Sex-Positive, Kink Allied Therapists in Oakland, CA
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Sterling Walker
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
Verified
Verified
I also work with members of the BDSM,
kink
, and poly communities and create a safe space for the development of new paradigms and beliefs.
Throughout our lives, we all have experienced feelings of depression, anxiety, and anger. These emotions leave you feeling insecure, shameful, lonely, unworthy and stuck in unhealthy patterns of behavior. Trauma can have negative emotional and physical effects and can lead to family/relationship issues. I specialize in solution-focused brief therapy, motivational interviewing, mindfulness and CBT. These approaches allow me to work with the client to decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression and other health/behavioral issues.

Katherine (Kat) Roubos
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
You are not your problems, the problem is the problem! Together we can begin to discern the difference and take action toward change. I am a white, genderqueer therapist dedicated to facilitating personal, interpersonal and collective healing through relationships and organizing. I specialize in supporting people experiencing issues related to boundaries, self-respect, burnout, anger, social/racial justice, healing trauma, identity development, existential questions, sexuality, gender identity, and life transitions. LGBTQ, poly, and
kink
identities welcome. More at: www.katherinerouboslcsw.com and www.traumaconsciouspraxis.com

Catherine (Cat) Haueter
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA
Verified
3 Endorsed
Verified
3 Endorsed
I love working with those who don't always feel comfortable or "seen" in clinical settings: LGBTQ+ folks,
kink
/BDSM practitioners, sex workers, POC, poly/open/nontraditional relationship architects, people with disabilities, Burners, self-proclaimed weirdos, and anyone struggling with or exploring identity.
I believe that experiencing loving, nurturing relationships is the best part of being alive. I also recognize that for many of us, creating and maintaining such relationships can be incredibly hard. I view psychotherapy as a means to explore whatever is currently blocking our path to healthy, fulfilling and supportive connections--both to others and to ourselves. Sometimes that means building skills we never learned in the first place. Other times that means examining challenging past experiences. Whatever the circumstances, I am here to support your journey toward growth, fulfillment, and ultimately, greater joy.

Bishop W Howard IV
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, ACSW
Verified
Verified
My ideal clients are individuals age 16+ who want support navigating anxiety, depression, childhood trauma, identity, family, relationships (monogamy/non-monogamy/poly), sexuality/desire (
kink
friendly), racial/multicultural stress, and everyday life stressors. I supporting clients no matter if you are seasoned at engaging in therapy or looking to take this journey for the first time. My approach is client centered and structured to meet you where you are, as we work together to build the best journey for your needs. My specialty is serving Queer/Trans BIPOC individuals.
Waitlist for new clients

Teresa Trout
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I offer affirmative, knowledgeable, and trauma-informed services for individuals who are part of the LGBTQ+, BDSM/
Kink
, and Non-Traditional Relationship communities.
I honor the vulnerability it takes to embark on a journey of personal growth. I provide a supportive, safe space for you to heal past experiences, explore how those experiences impact your present day, and support you in practicing new ways of being in the world. My approach to therapy is very collaborative and rooted in helping you become the "expert" of you. In addition to talk therapy (which is a creative modality in of itself), I specialize in Expressive Arts (EXA) Therapy which uses the creative arts (writing, art, sandtray, movement, drama, etc.) to explore and process your lived experience.

Mikhaëla Beaudet-DeBus
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
Welcome! I support my Clients' path to arrive at a freer, more empowered version of themselves. I am passionate about working through an intersectional and trauma-informed lens with everyone. I respect my Clients deeply and give them my genuine warmth and attentiveness. I am a good fit for people who are nervous about therapy, people working on boundaries, self love, finding their voice, embodiment, healing from trauma/complex trauma as well as folks from all parts of the LGBT+ family. I am here for gender exploration, questioning, arrival and take a non judgmental stance on all corners of consensual sex/sexuality/
kink
/non-monog+
Not accepting new clients

Audre Mowry
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I have a background in Sexuality and
Sex Positive
Ed and have engaged in Grief work for 5+ years.
Welcome. Firstly, I want to acknowledge you for taking this first step in finding a therapist, I am so glad you are here. Finding a therapist can be a hard and vulnerable process, and I feel honored that you are considering me. I believe that psychotherapy is a collaborative relationship which starts with the connection we build together. As the therapeutic relationship develops, so does the trust and ability to be challenged and grow.I have particular specialties working with adults, teens and children in Grief & Loss and Sexuality & Gender. I work with individuals, couples/ diads/triads, families and groups.

