therapy for?
Sex therapy is for everyone! At the Center for Intimacy and Relationships, we especially enjoy working with people who are ready for healing and growth.
Being a practice based in the DC area, we often see people who are very successful in their careers but feel stuck when it comes to sex or relationships. This can be particularly frustrating. We can help. In session, our qualified therapists will provide you with specific tools and resources you can use to help you overcome your challenges. We provide high-quality, effective, personalized care to help you get the most out of therapy.
We have found that sex therapy works best with people who are ready to:
Invest in the time and energy of regular therapy sessions (usually weekly or biweekly),
Be curious about their own sexuality (and their partner’s sexuality if applicable),
Examine their own thoughts, experiences, and patterns around emotional and physical intimacy, in a safe space with a qualified therapist.
Are you ready to get started? If so, we’d love to connect with you. Click the button below to reach out today.
“I want to talk to my partner about this but don't know where to start.”
What To Expect In Sex Therapy
Sex therapy is just like any other talk therapy, except we talk openly and honestly about sex and intimacy. It can feel awkward at first, but most people find it’s easier than they expected.
Our DC sex therapists are very good at creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. You can feel comfortable sharing as much or as little as you’d like.
In sex therapy, expect to work individually or as a couple with one of our sex therapists. You’ll have opportunities to share as much or as little as you’d like about what concerns you, including:
Low libido or desire
Sexless relationships, or difficulty having sex even when you want to
Lack of interest in sex overall or with your partner
Exploring sexuality, such as kink or BDSM
Negative feelings or negative messages about sex
Sexual functioning issues such as the inability to reach orgasm or painful penetration
Pelvic pain or vaginal pain (including vaginismus, vestibulodynia, endometriosis, adenomyosis, or vulvodynia)
Distressing or intrusive thoughts during or about sex
Infidelity, from casual sex to long term affairs
Identity issues, such as feelings about orientation or gender
Erection difficulties, including delayed or premature ejaculation
General anxiety about intimacy
Our goal is to help you move past physical and emotional boundaries to achieve a healthy and satisfying sex life on your own terms.
Here, you will find a sex-positive, body-positive, non-judgmental, affirming approach. We’ll talk about your concerns with candor, compassion, and honesty. Your boundaries will always be respected, and you will never be required to disclose any information you don't want to.
Importantly, we always go at your pace. You may be surprised at how easy it is to talk about this very sensitive topic.
Working with one of our DC sex therapists can meaningfully improve your sexual health and relationships. Some benefits include:
Improved communication with partners
Healing from traumas that may be holding you back
Enhanced emotional and sexual intimacy with others
Greater self-confidence in sexual interactions
Addressing sexual dysfunction symptoms
Deeper understanding of your sexuality and what it means to you
Most people come to us with one or more concerns they’d like to work on. We’ll work with you (and your partner if you’d like) to understand your concerns and a plan for moving forward. We will check in with you along the way to make sure we are on track.
Along the way, you’ll find our approach to be compassionate, experienced, and helpful.
Meet The Team
Camille Espinoza LICSW, MSW, MSPH
Camille (she/her) is an AASECT certified sex therapist supervisor. She enjoys helping people work through their barriers to desire and intimacy, so they can enjoy sexuality and connection on their own terms. Camille works with individuals and couples from young adulthood to midlife, including LGBTQIA+ folx.
Alexis Logan, LICSW
Alexis (she/her) specializes in helping people explore their sexuality, whether it’s about trying new things or setting healthy boundaries within relationships. She enjoys working with both individuals and couples of all backgrounds, including people in the polyamory, kink, and BDSM communities.
Devon Pu LICSW, MSW, MPA
Devon (she/her) specializes in helping individuals and couples reconnect sexually, heal from sexual trauma, and navigate intimacy concerns with care. She offers affirming care for people exploring desire, connection, and intimacy across all relationship structures and identities.
Why choose the Center for Intimacy and Relationships?
Out of the many therapists available for sex therapy, why choose us? Because this is our specialty and our passion. We are therapy nerds, and this is our favorite topic. Join us in our virtual or in-person office where we can share our expertise and hear about you.
