Bethesda · Montgomery County · 5 min read
Sex Therapist in Bethesda, Maryland
Sex therapy for individuals and couples, in person on Old Georgetown Road or by secure video. A place to talk honestly about what feels difficult.
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.
The short answer
Cushing Counseling offers sex therapy in Bethesda, Maryland, with in-person appointments at 7700 Old Georgetown Rd, Suite 675, and secure video for Maryland clients. Individuals and couples can discuss desire, sexual difficulties and intimacy with a clinician authorised to practise in Maryland. Start with a free consultation to explore fit.
Book a free 15-minute consultation
Tell us whether you prefer the Bethesda office or video so we can match you appropriately.
You can be doing well in life and still feel stuck here
You may be managing a career and caring for family while intimacy is the part nobody talks about. Maybe sex has become stressful, one of you feels pressured, or a change in your body has left you feeling unlike yourself. You do not need to justify how much this matters.
You can come alone, with a partner, or unsure which makes sense. A sexual concern does not have to threaten a relationship to deserve care.
In-person sex therapy on Old Georgetown Road
Our office is at 7700 Old Georgetown Rd, Suite 675, Bethesda, MD 20814. Clients are seen here in person. Secure video is also available for Maryland clients.
Bethesda, Chevy Chase, North Bethesda, Kensington, Rockville, Potomac and Silver Spring are communities we serve, not additional office locations. In-person availability depends on the clinician and appointment. Tell us your preferred format and confirm the location before travelling. The Maryland contact page below has directions.
What you can bring to therapy
The goal is not a prescribed amount of sex or a particular relationship structure. It is to understand what is happening and work toward changes you choose. Care is LGBTQ+ affirming and consent-centred.
- Low desire or different levels of desire between partners
- Erectile difficulty, ejaculation concerns or performance anxiety
- Orgasm difficulties or pain with sex
- Intimacy changes after childbirth, menopause, illness or treatment
- Sexual shame, body image or difficulty discussing preferences
- Questions about identity, kink or consensual non-monogamy
When the relationship needs attention too
Sometimes the sexual concern sits inside a pattern of arguments, resentment or lost trust. Couples work helps you examine that pattern without making either partner the problem. Our Maryland couples guide below offers another way into the conversation.
Choosing your Maryland clinician
The practice was founded by Vanessa Cushing, LPC, NCC, MS, an AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist with graduate training at Johns Hopkins. Maryland clients are matched with a clinician authorised to practise in Maryland. Practice-wide coverage is not an individual licence.
Radiance Sanneman works with adults individually on trauma, anxiety and identity, using Internal Family Systems among other approaches; she does not offer couples therapy. Noelle Harris works with individuals and couples on sexuality and connection, practises under supervision and currently has a waitlist. For online sex and couples therapy, ask about Dr. Elizabeth Wolfe. Her sessions are online only, not in the Bethesda office.
Tell us your concern, preferred format and whether you need individual or couples care. We will discuss availability rather than assume every clinician is interchangeable. The team page below has current profiles.
Your first session: conversation, not performance
You can start with what has changed or what you wish felt easier. Your clinician asks about your history, relationships and goals. You can decline a question, slow down or say you are not ready. Private exercises between sessions may be suggested, but they are not a test.
Sex therapy involves no sexual contact, undressing or observation of sexual activity. Pain, sudden changes in sexual function or possible medication effects may also need medical assessment. Do not stop or change medication without your prescriber.
Fees, privacy and the next step
Cushing Counseling is out-of-network. Fees depend on your clinician and session type; the Fees & FAQs page below lists current rates. Ask your insurer about benefits and superbills—reimbursement is not guaranteed.
Therapy is confidential, with legal and safety exceptions your clinician explains. Ask about records, insurance documentation and privacy before committing. A free consultation lets you discuss fit and office or video availability without having to tell your whole story.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see a sex therapist in person in Bethesda?
Yes. In-person appointments are offered at 7700 Old Georgetown Rd, Suite 675, Bethesda, MD 20814. Confirm clinician-specific availability and location when booking.
Can I attend alone if my partner is not ready?
Yes. Individual therapy can explore your concerns and goals. Your clinician can discuss whether involving a partner later would help; it is not a requirement to begin.
Can we work online instead?
Yes. Secure video is available to Maryland clients with an appropriately authorised clinician. You must be physically in a jurisdiction your clinician can serve during the appointment.
Does sex therapy involve touching or sexual activity?
No. It is talk therapy. There is no sexual contact, undressing or observation of sexual activity in sessions.
Does insurance cover sessions?
The practice is out-of-network. Your plan may offer reimbursement, but coverage is not guaranteed. Confirm benefits with your insurer and the current fee with the practice.
Keep reading
- Sex therapy across Maryland
- Couples therapy in Maryland
- Trauma therapy in Maryland
- IFS therapy in Bethesda
- Sex therapist near me
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Next step
Not sure where to start? Take the free 6-question assessment, or book a 15-minute consultation.