Jessee Lovegood
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
I approach my work with a social justice lens and am sex-,
kink
-, and body-positive.
Folks come to therapy for a variety of reasons that all boil down to change, whether they're struggling to handle it or make it. Many of my clients' lives don't align with societal norms, either intentionally coloring outside the lines or struggling to fit in. Folks may find themselves overwhelmed, dealing with big emotions, the effects of complex or single-event trauma, complex medical issues, or chronic pain. I am passionate about working with the LGBTQ+ - including trans kids and their families, disabled, and neurodiverse populations. I like to work with individuals, couples, polycules, and families of all shapes and sizes.

Grecya Vidal Zavala
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, AMFT
Verified
Verified
I am an abolition-centered care provider, utilizing harm-reduction, and working through a
sex positive
, and
kink
positive lens.
Together we will build a trusting and safe therapeutic relationship. Within this dynamic, we will process current & past experiences and any feelings that may arise. Therapy is a process, in which learning and self-insight occurs, and shifts begin to happen. I love supporting folks in connecting with themselves and others, making meaning of their life experiences, and deepening their understanding of themselves in a safe and supportive space which we co-create.

Neal Hailey
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I am passionate about working with all the letters (LGBTQIQA etc), as well as with those in open, poly, and
kink
relationships.
As a therapist, I am here to witness and support your process of transformation and growth. A large part of the benefit of therapy comes from your experience of the therapeutic relationship, for this reason I always strive to nurture, and explore this relationship with you through honest, open, and straightforward communication.

Julia Simone Fogelson
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I work from a sex-positive, poly-friendly,
kink
-knowledgeable, queer- and gender-affirming perspective.
Welcome! I offer therapy to adults, teens and couples. I believe therapy is a collaborative process; you can think of me as a companion as we travel down the roads of your growth together. If you have been thinking about starting therapy, I invite you to contact me. I have helped many clients with issues such as anxiety, depression and life changes. I am committed to helping my clients become the most authentic version of themselves. I love working with issues around sex, body image, gender & with members of the LGBTQIA2+ community. I am also a Certified Sex Therapist (CST). Take a look at my website for more info.

Alchemy Art Therapy, Rebecca Martinez-Thomas
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT, MA
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Everybody has a story to tell, and I want to hear yours. I believe you are the expert of your experience and together we can help you navigate your life with more ease and happiness. I work with adults & teens struggling with a range of issues (anxiety, depression, trauma, body image, relationships) to build empowerment, develop acceptance/motivation for change, and establish practical ways to cope with stress. My clients tend to belong to a variety of marginalized communities: LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, fat,
kink
/alternative relationship styles/ENM, (suspected) neurodivergent, disabled/experiencing chronic conditions, and/or drug users.
Waitlist for new clients

Shirley Johnson
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT , MA, CYT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Carl Jung said, "I would rather be whole than good." Very often we put pressure on ourselves to "be" a certain way, so much that life can start to feel like acting versus living. This pressure tends to place stress on individuals and can often lead to anxiety, depression, and stress. I believe that therapy can be a tool to take off the masks we have learned to put on and begin to live from our whole self; finding freedom and our creativity. I believe that through compassion for all the parts of ourself we step closer to freedom.

Julian Dodd
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Extensive experience working with LGBTQ,
kink
, and poly community.
I view psychotherapy as a collaborative process between therapist and client, where the relationship is part of the healing process. My style is active, creative, and holistic. I will meet you where you are, not-judging, engaged and curious. I work with clients who struggle with anxiety, depression, trauma, shame, relationship distress, life transitions, and existential dilemmas (questions about the meaning of life, questions about dying and death). I also have experience working with individuals struggling with dual diagnosis (addiction and mental health issues combined).

