Are you currently accepting new clients?

Yes. We are currently welcoming new individual and couples clients across Virginia, Florida, Washington DC, and Maryland — both in person at our Fairfax, VA and Miami, FL offices and via secure telehealth.

What happens during the free consultation?

The free 15-minute consultation is a low-pressure phone call. We'll talk briefly about what brings you in, answer any questions you have about our approach, and help you figure out which therapist might be the best fit. There's no commitment required — it's just a conversation.

How do I schedule a free consultation?

The easiest way is to use our online booking link — you can pick a time that works in about 60 seconds. Click Book a Free Consultation in the navigation bar, or visit our Schedule page. If you'd prefer to reach out first, you can also use our contact page and we'll respond within one business day.

What should I expect in my first paid session?

Your first session is mostly intake — your therapist will ask about your background, what's bringing you in, your goals, and any relevant history. You won't be expected to go deep on your first visit. Think of it as a mutual conversation to understand each other and establish a direction. Sessions are 45–50 minutes depending on your therapist.

What actually happens in a sex therapy session? Will I be asked to do anything sexual?

No — and this is the most common misconception about sex therapy. Sessions are fully clothed, conducted in a standard therapy office or via secure video, and there is no physical contact of any kind. We talk: about your experiences, emotions, relationships, history, and goals. You may be given exercises to practice privately at home between sessions, but nothing happens in the room that wouldn't happen in any other form of therapy.

What is the difference between sex therapy and regular therapy?

Sex therapy is a specialized form of psychotherapy focused on sexual health, functioning, and intimacy. Our therapists hold advanced credentials — including AASECT certification — that go well beyond standard licensure. This training equips them to address concerns like sexual dysfunction, desire discrepancy, sexual trauma, and intimacy in ways that most general therapists are not trained or equipped to do.

Can I come alone if my partner won't join me?

Absolutely. Individual sex therapy is effective and appropriate even when a partner isn't present or isn't ready to participate. Many clients work through deeply personal concerns — sexual trauma, low desire, anxiety, body image, or sexual dysfunction — entirely on their own. If couples work becomes relevant later, that's a conversation we can have when the time is right.

Do I have to talk about things I'm not ready to discuss?

No. You set the pace. Our therapists are trained to follow your lead, and you are never pressured to share more than you're comfortable with. Building a sense of safety in the room is always the first priority — the deeper work follows from there.

How long does therapy typically take?

It depends on your goals. Some clients address a focused concern in 8–12 sessions. Others work with us for a year or more on deeper relational or trauma-related issues. Your therapist will discuss realistic timelines with you early on, and you'll revisit them as the work evolves. Progress is always the measure — not time.

How often will we meet?

Weekly sessions are our standard recommendation. Consistent, regular sessions tend to produce the most meaningful and lasting progress. Bi-weekly scheduling is available in some circumstances. We generally don't recommend monthly sessions — the gap between appointments limits continuity and momentum.

Is everything I share completely confidential?

Yes. Everything discussed in sessions is strictly confidential under HIPAA and professional ethics standards. There are narrow, legally required exceptions — such as if we have reason to believe someone is in immediate danger — and your therapist will explain these clearly in your first session. What you share about your sexuality, relationships, history, or identity will never be disclosed without your explicit written consent.

I'm embarrassed to talk about sex with a stranger. Is that normal?

Completely normal — and expected. Most clients feel some version of this before their first session, and many describe it as the thing they were most worried about. Our therapists have heard it all, and they're specifically trained to make these conversations feel less daunting over time. The free 15-minute consultation is a good first step: a short, low-stakes call that lets you get a sense of us before committing to anything.

Do you work with LGBTQ+ clients and non-traditional relationship structures?

Yes, wholeheartedly. Cushing Counseling is an affirming, judgment-free practice. We welcome clients of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and relationship structures — including non-monogamous, polyamorous, and kink-aware individuals and couples. You do not need to explain or justify who you are here. Our therapists are trained in LGBTQ+ affirming care and approach every client with genuine respect and curiosity.

Do you work with individuals, couples, or both?

Both. We offer individual therapy, couples therapy, and integrated couples and sex therapy. Some clients start individually and bring a partner in later. Others come as a couple from the start. We'll help you figure out the right format during your free consultation.

