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.

Definition · 9 min read

What is sex therapy? Definition, process, and what it is not

The clinical definition of sex therapy, who is qualified to provide it, what a course of treatment involves, and the four persistent myths that keep people from booking.

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

The short answer

Sex therapy is a specialty within psychotherapy in which a licensed mental health clinician with advanced training in human sexuality treats concerns about desire, arousal, orgasm, sexual pain, and intimacy. Treatment is conversation plus structured at-home exercises. Clients stay clothed and there is no physical contact.

The clinical definition

Formally, sex therapy is the application of psychotherapeutic methods to sexual concerns by a clinician trained in sexuality. Three components have to be present for the term to mean anything: a mental health license issued by a state board, supervised training specific to human sexuality, and a treatment model that addresses sexual function directly rather than treating sex as a symptom of something else.

That third component is what distinguishes sex therapy from general therapy that happens to touch on sex. A general therapist may hear about low desire and work on the relationship or the depression around it. A sex therapist does that too, and also assesses the arousal sequence, the medication list, the pain history, the pelvic floor, the stimulus conditions, and the specific behavioral pattern maintaining the problem.

Who is qualified to provide it

In the United States, the practitioner should hold a clinical license — Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, or licensed psychologist — and, ideally, AASECT certification as a sex therapist. AASECT certification requires graduate clinical training, a sexuality-specific coursework minimum, a supervised clinical hour requirement, and a Sexual Attitude Reassessment process. It is renewed with continuing education.

Titles like 'sexologist,' 'intimacy coach,' 'sex coach,' and 'tantra practitioner' are not licensed, not regulated, and carry no minimum training standard. Some practitioners using them are skilled and ethical. None of them are accountable to a licensing board if something goes wrong, and none can diagnose or bill insurance.

Question	Sex therapist	Sex coach / sexologist
State-licensed	Yes	No
Can diagnose	Yes	No
Bound by HIPAA	Yes	Usually not
Licensing board recourse	Yes	None
Can bill or superbill insurance	Often	No

What a course of treatment looks like

Sessions run 50 to 60 minutes for individuals and 60 to 80 for couples, usually weekly at the start and spacing out as things improve.

Sessions 1–2: intake, history, medical screening, and a concrete goal you both agree is measurable.
Sessions 2–4: assessment and psychoeducation — mapping exactly what happens, in what order, and where it breaks down.
Sessions 4–10: behavioral protocol appropriate to the concern (sensate focus, stop-start, graded exposure, scheduling and stimulus control) plus weekly debriefs.
Sessions 10+: consolidation, relapse planning, and either termination or a shift to the deeper relational or trauma work the symptom was sitting on.

Four things sex therapy is not

It is not surrogate partner therapy. Surrogacy is a separate, rare, and legally fraught practice involving a third party; it is not what a sex therapist does and not what happens in a session.
It is not sex education with a fancier name — though correcting factual gaps is often step one, because a striking number of sexual complaints turn out to rest on inaccurate information.
It is not a couples tune-up that ignores the body. Any sex therapist who never asks about medications, hormones, pain, or pelvic floor function is skipping the differential.
It is not conversion-adjacent. Affirming practice is the standard of care; a therapist treating an orientation, a kink, or a non-monogamous structure as the pathology is practicing outside ethical guidelines.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is sex therapy?

Sex therapy is talk-based psychotherapy provided by a licensed clinician with specialized sexuality training, focused on desire, arousal, orgasm, sexual pain, and intimacy. Treatment combines in-session conversation with structured exercises done privately at home. Clients remain fully clothed and there is no physical contact.

Is sex therapy the same as couples counseling?

No. Couples counseling addresses relationship dynamics broadly. Sex therapy addresses sexual function and intimacy specifically, including the medical and behavioral factors involved. The two overlap and are often done together, but a couples counselor without sexuality training will typically not assess the sexual mechanism itself.

Do you have to be in a relationship to see a sex therapist?

No. Individual sex therapy is common and appropriate for erectile difficulty, ejaculation concerns, orgasm difficulty, low desire, trauma recovery, and clarifying your own preferences. Roughly half of the field's caseload is individual work.

Is sex therapy evidence-based?

Yes for many conditions. Cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based protocols have strong support for low desire and sexual distress; behavioral techniques for premature ejaculation improve outcomes in controlled trials; and combined sex therapy plus pelvic floor physical therapy outperforms either alone for genito-pelvic pain.

How do I know a sex therapist is legitimate?

Verify their clinical license on the state board website for your state, then verify sex therapy certification on the AASECT public directory. Both checks are free and take a few minutes. If either does not confirm, choose someone else.

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