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.

Miami · 6 min read

How to Choose a Sex Therapist in Miami

What the credentials actually mean, which questions separate a specialist from a generalist, and the two things that should end a consult call.

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

Soft folds of warm cream linen in low raking light

The short answer

Look for two things in combination: a Florida mental health licence, and AASECT certification specifically in sex therapy. The licence means they can practise; the certification means sexual health is their trained specialism rather than a listed interest. Almost everything else — office location, modality, price — matters less than that pairing.

Start with the two credentials that matter

A directory profile listing 'intimacy' or 'sexuality' among twenty other specialisms is not the same thing. It usually means the clinician is willing to work on it, not that they were trained to.

A Florida licence — LMHC, LCSW, LMFT or psychologist. Verify it on the state's licence lookup rather than taking a website's word for it.
AASECT certification as a sex therapist. This is a separate, deliberate credential requiring supervised hours in sexual health specifically. AASECT maintains a public directory you can check a name against.

Questions worth asking on the consult call

You are not testing them. You are listening for whether the answers are specific. A specialist will describe a process; a generalist tends to describe a relationship.

How many clients are you currently seeing for this specific concern?
What does the first month of treatment usually look like for a problem like ours?
Do you assign work between sessions, and what kind?
When do you refer to a physician, and who do you work alongside?
Are you seeing us as a couple, individually, or both — and how do you decide?

Red flags

Any suggestion of physical contact, nudity, undressing, or a demonstration. Sex therapy never involves this. Leave the call.
A guaranteed outcome or a fixed number of sessions promised before an assessment has happened.
Discomfort with explicit language. If a clinician cannot say the words, they cannot do the work.
No mention of medical coordination for a problem with an obvious physical dimension.
Advice framed as a moral position on your relationship structure, orientation, or kink rather than a clinical one.

In person or by video

In Miami you can realistically have both, and the choice matters less than people expect. Sex therapy is heavily home-based — the work happens between sessions — so the session itself is a conversation and a review. Video suits it well, and for clients who are worried about being recognised in a waiting room, it is often what makes starting possible at all.

The one constraint is legal rather than clinical: you have to be physically in a state where the clinician is licensed at the time of the session.

Frequently asked questions

Are there many AASECT-certified sex therapists in Miami?

Fewer than the size of the metro would suggest. Certification takes years of specific supervised work on top of a licence, so the certified population in any city is small. Search the AASECT directory for Florida and you will see the whole list quickly.

Is a sexologist the same as a sex therapist?

No. 'Sexologist' is not a protected title in Florida and carries no required licence. A sex therapist holds a mental health licence and, when certified, an AASECT credential on top of it. The titles are used interchangeably online, and they should not be.

Should we see the same therapist as a couple?

Usually yes. Working with one clinician who holds both perspectives is generally more effective than two therapists coordinating, and part of the value is that the therapist hears both accounts of the same event.

Keep reading

Sex Therapy in Miami — The main Miami page — who we work with, how sessions run, and how to start.
Sex Therapy vs Couples Therapy
About Vanessa Cushing, LPC, NCC, MS — AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist, licensed in Florida, Virginia, D.C. and Maryland.

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