What is Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy?

Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy is a form of relationship therapy that combines evidence-based couples interventions with sex-positive, trauma-informed approaches to address both relational and sexual wellness holistically. It is better defined as couples therapy that also honors the vital connection between emotional intimacy and sexual health. My Integrative Sex and Couples approach is founded on Comprehensive Relationship Healing, which utilizes both Emotionally Focused Therapy and Sex Therapy Informed Practice (CSTIP).

Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy is not just communication skills training or basic sexual education. It is attachment healing, nervous system co-regulation, sexual trauma recovery, intimacy rebuilding, and overall creating safety for authentic connection and fulfilling sexual expression. Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy does not depend on couples' ability to immediately discuss intimate topics or perform sexually without addressing underlying emotional and trauma-related barriers.

Instead, it uses attachment science and sex-positive principles as foundations to bring relationship patterns, sexual concerns, intimacy fears, and erotic blocks out into the open where they can be understood, processed, and compassionately transformed. This allows for the ability to heal both individual sexual wounds and relational dynamics leading to deeper connection and sexual fulfillment.

Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy uses attachment theory, somatic awareness, sexual health education, and trauma-informed intimacy work to address your relationship in a way that honors both partners' sexual and emotional needs. This is important for couples who feel stuck in cycles of sexual disconnection, performance anxiety, or intimacy avoidance. If you and your partner are experiencing sexual difficulties, intimacy challenges, or feel disconnected in your erotic life together, Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy can be beneficial to your healing and connection.

The Benefits of Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy include:

• Developing secure sexual attachment and erotic safety while fostering deeper intimacy and pleasure

• Build sexual trust and vulnerability by addressing sexual shame and performance anxiety

• Empowering open sexual communication and desire expression without judgment or pressure

• Build more confidence and skills in expressing sexual needs, fantasies, and boundaries

• Improved sexual satisfaction, pleasure awareness, and erotic connection through education and exploration

• Promote healing from sexual trauma by providing safe methods for reclaiming sexual agency and pleasure

• Promotes erotic growth through healing by rebuilding sexual desire and working through sexual blocks

• Reduces sexual anxiety and promotes confident intimate connection

How Can Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy Help Us?

Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy has been found to be effective in addressing sexual dysfunction, desire discrepancy, sexual trauma recovery, and intimacy disorders by promoting healing through sex-positive, trauma-informed relationship work.

Sexual Desire & Arousal Issues

Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy addresses desire discrepancies and arousal difficulties by exploring both psychological and relational factors affecting sexual response. Low desire, mismatched libidos, and arousal challenges often involve complex interactions between stress, trauma, attachment, and communication patterns. Through comprehensive assessment and targeted interventions, we can restore sexual desire and arousal. This allows you to reconnect with your sexuality, rather than avoiding it.

Sexual Trauma Recovery

Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy provides specialized support for individuals and couples healing from sexual trauma by creating safety for gradual re-engagement with sexuality. Sexual trauma can profoundly impact trust, pleasure, and intimate connection in ways that require trauma-informed sexual healing. Through gentle, paced work that honors your healing process, we can rebuild sexual agency and trust. This approach recognizes your survival responses as protective while building new capacity for pleasure and connection.

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Intimacy & Connection Challenges

Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy addresses emotional and physical intimacy challenges by exploring how attachment patterns affect sexual and romantic connection. Many couples struggle with vulnerability, emotional safety, and maintaining erotic connection alongside daily life stressors. Through attachment-based interventions and intimacy-building exercises, we can deepen both emotional and sexual connection.

Kink, BDSM & Polyamory Support

Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy provides affirming, knowledgeable support for couples exploring or practicing kink, BDSM, and consensual non-monogamy. These relationship and sexual expressions require specialized understanding of consent, negotiation, power dynamics, and emotional safety. Many therapists lack education about these practices, leaving couples without adequate support. Through kink-affirming and poly-positive approaches, we can address relationship challenges while honoring your authentic sexual and relational expressions. This approach recognizes alternative relationship and sexual practices as valid choices deserving of professional support.

How I Work as an Integrative Sex and Couples Therapist

I tailor my approach to each couple's unique needs, often integrating multiple therapeutic modalities for comprehensive healing. I incorporate Emotionally Focused Therapy, Sex Therapy Informed Practice (CSTIP), trauma-informed interventions, and somatic approaches in combination with evidence-based couples therapy techniques. My Sex Therapy Informed Practice certification ensures specialized knowledge in sexual health, dysfunction, and pleasure-focused interventions. Emotionally Focused Therapy provides the attachment-based foundation for secure connection, while trauma-informed approaches ensure safety for those with sexual or relational trauma histories. The combination of all these approaches can lead to profound transformation in both emotional and sexual intimacy.

What is an Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy session like? Do we need to be comfortable discussing sex to start?

You do not need to be comfortable discussing sex or intimate details to begin Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy. In fact, many couples start therapy feeling awkward, ashamed, or overwhelmed about their sexual and intimate concerns! Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy is relationship therapy that honors your comfort level and pace with sexual topics being addressed only when and how you feel safe and ready. There is no set way that a session is conducted as each couple's work is relationship-centered and unfolds according to your unique needs and comfort levels. However there are certain aspects that are consistent:

• The session will be a safe, confidential, non-judgmental and sex-positive environment.

• There is no pressure to discuss explicit sexual details or engage in exercises that feel uncomfortable, as this is your healing journey and you choose when, how, and what to explore regarding your intimate life.

• Although we may explore sexual concerns, we always maintain appropriate boundaries and will adjust our approach based on your comfort and readiness.

• At the beginning of sessions, I will invite you both to share what's been happening in your relationship, areas of connection or disconnection you've noticed, and any goals you'd like to discuss for your relationship and intimate life. Don't worry. You don't have to come prepared with all this! It's our work to figure it out together! Each session is, essentially, a collaborative relationship-building session. You describe your current relationship experience, your feelings about intimacy and connection, and then we work together to support you both in building safety, communication, and fulfillment in ways that empower your relationship and align with your values and desires. My goal as a therapist is for you to cultivate secure attachment, authentic intimacy, and fulfilling sexual connection.