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.

Press & media

Press & Publications

Where Vanessa Cushing has been asked to comment, publish and go on the record — national press, full-length podcast interviews and peer-reviewed research.

As featured in

Cosmopolitan
USA TODAY
Yahoo
Woman's World
Toronto Sun
Sexual Health Alliance
Voyage MIA
iHeartRadio
Apple Podcasts
PubMed

14press features & articles
15podcast episodes
7recorded, releasing soon
1peer-reviewed study

Vanessa Cushing, LPC, NCC, MS

AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist. MS, Johns Hopkins University. Certificate in Sex Therapy, University of Michigan. Licensed in Florida, Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Journalists call a sex therapist when a story needs someone who can talk about desire, consent and intimacy without flinching or moralising. Podcast hosts call for the same reason, and give her longer to do it. Below is every place that has happened — press quotes, invited articles, full-length podcast episodes and peer-reviewed research — each one linking straight to the original, so you can read or listen to the whole thing rather than take our word for it.

Press & features

USA TODAY

February 12, 2026 | Expert commentary

Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi and the smutification of 'Wuthering Heights'

On why a sexy literary adaptation set off a culture-wide argument — and what the split reaction says about how politicised sex has become.

“What we're seeing isn't just disagreement about a film. We're watching, in real time, a global society negotiating the meaning of sex, art and identity inside systems designed to amplify reaction rather than reflection.”— Vanessa Cushing, licensed professional counselor and certified sex therapist, in USA TODAY

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USA TODAY

January 29, 2025 | Expert commentary

Sick of having boring sex? There might be a fix to spice things up in the bedroom.

On what actually keeps a long-term sex life from going flat — and why communication, not gadgetry, is the thing that moves the needle.

“The most important thing about keeping your sex life exciting is keeping an open line of communication. Having your partner know what turns you on and off and knowing that about them is key.”— Vanessa Cushing, licensed professional counselor, in USA TODAY

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USA TODAY

October 5, 2023 | Expert commentary

'Cat Person' and the problem with having sex with someone just to 'get it over with'

Asked about the consent dynamics at the centre of the Cat Person film: what it costs someone to go through with sex they don't want in order to avoid an awkward moment.

“Everything is wrong with the decision to have sex to just get it over with. It annihilates genuine connection and authenticity, it subverts desire and it reinforces dangerous gender roles that lead to female sexual oppression.”— Vanessa Cushing, licensed professional counselor, in USA TODAY

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USA TODAY

February 14, 2022 | Expert commentary

Yes, people are seeking out sex therapy. It's nothing to be ashamed of.

On the shame that keeps people out of a sex therapist's office for years, and why a clinician's job is to believe a client's distress rather than rank it.

“If someone says that they're in distress, we want to believe them, and we don't want to invalidate their distress.”— Vanessa Cushing, then a resident in counseling, in USA TODAY

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Yahoo

September 21, 2026 | Expert commentary

Posing for Playboy is a celebrity flex again. But this isn’t your dad’s magazine.

Yahoo asked Vanessa what the relaunched Playboy — with Charli xcx, Cara Delevingne and Karol G on its covers and women and queer readers in its audience — actually changes about sexual imagery. Her answer: context, sexual scripts and who the image is designed to serve, plus why Gen Z can be fascinated by sexuality while being highly selective about sex.

“Sexual imagery does not have one fixed meaning. Who is looking, who is being looked at, who created the image and whose pleasure the image is designed to serve all influence how we experience it.”— Vanessa Cushing, a licensed counselor and sex therapist, in Yahoo

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Woman's World

September 20, 2026 | Expert commentary

Baby Boomers Are Reporting the Most Satisfying Sex Lives—How To Make Sure You’re One of Them

On why sex often gets better after 60 once couples stop treating intercourse as a pass-or-fail test, and what actually helps with the three most common age-related changes — joint pain and low energy, a longer arousal timeline, and vaginal dryness. Vanessa is also the article’s expert reviewer.

“In their 20s and 30s, most couples treat intercourse as a pass or fail test. With age, that predictability naturally declines for both partners. Counterintuitively, that’s often what unlocks more pleasure—not less.”— Vanessa Cushing, AASECT-certified sex and couples therapist and founder at Cushing Counseling, in Woman's World

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Woman's World

September 4, 2026 | Expert commentary

Sexting Can Strengthen Your Relationship—How To Get Started Without Embarrassment

On new research separating sexting done out of desire from sexting done out of fear, the self-check questions that tell you which one you are doing, and the honest conversation couples should have about intimate images before they send any.

“The distinction is less about timing and more about whether it’s coming from wanting your partner or fearing what happens if you don’t reach out.”— Vanessa Cushing, AASECT-certified sex & couples therapist and founder at Cushing Counseling, in Woman's World

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Woman's World

Ongoing, from September 2026 | Expert reviewer

Vanessa Cushing, LPC, NCC, MS — Expert Reviewer, Woman's World

Woman's World gave Vanessa a standing contributor and expert-reviewer page. Sexual health and relationship articles are fact-checked against her clinical judgement before publication, and her reviewer credit appears on the pieces she signs off.

