Sex Therapy in Portland, OR
You are one step closer to relief and fulfillment in your sexual life. Maybe you’re here because…
-
You're feeling anxious about sex.
You want to have a fulfilling sex life but anxiety is getting in the way. You get stuck in your head, spiral into a place of self doubt & shame, and this leaves you frozen. Your body isn’t doing what you want it to do (i.e. erectile dysfunction or lack of orgasm), you don’t feel present during sex, and sex isn’t feeling satisfying. Your partner feels rejected and you feel incapable of fulfilling them. You’re afraid that if you don’t figure out how to feel more at ease with sex, your relationship will continue suffer. You’ve tried to address this, but can’t seem to figure it out on your own.
There is a path forward that will bring your relief. There is so much hope! We’re here to help you understand why your anxiety is there, unlearn your anxiety cycle, and learn tangible ways to feel more at ease and confident with your sexuality.
-
Sex isn't working in your relationship.
You and your partner have a loving relationship but there’s one part of it that isn’t working: sex. Maybe you’re stuck in a pattern where one of you is initiating all the time and feeling rejected & the other is feeling guilt and shame for having lower desire. Maybe one of you is experiencing sexual pain and you can’t sexually connect in a way that feels good for both of you. Or maybe you stopped having sex a long time ago and you’re longing to get this part of your relationship back. You’ve started to give up on ever having the sex life you both want and you’re afraid this will tear apart your relationship.
It’s possible to have a better sexual relationship. We’ll help you understand why you’re not aligning sexually, learn how to communicate about sex in a more connecting way, and incorporate exercises that will help you access more pleasure together.
-
You feel out of control of your sexual behaviors.
You are caught in a loop of engaging in sexual behaviors that don’t serve you (such as unbalanced porn use), feeling deep shame & guilt about this, trying to stop, and then engaging in the behavior all over again. You feel out of control and afraid of what will happen to your relationships if you can’t change these behaviors. You’ve tried an addiction approach, suppressing your sexuality altogether, and even support groups but nothing helps you change this pattern for good.
You’re not alone and you can break this cycle! We will help you understand your cycle, get to know why you engage in these behaviors, identify alternative coping skills, and build a more fulfilling relationship with your sexuality.
-
You're struggling with sex after having a baby.
Your sexual relationship felt so much easier before having a baby. All of the body changes, the exhaustion of caring for a little one & the stress this has put on your relationship, the process of figuring out your new identity, and feeling completely touched out are getting in the way of having a fulfilling sexual relationship. You want this to change, but it’s hard to imagine how to tackle sexuality when you’re navigating this huge life change.
You deserve to feel connected to pleasure and sensuality, even while navigating new parenthood! We will help you find ways to care for yourself, set boundaries, soothe touch fatigue, and reconnect with pleasure so that you can begin to rebuild your sexual relationship.
Other sex therapy concerns we can help you with:
-
Sexual trauma
Religious trauma & sexuality
Sexual pain or discomfort
Sexual identity exploration
Premature ejaculation
Inability to orgasm
Erectile dysfunction
-
Kink/BDSM dynamics
Sex & neurodivergence
Sex & disability or chronic illness
Sexual shame
Body image issues impacting sex
Sexual empowerment
Dissatisfying sex
You can have a positive & pleasurable sex life.
You can feel at ease with your sexuality.
Our sex therapists are here to help!
What is sex therapy?
Sex therapy is talk therapy that is centered around sexual concerns.
We may discuss your sexual history, sex education you received throughout your life, significant experiences related to your sexual body, your sexual identity, sociocultural factors that impact your sexuality, your feelings around sex, the cycle around sex in your relationship, and your sexual wants & needs.
Your therapist will help you understand your sexual self, identify your sexual values, and develop the tools for accessing the sexual life you want.
They may offer you sex positive & evidence based sex education, emotional support, homework such as touch exercises you’ll do between sessions, practical tools for improving sexual communication, and resources.
Sex therapy isn’t just about sex!
While sexuality may be the focus of our work and your goals, sex therapy involves attending to all the parts of your life.
Your emotional experience, your identities, your relationship dynamics, your physiological experience, and your context are all interconnected with sex.
We will support you with your sexual concerns through a holistic lens.
Our Therapists Who Offer Sex Therapy
-
Aspen Romriell, Marriage & Family Therapy Intern
-
Caitlin Foster, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern
-
Tamzin Johanson, Marriage & Family Therapy Intern
-
Jess Fox, Marriage & Family Therapist Associate
-
Sarah Sumner, Clinical Social Work Associate
-
Ilana Young, Clinical Social Work Associate
-
Norma Nance, Clinical Social Work Associate
-
Taylor Kravitz, LMFT
-
Jess Peterson, Professional Counselor Associate