Therapists in Philadelphia, PA

I am a relational therapist who emphasizes a social justice approach to my work. I believe that to truly, deeply understand ourselves, we must look at the larger context within which we operate. In the therapy room, I strive to support you as you explore your own history and identity with curiosity, warmth, and care. I apply a trauma-informed lens to provide affirming care, as I believe that a respectful, supportive relationship is a key aspect of facilitating growth and self-acceptance. I am especially effective at working with depression, anxiety, ADHD, and ASD, alongside life transitions and gender and sexuality explorations.

I started my own therapeutic journey when I realized the way I had always done things was not working for me anymore, and I needed some assistance in finding a different path. So often the coping mechanisms that kept us safe in our childhoods keep us from experiencing self-acceptance and the deep and meaningful connections we long to have as adults. Whether you are exhausted by your own people pleasing, mired in self-criticism, or struggling in your relationships, you deserve a place to gain insight into how your patterns have formed and what changes can be made to live a more fulfilling life.

Hi! I'm Sara, a sex and relationship therapist in the Philadelphia area. I offer individual, relationship, and sex therapy that helps clients strengthen their relationships with their loved ones and themselves. I specialize in addressing anxiety related to insecure attachment and its impact on relational conflict and self-esteem. Working with clients to foster self-love and build emotional safety in their relationships is an important part of this process. As an LGBTQ+ affirming, sex positive, poly-friendly, and kink aware therapist, I welcome and provide a safe space for all identities and relationship styles.

As an EMDR-trained individual, relationship, and sex therapist with a masters in both Social Work and Human Sexuality, I work alongside clients to provide growth and healing using my unique skillset and a healthy dose of humor. I help couples navigate sexual concerns, communication issues, resentment, jealousy, and affairs. Additionally, I support couples and polycules around ethical nonmonogamy. I also use my knowledge as a sex therapist to aid individuals in navigating a range of sexuality-related challenges, including sexual dysfunction, gender, identity, desire, sexual trauma, and shame.

Over the last 14 years, I’ve had the joy and privilege of working alongside folks as they make meaning of their lives. I’ve been in various aspects of therapeutic work from community based, non traditional outpatient settings to private practice. Long term work together is not a necessity but a possibility, and the longevity of building a consistent, stable attachment is important to me. I want my clients to have the experience of being known, understood and seen. Once trust and knowledge has been built, I want to collaborate with you on how to better understand and move through pain points in your life.

I am an active therapist. I design treatment plans and utilize strategies that are appropriate for both the issues and the personalities of my clients. I work with individuals in the context of their life and couples seeking to repair, improve or strengthen their relationship. My areas of specialty include intimacy, conflict, anger issues and the breadth of sexuality concerns.

I have experience providing mental health therapy to a variety of populations in therapeutic settings. I have provided therapy to individuals struggling with all types of addiction and addictive/ compulsive behaviors. I have worked extensively with individuals and couples who identify on the GLBTQ spectrum and who were experiencing sexual and gender identity issues. I treated individuals who experienced domestic violence and or sexual trauma. I treated individuals struggling with a variety of sexual health issues and dysfunctions. I have experience providing therapy to people of color who were HIV+, helping them manage issues related to their sexuality, relationships, sexual and gender identity.

If you struggle with communication or shame, if you’d like to be more in touch with your inner voice or build better relationships, I encourage you to get in touch. As a therapist, especially as a couples and sex therapist, I believe that everyone can benefit from having a space to be honest and to feel safe in expressing their truth. As a warm and attentive listener, I am adept at crafting a calming and nonjudgmental space for us to engage in a collaborative process of recognizing and understanding life events as well as unhelpful patterns and beliefs.

I help individuals and couples resolve their sexual and relationship issues and enhance their lives. I've been a psychologist and sex therapist for over 30 years, my approach begins with a comprehensive evaluation to determine the cause(s) contributing to your difficulties. Then you and I create a plan that is tailored to helping you, decrease anxiety, resolve blocks, learn communication and coping skills and achieve relationship and sexual satisfaction. My approach draws from my training in sex therapy, family systems, psychodynamic and cognitive therapies as well as hypnosis and EMDR.