“Vanessa Cushing, LPC, NCC, CST, is an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, licensed professional counselor, clinical supervisor, and the founder of Cushing Counseling, a private practice specializing in sex and couples therapy.”— Vanessa Cushing, LPC, NCC, MS — AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, in Woman's World

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Woman's World

August 2026 | Expert commentary

Painful Sex? It Could Be Vaginismus. Here's How To Treat It

On what vaginismus actually feels like, why it is not always a trauma response, and why treatment has to address the nervous system rather than the muscle alone.

“The most common turning point is when a patient stops seeing her body as broken and starts seeing the tightening as a protective reflex that can be retrained.”— Vanessa Cushing, certified sex therapist, in Woman's World

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Toronto Sun

August 9, 2026 | Expert commentary

Digital divorce: Hand back the keys and passwords after you breakup

In the Sex Files column, on why exes hold on to shared passwords, location sharing and streaming logins long after the breakup — and the one question that tells you whether your 'harmless' digital lingering has crossed a line.

“For some people, retained access is about control — a way to keep monitoring, influencing, or having leverage over an ex-partner even after the relationship has ended, sometimes consciously and sometimes not.”— Vanessa Cushing, Licensed Professional Counsellor and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, in Toronto Sun

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Sexual Health Alliance

June 26, 2026 | Invited guest article

What It Actually Takes to Build a Sex Therapy Practice: A Clinical and Business Perspective

An invited guest article for one of the field's certifying bodies, on what separates sex therapy practices that last from the ones that fold — certification, niche, and the business frame most clinicians are never taught.

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Voyage MIA Magazine

June 2026 | Feature interview

Community Highlights: Meet Vanessa Cushing of Cushing Counseling

A long-form Miami interview on how the practice started, the clinical training behind it, and why she built a practice around the conversations most therapists route elsewhere.

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Psychologist Brief

2026 | Expert commentary

First therapy session openers that build trust without skipping history

A clinician Q&A on opening a first session — her contribution was on leading with steady, disarming humour instead of working down a checklist.

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Cosmopolitan

September 25, 2026 | Expert commentary

Experts Want You to Ignore This TikTok Dating Advice That Could Ruin Your Relationship

Cosmopolitan asked Vanessa to unpack viral TikTok dating “rules” doing more harm than good — including the idea of choosing partners for what they can provide. She acknowledges why it resonates, since women often carry most of the emotional labor, chores and childcare, and explains why it backfires.

“When we get into seeking partners based on what they can provide it creates a dynamic where the relationship becomes transactional.”— Vanessa Cushing, AASECT certified sex & couples therapist, in Cosmopolitan

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Podcasts & long-form conversations

15 full-length episodes, newest first — affair recovery, desire discrepancy, sexual trauma, disability and pleasure, dissociation during sex, and what actually happens in a sex therapist's office.

Talk Sex with Annette

July 8, 2026 | Podcast episode | with Annette Benedetti

She Checks Out During Sex. Here's Why — And How to Bring Her Back

Dissociation during sex: what is actually happening in the body when a partner goes somewhere you can't follow, why it isn't about attraction, and how to come back from it.

Listen to the episode →All episodes
The Intimacy Lab

November 2023 | Podcast episode

The Clinician's Experience in Surrogate Partner Therapy

With surrogate partner Michelle Renee, on working together inside the triadic model of surrogate partner therapy — and what it takes to help a client go deeper.

Listen to the episode →
Vagina Whispering

September 23, 2026 | Podcast episode | with Jen and Noelle

Blowjobs & Granola: What Keeps Couples Connected

With hosts Jen and Noelle: desire discrepancy, painful sex, safety, sexual trauma, menopause and touch — plus the questions Vanessa asks couples in sex therapy, and why the way back to desire is often less about more sex than about rebuilding connection and appreciation.

Listen to the episode →
Dildo Whisperer

August 12, 2026 | Podcast episode | with Romaine Patterson

The Truth About Sex Therapy with Vanessa Cushing

What actually happens inside a sex therapist's office — and why sex therapy is not only for couples in crisis. An honest walk through the work most people never hear described out loud.

Listen to the episode →All episodes
Stronger Marriage Connection

August 10, 2026 | Podcast episode | with Dave Schramm & Liz Hale — Utah Marriage Commission

Rebuilding Desire In Your Marriage (Episode 189)

A state-commission marriage podcast on desire discrepancy, performance anxiety, pornography and sexual trauma — and how shame and avoidance quietly create distance in a long marriage.

Listen to the episode →All episodes
Spaghetti on the Wall

July 30, 2026 | Podcast episode

Why Healthy Intimacy Starts With Honest Conversations | #379 With Vanessa Cushing

A full-episode conversation on healthy relationships, intimacy challenges, trauma recovery, and how AI is reshaping sexual health education.

Listen to the episode →
Three Minute Therapy

July 28, 2026 | Podcast episode | with Dr. Michael R. Edelstein

373. REBT and Sexual Relationships

With psychologist Dr. Michael Edelstein, co-author of Three Minute Therapy: how the thoughts we tell ourselves about sex shape desire, anxiety and connection, and where a sex therapist's lens meets rational emotive behavior therapy.

