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.

IFS therapy · Couples · 6 min read

IFS for Couples: Healing Relationship Patterns from the Inside Out

When your parts and your partner’s parts collide, the same argument keeps finding its way back. IFS-informed couples work looks underneath the fight to what’s really happening.

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

Two glazed ceramic vessels standing close together, casting overlapping shadows

The short answer

IFS-informed couples work treats a recurring fight as two protective systems triggering each other rather than a disagreement to be settled. Each partner learns to notice their own activated parts in real time, in the room, and to speak from what they notice instead of from the reaction. The pattern becomes something to understand together rather than an argument to win.

Book a free 15-minute consultation

If you already know how the fight goes before it starts, that’s the pattern this work is built for.

Why couples have the same fight over and over

Many recurring arguments aren’t really about the dishes, the schedule, or the tone of a text message. They’re about protective parts responding to each other.

One partner’s manager part (organizing, correcting, pushing for resolution) can activate the other partner’s firefighter part (shutting down, walking away, going silent), which can then activate the first partner’s exile — a fear of being unimportant or unheard. And the cycle repeats.

Researchers at organizations like the Gottman Institute have documented similar pursue-withdraw patterns using different language. IFS offers one way to understand what’s driving them from the inside.

What IFS brings to couples work

Applying parts language to a relationship shifts the question. Instead of “who started it,” it becomes “which part of each of us shows up when this happens, and what is it trying to protect?”

That means the work happens on two levels at once: each partner’s internal system, and the dynamic running between them — with the goal of both partners feeling heard and understood, two needs that in a struggling relationship can start to feel mutually exclusive.

What an IFS-informed couples session can look like

Rather than moderating who’s right in an argument, the therapist helps each partner slow down and notice their own activated parts in real time — often before turning back to their partner to share what they’ve noticed, rather than what they’re reacting to.

Both partners do this work in the room together, which can shift a conflict from an argument to be won into a pattern to be understood.

What this can help with

Recurring arguments that never fully resolve
Feeling unheard or dismissed by the person closest to you
One or both partners shutting down under conflict
Mismatched needs for closeness or space
Rebuilding trust after infidelity or betrayal

A note on what this isn’t

IFS-informed couples work isn’t mediation, and the therapist isn’t there to decide who’s right.

It’s also not a substitute for individual trauma work if one partner is carrying significant unprocessed history. That may be recommended alongside or before couples sessions, depending on what’s happening for each person.

Frequently asked questions

Is this different from regular couples counseling?

The goals overlap — a healthier relationship — but the method is different. Rather than focusing mainly on communication skills, IFS-informed work focuses on what’s happening inside each partner that drives the pattern.

Do both partners need to already understand IFS?

No. Your therapist will introduce the language and concepts as they become relevant; no prior knowledge is expected.

Can this help after an affair or betrayal?

It can be part of that process. Betrayal trauma recovery often involves its own pacing and considerations beyond typical couples work, so it’s worth naming directly in a consultation.

What if my partner doesn’t believe in “parts” language?

That’s common, and it’s fine. Your therapist can work with whatever language feels natural to each of you; the concepts matter more than the vocabulary.

Keep reading

IFS Therapy (Internal Family Systems) — The pillar page: what IFS is, who it helps, and how we practice it.
Parts, Exiles & Self (glossary) — The plain-language vocabulary behind parts work.
What to Expect in an IFS Therapy Session — A session-by-session walkthrough, with no surprises.

Also on this site

About Vanessa Cushing, LPC, NCC, MS — AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist, licensed in Virginia, D.C., Maryland and Florida.
Book a free consultation — A short call to work out whether this approach fits what you're carrying.

Clinical resources this page draws on

IFS Institute — The training and certification body for the Internal Family Systems model.

Next step

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