Sex Therapy
in Falls Church, VA
Virtual therapy available in Virginia and Washington, DC
Sexuality and intimacy are deeply personal. They are shaped by our bodies, our relationships, our beliefs, and our lived experiences. Through illness, stress, life transitions, or changes in identity, what may have felt natural or familiar can begin to feel complicated, distant, unfamiliar, or hard to access.
Sex therapy offers the guidance and opportunity to slow down and gently explore sexuality without pressure or judgment. Together, we’ll work to understand your life experiences, understand what’s changed, rebuild a sense of connection to your body, desires, and partner, and create new ways of approaching intimacy and sex that feel safe, authentic, and meaningful to you.
Sex therapy may be helpful for you if…
Intimacy or sexuality feels different, unfamiliar, or no longer enjoyable.
Your experience of your body has changed from illness, treatment, or life
transitions. You feel disconnected from your body now or unsure how to trust it.
Desire has shifted, and you’re not sure how to make sense of it. You may
be feeling shame, frustration, or confusion around sex or desire.
You’re wanting a more authentic, connected, and fulfilling relationship with sex and intimacy, and you’re finding it difficult to talk about sex, needs, and boundaries.
You’re navigating changes in identity, sexuality, or how you experience intimacy. You miss how things used to feel and want to reconnect to that part of yourself or relationship.
What sex therapy looks like with me in Falls Church, VA
What we'll focus onSex therapy isn't just about sex. It's about your experiences, relationships, body, and emotions and how these all shape the way you experience intimacy.
Together, we may explore:
changes in desire, arousal, or sexual function
feeling disconnected from your body or sexuality
navigating intimacy after illness, cancer, or treatment
body image and confidence
shame, anxiety, or fear related to intimacy
differences in desire between partners
communicating about sex and intimacy more openly
Understanding what’s changedOne of the things I hear most often is, 'I just don't feel like myself anymore.' Sometimes people tell me they thought everything would go back to normal once treatment was over, but instead they're left trying to figure out why their body, their desire, or their relationship with intimacy feels so different.
In therapy, we start here. Together, we take time to understand those changes and how they have affected your relationship with your body, your sexuality, your partner(s), and yourself. We explore what illness and treatment have asked of your body, what you’ve had to let go of, and how those experiences continue to shape the way you relate to closeness, sexuality, and connection today.
Rather than trying to get back to who you were before, we begin exploring what connection, intimacy, and pleasure can look like for you now.
Rebuilding connectionAs we more deeply understand what's happening and how it impacts your body image, relationships, and sexuality, we begin exploring new ways of reconnecting with yourself, your body, and, when relevant, your partner(s).
Depending on your goals, this may include:
rebuilding trust in your body
deepening emotional and physical intimacy
navigating changes in sexual desire
finding new ways to experience pleasure and connection
strengthening communication around sex and intimacy
developing greater confidence and self-compassion
Everything happens at a pace that feels comfortable for you. There is never pressure to move faster than you're ready for.
Bringing therapy into everyday lifeAt times, I may suggest exercises, reflections, or conversations to continue between sessions. These aren't assignments to complete perfectly. They're opportunities to gently practice what we're exploring in therapy and begin integrating it into your everyday life and relationships.
Meet your sex therapist
in Falls Church, VA
Virtual therapy available throughout Virginia and Washington, DC
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Hi, I’m Lauren. I’m a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in supporting individuals and couples navigating changes in intimacy, sexuality, and connection. Much of my work centers around helping people understand how illness, treatment, and life experiences can shape the way they experience desire, relationships, and their sense of self.
One of the things I hear most often from clients is that they feel disconnected. This disconnection can show up in a lot of different places – your relationship with your body, your sense of self, physical abilities, sex and intimacy, communication, work, or your relationships with others. In particular, illness can completely shift how you move through the world and how you see yourself in it.
In our first session(s), I take the time to get to know you as a whole person (or couple), not just the concern(s) that bring you to therapy. I find that getting to know you, your strengths, your support systems, relationships, and what matters most to you allows us to build a stronger rapport and tailor our work to your unique needs and values.
Therapy with me is often a mix of reflection, deep emotional processing, and practical change. We may explore what has changed the way you experience your body, desire, sexuality, relationships, or sense of self. We may also spend time exploring patterns that keep showing up in your life, work on communication and intimacy, and find ways to reconnect to yourself and others. I typically recommend starting with weekly sessions to give us time to get to know each other, build trust, and create momentum around your goals.
I take a collaborative approach and see therapy as a partnership. Together, we’ll decide on therapy goals, priorities, and home practices. If anything we discuss doesn’t make sense to you or work for your life, I want to know so that we can discuss it in more depth. I find therapy works best when there is honesty, authenticity, and a unique plan tailored to you and your life.
I’m excited to work alongside you and support you in reaching your goals. If you have any questions about therapy or whether we might be a good fit, please reach out. I’d be happy to connect with you.
Curious to learn more?
Check out my
FAQs
If you still have questions, you're not alone. My FAQ page covers many of the things people commonly ask before starting therapy, including fees, services, what to expect, and how to get started.
Let’s connect
Book a free consultation with me
Talking about intimacy can feel vulnerable. Our free 15-minute consultation is simply a chance to connect, answer your questions, and see whether this feels like a supportive place to begin.
→ Request a consultation
Schedule your first appointment
If it feels like a good fit, we'll find a time that works for you and I'll take care of the rest. I'll send everything you need before your first session so you know exactly what to expect.