I work for The Center For Growth, treating everything from mental health to sex and relationship issues. I can help you manage thing like anxiety and depression as we explore and understand complex emotions in a safe space and find healthy and effective ways to express and release those feelings. We can immerse ourselves in exploration of your past as we make connections and gain understanding of how old patterns show up for you today. Or we can focus on the here and now, identifying what behaviors and thoughts are no longer serving you so you can create new goals that support your growth, in whatever way feels right to you.

I believe that we are all souls having a human experience. In that experience, we often discover parts of ourselves that are in need of deeper healing. I have special techniques I use with clients, such as EMDR & Tapping, that produce extremely FAST results in achieving change. I view intimate relationships as Sacred Contracts. I believe those contracts are full of opportunities for individuals to learn how to heal their personal triggers in order to emotionally & spiritually evolve. I firmly believe that therapy should be a transformational process, helping clients manifest the life & relationship their soul longs to experience!

My ideal client is anyone who is ready to make the necessary change in their life. The client does not need to know exactly what the issue is; simply knowing that something is wrong is enough. Due to my expertise, I am confident and competent working with life transitions, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, communication, and much, much more. Regardless of the issue, what matters most is the client's desire for change.

Welcome! As a therapist my goal is to create a non-judgmental and supportive space where it feels safe to explore and grow. I have extensive experience supporting survivors of sexual assault and relational trauma (domestic violence, childhood abuse) as well as a strong understanding of narcissistic abuse and codependency. I also work with individuals that may be experiencing anxiety, depression, and OCD as well as life stress from difficult loss or transitions. My therapeutic approach integrates a psychodynamic and interpersonal framework along with some elements of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CF-CBT).

I believe you know yourself better than anyone else. I also believe humans are built for connection, and when you find a therapist that is the right fit for your needs, therapy can be healing. I encourage safety and empowerment during sessions, while compassionately challenging you to work toward your individual goals and embrace your intuitive sense of self.

I believe entering therapy is a brave step. I tailor my counseling style to fit the needs of my clients. I am client focused and use an integrative process of cognitive behavioral, supportive, mindfulness, and holistic techniques to help you address your concerns. Together we will find new solutions to the issues that trouble you. I look forward to you joining my practice.

Sometimes we can feel stuck in unhelpful patterns, routines, or relationships. It's challenging to make changes in our life. Seeking out therapy can be intimidating; it takes courage to start. In addition to helping folks manage anxiety, stress, and life transitions, I enjoy supporting clients in navigating issues related to dating and relationships, identity, and sexuality. Additionally, I specialize in men's issues and male sexual dysfunction. Together we can look into and unpack challenges, transforming them into goals and develop a toolbox of coping strategies to help you build the life you want to be living.

Three beliefs I hold that influence how I practice are 1) human beings are not problems to be solved 2) therapy is ultimately about relationship 3) the process itself is the solution. We humans are infinitely complex; we're full of opposition and paradox. Our culture pushes quick fixes and immediate answers, but lasting change rarely comes about when we work in this way. I'm interested in helping you come into fuller, richer, more conscious relationship with all of your moving and sometimes disparate parts. Together we will work from the inside out through a deep, relational process.

Welcome! My goal is to create an authentic and welcoming space for individuals, couples and/or partnerships to improve their intimate and sexual lives. My role is to help you (re)discover pleasure, joy, and security in yourself and your relationships. As a therapist trained in Intersystemic therapy, my primary focus is to work within client’s “systems” – that is, your past and present intimate relationships, the family and culture you grew up in, and the other parts of life that make you, you. During sessions, we’ll look into where you are now, how you got there, and what you'd like to see for yourself.

As an individual, sex, and relationship therapist, I hope to accompany clients through challenges and help them find greater trust, permission, and pleasure within themselves. I am particularly interested in supporting folks in navigating their relationships with their bodies and sexualities during times of change, loss, and transition. As a queer and trans person, I enjoy working with clients of all genders, on all journeys. I am poly-friendly, kink-friendly, fat positive, and sex work positive. I love supporting partnerships and non-traditional relationships. I work well with fellow artistic and spiritual people.