What does therapy cost?

Session rates vary by therapist: Vanessa Cushing, LPC, CST (AASECT Certified) — $350 / 50 min. Radiance Sanneman, LCPC — $210 / 50 min. Alexandria Da Ponte Cheatham — $175 / 50 min. Noelle Harris, LMSW — $165 / 45 min individual, $220 / couples session. Every new client receives a complimentary 15-minute telephone consultation at no cost.

Do you accept insurance?

We are a private-pay, out-of-network practice and do not bill insurance directly. However, we partner with Thrizer, which allows many clients to use their out-of-network mental health benefits automatically — so you may pay significantly less than the full session rate, depending on your plan.

What is Thrizer and how does it work?

Thrizer is a service that verifies your out-of-network insurance coverage upfront and collects only your estimated share at the time of service. They file the claim automatically after each appointment and your reimbursement comes directly from your insurer. No superbill wrangling, no waiting on reimbursements, no paperwork on your end.

Can I get a superbill to submit to my insurance myself?

Yes. We can provide a superbill at any time — a detailed receipt that includes diagnosis codes, procedure codes, and your therapist's credentials. Just ask your therapist and we'll generate one for any session.

Do you offer sliding scale or reduced rates?

We have a limited number of reduced-fee spots available. If cost is a barrier to starting therapy, please mention it during your free consultation and we'll do our best to find an option that works.

What is your cancellation policy?

We ask for at least 24 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule. Late cancellations and no-shows may be charged the full session fee. We understand that life happens — please just reach out as soon as you know.

What payment methods do you accept?

All fees are collected via credit card on the day of your session, automatically. Your card is kept securely on file — there are no invoices or checks to manage.

Where are your offices located?

We have two physical locations: Fairfax, Virginia — 12875 Yates Ford Rd, Clifton, VA 20124. Miami, Florida — 244 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132. We also see clients throughout Virginia, Florida, Washington DC, and Maryland via secure telehealth.

Do you offer online therapy?

Yes. All of our therapists offer HIPAA-compliant telehealth sessions via secure video. Many clients prefer telehealth for the flexibility and privacy it offers. Session quality and fees are the same whether you meet in person or online.

Is telehealth as effective as in-person therapy?

Research consistently shows that telehealth is equally effective as in-person therapy for the concerns we treat — including sexual dysfunction, trauma, desire issues, and relationship challenges. Many clients actually find it easier to open up from the comfort and privacy of their own space.

What states do you serve via telehealth?

We are currently licensed to see telehealth clients in Virginia, Florida, Washington DC, and Maryland. If you are located outside these states, reach out and we can discuss your options or provide a referral.

How do I choose which therapist to work with?

Start with our About Us page to read about each therapist's training, style, and areas of focus. Practical factors like fee and availability matter too. If you're not sure, mention it during your free consultation — we'll help match you with the best fit. It's also completely fine to try a first session and reassess.

What is AASECT certification?

AASECT stands for the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists. The AASECT Certified Sex Therapist credential is the gold standard in the field. Earning it requires a master's or doctoral degree in a mental health discipline, hundreds of hours of specialized training in human sexuality, supervised clinical hours with a certified supervisor, and ongoing continuing education. Vanessa Cushing holds this certification, placing her among a small number of AASECT-certified sex therapists in the country.

What specialties does the practice cover?

Cushing Counseling therapists collectively specialize in sex therapy and sexual dysfunction, couples therapy and intimacy, trauma therapy and sexual trauma recovery, LGBTQ+ affirming care, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy.

Vanessa Cushing is now an expert reviewer at Woman’s World!!!

Sep 6

Written By Vanessa Cushing

Practice news · Woman's World · 4 min read

Vanessa Cushing Is Now an Expert Reviewer at Woman's World

Woman's World has given Vanessa a standing reviewer page — which means sexual health and relationship articles get checked against clinical judgement before they reach several million readers. Here is what that role actually involves, and why it matters to anyone reading health content online.

Written and clinically reviewed by Vanessa Cushing, LPC, NCC, MS — AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist, licensed in Virginia & Florida. The Cushing Counseling team covers Virginia, DC, Maryland & Florida.