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Ghosted, Gagged and Gay!

July 21, 2026 | Podcast episode

Sex Is Easier Than Intimacy?! Trauma, Shame & the Sex Scripts

A 47-minute episode with host Lonay Halloum and trauma/IFS therapist Radiance Sanneman, on how trauma and shame shape dating patterns, nervous systems and the sex scripts we inherit.

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I Choose Health Podcast

July 17, 2026 | Podcast episode | with Stefan Lessie

#80 — You Are NOT Obligated to Have Sex: Healing Sexual Trauma

The most personal interview she has given: surviving a sexual assault at 19, being dismissed by the institution meant to protect her, and turning that into the work she does now with survivors.

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Dating, Relationships, and Disability

July 14, 2026 | Podcast episode | with Kathy O'Connell

251 — “Permission to Feel Pleasure”: Sexuality, Disability & Desire

On sexual erasure in disability care: defining healthy sexuality as connection over performance, what enthusiastic consent actually requires, and why disabled adults are so often written out of the conversation entirely.

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From Both Sides Of The Couch

July 2026 | Podcast episode

Episode 88 — Why Intimacy Breaks Down: The Truth About Trauma, Desire, and Sex Therapy

With host Laurie Bruce, PsyD: why intimacy stalls when the nervous system doesn't feel safe, and what dysregulation actually does to desire.

Listen to the episode →
Shootin' the Shit with Susan

June 24, 2026 | Podcast episode

Solutions for Mismatched Libido

A live conversation with Susan Taylor on desire discrepancy — what actually helps when two partners want sex at different rates.

Listen to the episode →
Kelly Oliver Dougall

May 30, 2026 | Podcast episode | with Kelly Oliver Dougall

Why 80% of Couples Survive Affairs (And the Truth About Relationship Power Dynamics)

Affair recovery and desire discrepancy: how couples get locked into a multi-year blame cycle after betrayal, and what it takes to move back into a team.

Listen to the episode →All episodes
Female Entrepreneurs Magazine

February 3, 2026 | Podcast episode | with Angel France — Female Entrepreneurs Magazine

How Vanessa Cushing Built an AI Platform in a Stigmatized Industry

The founder story: going from licensed therapist to building an AI platform in one of the most stigmatized industries there is — and what persistence, integrity and solving a real problem actually cost.

Listen to the episode →All episodes
Better Sex

August 25, 2025 | Podcast episode | with Jessa Zimmerman

317 — Sex Therapy in the Digital Age

Where AI helps and where it must not be trusted: accessibility gaps in sexual health information, trauma-informed care, the hard limits of AI in mental health, and why the goal is still getting people to a clinician with less shame.

Listen to the episode →All episodes

Recorded — releasing soon

These interviews are in the can and waiting on the host's release schedule. Links go to each show; the episode will be added here the day it drops.

Intimate Conversationswith Allana Pratt

Desire, self-worth and the stories people carry into the bedroom.

Recorded July 7, 2026
Three Minute Therapywith Dr. Michael R. Edelstein

Short-form clinical answers on sexual difficulty and shame.

Recorded July 28, 2026
Loving Strategieswith Phillip Athens

What actually rebuilds intimacy after a long disconnect.

Recorded July 14, 2026
Invisible Not Broken — Chronic Illness Podcast Networkwith Monica Michelle & Eva

Sex, pain and chronic illness: pleasure when the body is unpredictable.

Recorded July 15, 2026
Vagina Whisperingwith Jen & Noelle

Vaginismus, pelvic pain and the nervous-system reframe.

Recorded August 26, 2026
Hot Mess Espressowith Heather Herington

Desire in midlife, and why libido changes are not a verdict.

Recorded September 10, 2026
Strictly Anonymouswith Kathy Kay

Anonymous listener questions, answered by a sex therapist.

Recorded September 10, 2026

Peer-reviewed research

Psychology of Addictive Behaviors

March 2018 | Peer-reviewed research

Using counterattitudinal advocacy to change drinking: A pilot study

Peer-reviewed research in an American Psychological Association journal, testing whether asking people to argue against their own drinking habits changes them.

DiBello AM, Carey KB, Cushing V. Using counterattitudinal advocacy to change drinking: A pilot study. Psychol Addict Behav. 2018 Mar;32(2):244–248. doi:10.1037/adb0000334

Read it →

Soft folds of warm cream linen in low raking light — Available for interviews, expert commentary and background.

Working with the press

Vanessa Cushing, Licensed Professional Counselor, AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist, is available for interviews, expert commentary and background on sexual health, desire, consent and couples work. She holds an MS from Johns Hopkins University and a Certificate in Sex Therapy from the University of Michigan, and is licensed in Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland and Florida.

Booking a podcast? She comes prepared with the segment topic, the clinical framing and the parts listeners actually write in about — and she is comfortable taking live listener questions.

For media enquiries, call (703) 544-7081 or use the contact form. Deadline requests are welcome — say the outlet and the deadline in the first line and they get answered first.

Not a journalist?

If you came here to size us up before booking — fair enough. Start with the free 6-question assessment, or book a 15-minute consultation.

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