As experienced therapists, we’ve also done our own work around sexual topics and can hold space for you to do the same - you and your relationship deserve it.
Discover why we are the go-to choice for busy DC professionals who are ready for therapy. We will help you facilitate change, and guide you each step of the way. We look forward to meeting you. Contact us now for a free consultation.
DC Sex Therapy FAQs
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Sex therapy is therapy where you can talk about anything related to intimacy and sexuality. It’s mostly talking about thoughts and feelings, just like any other therapy. You can share as much or as little detail you want. It can be about any topic that involves your feelings or thoughts around sexual experiences (past or present), identity, or lived experience. Whatever challenges or roadblocks you may be facing, sex therapy is a great way to address them.
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Sex therapy doesn’t have to be awkward. Our therapists are fully comfortable talking about human sexuality, listening to concerns, and finding ways to support and guide you. We do our best to create a welcoming, nonjudgmental environment for everyone.
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Anywhere from three months to several years. This entirely depends on you and how long you want to stay. People often start therapy for one reason and continue for another. You never have to continue longer than you want to. If you have specific concerns, talk to your therapist about it. We tailor our services to you and you are never expected to commit to a certain timeframe. We are also here when you need it, so if you need to pause on therapy and come back later, we understand.
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The first step is a complimentary video consultation with one of our therapists. On this call, we will determine if we are a good fit to work together, and if we aren’t, we will offer plenty of referrals.
The next step is an initial assessment. For individuals, the assessment is 50 minutes, and for couples, it is 80 minutes. We’ll ask you about your therapy goals and main concerns during this time. We will provide feedback at the end and specific suggestions for moving forward.
From there, we will meet weekly (or in some cases, biweekly) to work on your goals. This may involve talking more about your concerns, referring you to a medical specialist, or working on things in between sessions. We will check in periodically to get your feedback about therapy and make sure therapy is working for you.
When you’re feeling ready, we’ll end therapy with a wrap-up session. We will review your progress, discuss the next steps, and discuss what to do if you need additional help. We are always here for you if you need to return.
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We offer virtual therapy for couples, but in general, we ask that you dial into the video call from the same location. We’ve found that this gets better results for you in the long run. If you have any questions, talk to your therapist. If there are extenuating circumstances, we can work with you.
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No. Sex therapy does not involve touching between clients and the therapist. In couples therapy, your therapist might assign touching exercises to practice at home in between sessions. The purpose is to help you experience touch in a new, different, and safe way. If you are interested in doing homework exercises around touch, we always go at your pace and only if you are ready. There are many different ways to approach this, and all homework is tailored to you. Our number one goal is that you feel safe while working on sexual challenges.
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If you’re having any concerns about emotional or physical intimacy, it may be time to talk to a qualified therapist about it. People often call us because they simply need a space to talk it through. It can be any type of concern, from issues around exploring sexuality to managing anxiety about sex in general. Most people find it a relief to have a space to talk openly and honestly about their concerns. We always go at your pace and comfort level, with compassion and candor.
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Whenever a couple is having trouble communicating about sexuality, it may be time to seek help from a qualified therapist. Most couples come to see us because there is some kind of difference between them that is causing problems over time. For example, one partner may feel more desire than the other, and they don’t know how to talk about it. Or perhaps one or both partners struggle to express their emotions around intimacy. Or maybe there is simmering resentment because partners have different needs and wants around sex. Or, sometimes couples have a strong emotional connection but can’t seem to get their sex life on track.
All of these issues are common in relationships, and we can help. In our sessions together, we will teach you how to communicate with each other, step by step. In session, you will practice having difficult conversations under the guidance of a skilled therapist, so that you can take away new skills to use at home.
We work with and affirm all types of couples—couples of all ages, backgrounds, relationship structures, orientations, and genders. We are passionate about helping people have healthy and satisfying relationships, however they define them.
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To get started, fill out our contact form. We’ll be in touch within 48 business hours and look forward to meeting with you. We start all potential clients with a free 15- to 30-minute video consultation to see if we’re a good fit to work together. And we refer those who may fit better with one of our trusted colleagues.