A single teal armchair beside a small wooden table in soft daylight

The short answer

Vanessa Cushing, LPC, NCC, MS, AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist and founder of Cushing Counseling, holds an expert-reviewer page at Woman's World. Articles she reviews carry a “Reviewed by” credit, meaning a licensed clinician checked the claims, framing and safety guidance before publication — the same standard reputable outlets apply to medical coverage.

Book a free 15-minute consultation

The same clinical judgement behind those reviews is what you get in session. Consultations are free and 15 minutes.

What an expert reviewer does

When a health article carries a “Reviewed by” line above the text, it means a credentialed clinician read the piece before it was published and signed their name to it. It is not a courtesy quote and it is not a byline. It is a check.

In practice that means reading a draft for claims that overstate the evidence, framing that would shame a reader out of getting help, missing safety information, and advice that is fine for most people but risky for some. Anything that fails gets flagged and changed, or the credit does not go on.

Vanessa now holds that role at Woman's World for sexual health and relationship coverage, with her own reviewer page at the outlet.

Why this matters if you read health content online

Sexual health is one of the worst-served corners of consumer health writing. The questions are embarrassing enough that people ask the internet instead of a clinician, which is exactly the audience least able to tell a sound article from a confident one.

The practical difference a reviewer makes is usually invisible: a line about pelvic pain that no longer implies the reader caused it, a suggestion softened because it assumes a body or a relationship structure many readers do not have, a paragraph added telling someone when to see a physician rather than try a technique. None of that shows up as a dramatic correction. It just means the article is safe to follow.

So when you see a reviewer credit on a piece about desire, pain, arousal or intimacy, it is worth something. When you do not, treat the advice as a starting point for a conversation with a clinician rather than an instruction.

What she brings to the review

Vanessa Cushing, LPC, NCC, MS, is an AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist, a licensed professional counselor and a clinical supervisor, and the founder of Cushing Counseling, a practice specialising in sex and couples therapy. She trained in Psychology and Women, Gender & Sexuality at the University of Virginia, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa, took her master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Johns Hopkins University, and completed advanced sex therapy training through the University of Michigan.

Clinically, the work is desire and arousal concerns, sexual pain, sexual functioning, intimacy and relationship conflict — delivered through evidence-based sex and couples therapy with an affirming, trauma-informed lens.

Vanessa is licensed in Virginia and Florida. The wider Cushing Counseling team covers Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland and Florida.

Where else her commentary has appeared

The reviewer role sits alongside expert commentary in USA TODAY, the Toronto Sun's Sex Files column, and previous Woman's World features on vaginismus and on sexting motivation, plus full-length podcast interviews and peer-reviewed research. The full record, with links to every original, is on the press page.

Frequently asked questions

What does 'Reviewed by Vanessa Cushing, LPC, NCC, MS' mean on an article?

That a licensed clinician read the piece before publication and checked its claims, framing and safety guidance. It is a fact-check credit, not a byline — the article is written by the outlet's journalist.

Does she write for Woman's World as well?

She holds a contributor and expert-reviewer page at the outlet and is quoted as an expert source in its sexual health and relationship coverage. Reviewed pieces carry her review credit; quoted pieces name her as a source.

What are her credentials?

LPC, NCC, MS — AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist, licensed professional counselor and clinical supervisor. Bachelor's from the University of Virginia (Phi Beta Kappa), master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University, advanced sex therapy training through the University of Michigan.

Which states can she see clients in?

Vanessa is licensed in Virginia and Florida. The Cushing Counseling team as a whole covers Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland and Florida.

Can I book with her?

Yes, if you are in Virginia or Florida. Start with a free 15-minute consultation; if her caseload is full or you are in another state we serve, the intake coordinator will match you with the right therapist on the team.

Keep reading

About Vanessa Cushing, LPC, NCC, MS — AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist, licensed in Virginia and Florida; the Cushing Counseling team covers Virginia, D.C., Maryland and Florida.
Press & Publications — Every outlet that has quoted, published or credited her.
Sex Therapy — What the work involves, and what it costs.
Meet the therapists — Who else is on the team, and where each is licensed.

Also on this site

Clinical resources this page draws on

Woman's World — Vanessa Cushing, LPC, NCC, MS (reviewer page) — Her author and expert-reviewer page at the outlet.
AASECT — Certified sex therapist directory — The certifying body, if you want to verify certification independently.

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