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 · Sexual trauma · 7 min read

IFS for Sexual Trauma: Healing the Parts That Carry What Happened

Sexual trauma often leaves parts of you on guard, numbed out, or carrying shame that was never yours to carry. IFS-informed therapy works with those parts directly, at a pace you control.

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

IFS-informed therapy for sexual trauma treats the after-effects — hypervigilance, shutdown, shame, disconnection from your body — as protective parts doing a job, not as evidence something is wrong with you. Rather than retelling the story of what happened in detail before you’re ready, the work starts with building a relationship with the parts holding the pain, and with Self — the calm, curious core IFS holds that everyone has access to — so the exiled pain can be witnessed and unburdened at a pace the system can tolerate.

Book a free 15-minute consultation

If your body still reacts to things your mind has “moved past,” that gap is what this work addresses directly.

How sexual trauma gets carried in parts

IFS understands the mind as made up of parts, each with its own perspective and role. After sexual trauma, some parts commonly show up in predictable ways.

None of these parts are the problem. They formed to protect you, often when you had no other way to cope. IFS treats them as allies to build a relationship with, not symptoms to eliminate.

Protector parts that stay hypervigilant — scanning for danger, struggling to relax into touch or intimacy, or bracing even in safe situations.
Firefighter parts that numb, dissociate, avoid, or shut down entirely when something feels too close to the original experience.
Managers that keep everything under tight control — overachieving, over-explaining, or avoiding anything that might trigger a reaction.
Exiled parts that carry the actual pain, fear, or shame from what happened, often frozen at the age or moment it occurred.

What IFS brings to sexual trauma recovery

A key difference from some trauma approaches is pacing: IFS-informed therapy doesn’t require recounting the traumatic event in detail to begin healing. Protector parts are engaged first, with their consent, before any work with the more vulnerable exiled parts happens — which is intended to reduce the risk of re-traumatization or feeling overwhelmed.

The aim isn’t to erase the memory but to help the parts still carrying fear, shame, or frozen reactions release burdens they’ve held, often for years, so they’re no longer running the show in the present — including in current relationships and intimacy.

What an IFS-informed session for sexual trauma can look like

Sessions typically start by getting to know your system: which parts tend to show up, what they’re protecting against, and what they’re afraid would happen if they stepped back.

Your therapist helps you access Self — the part of you that can stay curious and grounded — before any work with more vulnerable material begins. The pace is set collaboratively, and protector parts are never bypassed to “get to” the trauma faster.

What this can help with

Difficulty feeling present or safe during intimacy
Hypervigilance, startle responses, or bracing that doesn’t match the current moment
Shame that feels disproportionate to what you can logically explain
Numbness or disconnection from your body
Avoidance of touch, closeness, or sex altogether
Trauma responses that surface unexpectedly within a relationship

A note on what this isn’t

IFS-informed therapy for sexual trauma is not exposure therapy, and it doesn’t require you to recount details before you’re ready.

It’s also not a fast process; unburdening work happens at the pace protector parts allow, which varies person to person. If there’s an acute safety concern or a very recent trauma, your therapist will talk with you about what kind of support and pacing makes sense first.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to describe what happened to start this work?

No. IFS-informed therapy typically begins by getting to know your protective parts, not by requiring a detailed account of the traumatic event.

Is this the same as EMDR?

No — this practice’s core trauma approach is IFS (Internal Family Systems). IFS works by building a relationship with the parts of you holding the pain, at a pace your protective parts set.

How long does this kind of work usually take?

It varies. Pacing is set by your protective parts rather than by a fixed number of sessions, so this is something to talk through directly with your therapist rather than something we can promise a timeline for.

Can this help even if the trauma happened a long time ago?

Yes. Parts can carry burdens for decades regardless of how long ago the event occurred; time since the trauma isn’t a barrier to starting this work.

Will my partner be involved?

Not unless you want them to be. This page describes individual work; if rebuilding trust and intimacy with a partner is also part of what you’re working on, our IFS for Couples page may be relevant alongside this.

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.
IFS vs. CBT vs. Somatic Therapy — How these approaches compare, and how they work together.
IFS for Couples — When trauma recovery also involves a partner.
Sexual Trauma Therapy — Our broader approach to sexual trauma treatment.

Also on this site

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.
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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