Stephanie Pepitone
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
Verified
My practice is trauma-informed, DBT-informed, feminist, body and
sex positive
, with a focus on somatic awareness and expressive arts.
Reaching out for support may feel difficult but you are totally worth it. I can provide you with a place where you will be listened to with compassion and understanding. Through our work together I will bring gentle curiosity to the areas of your life you want to explore. This can look like nurturing any tender wounds, fostering belonging for abandoned parts of yourself, embracing acceptance for things you can't change, and building skills needed for constructing the life and relationships you desire.
Not accepting new clients

Westley Rutter
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
I am very open to work with LGBTQ identified clients and am well versed in issues related to sexual identity, gender variance, transitions, coming out, school bullying, family conflict, non-monagamy/polyamory, BDSM/
kink
, HIV, and other issues that touch the community.
I view therapy as a collaborative relationship, seeking to form a partnership to explore your struggles, moving towards growth and healing. I am experienced in working with anxiety, depression, substance issues, grief/loss, relationship difficulties, trauma, oppression, chronic medical conditions, sexuality, eating disorders, and adoption issues. In addition to individual therapy, I work with couples, and relationships of all configurations.

Noelle Clason
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
Verified
I also work with folx involved in the
kink
community, BDSM lifestyle and practices, members of sex-positive community, and sex workers.
I provide sex-positive therapy to individuals, relationships, and adult families. Most of my clients have non-mainstream sexual, gender, and/or relationship identities. Many identify as non-monogamous, are considering opening or creatively designing their relationship(s); I help them to create agreements, move through jealousy, heal from infidelities, build trust, and improve communication with partners and metamours. I work with queer, transgender, and nonbinary clients just beginning to question and explore their identities, and those who have been out for years and need therapy from a clinician familiar with queer issues.
Waitlist for new clients

Preston Lopez
Marriage & Family Therapist Associate, MS, AMFT
Verified
Verified
I also provide relationship therapy for couples and polycules from a
sex positive
, poly-affirming perspective.
Hello and welcome. My name is Preston and I am a queer therapist of color. My first priority as a therapist is always to establish a safe and vibrant relationship with clients, believing deeply that authentic human connection is one of the greatest catalysts for healing and change. I also take a systems approach in the work I do with clients, seeking to understand each individual’s role within larger social and systemic constructs. I bring a social justice lens to working with clients, helping people to understand and heal from the effects of internalized oppression and the ways it impacts one's sense of self and relationships.
Waitlist for new clients

Jacqui Ferraiolo
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA
Verified
1 Endorsed
Verified
1 Endorsed
Not Accepting New Clients at this Time: Individual, Couples/Relationship, Teen Counseling. LGBTQIA+, Poly, Sex-Positive, &
Kink
friendly. Folks tend to come to me when they are feeling stuck around their anxiety or depression. They usually are holding questions around their sexuality/identity, life transitions, and processing grief or loss. They know that they have the wisdom to resolve these feelings inside, but they are feeling stuck on how to access them. Everything feels a little garbled, and I help them clear the way to access the answers to the questions they are holding.

Lacy Martinez
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified
5 Endorsed
Verified
5 Endorsed
Couples/Relationship Counseling. LGBTQ, Poly, &
Kink
friendly. Clients that like my style seek therapy mostly for anxiety or depression that comes from the feeling that life lacks purpose, feels stuck, or stale; especially during times of heartache, misunderstanding, break-ups, or even death. Many useful moments, crucial moments, can arise at the end of something - unresolved past hurts, spiritual dilemmas, a sudden urgency and passion for figuring out "why we're here" - understanding them and integrating them is what I offer. Closing the old stuff up well means new, exciting beginnings are possible...often in the same relationship!
See more therapy options for
Sex-Positive, Kink Allied Therapists
Sex-positive counseling in Oakland for sex-positive clients
If you are sex-positive or are looking for help with being sex-positive in Oakland or for an Oakland sex-positive therapist, these professionals provide kink allied therapy in Oakland and counseling for sex-positive clients.
If you are sex-positive or are looking for help with being sex-positive in Oakland or for an Oakland sex-positive therapist, these professionals provide kink allied therapy in Oakland and counseling for sex-positive clients.