You miss your partner. The mental load, mounting resentments, and the pace of Bay Area life can make intimacy feel like a chore. No matter what you do, the same fights keep pushing you apart.
Sex therapy in San Francisco can help you rebuild trust, improve communication, and reignite the spark that brought you together in the first place.
One of the most eye-opening lessons I learned in graduate school at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles was this: The biggest factor in a client’s success isn’t the type of therapy, the technique, or even the duration. It’s the strength of the therapeutic relationship.
Don’t let old patterns and past experiences stand between you & your partner. Intimacy & sex therapy will support you to be open and free without fear of rejection. Book a introductory call to start reconnecting with your partner today.
My husband now wants to cuddle and we are enjoying a lot more physical contact naturally. Because we are closer now, we are having more sex!
We’re more authentically connected for the 1st time in our entire relationship, and the entire culture of our family is happier and joyful!
When life in San Francisco moves fast, your relationship can start to feel like just another task on your to-do list. You used to feel that rush of excitement when you saw each other… maybe on date nights in North Beach or trips to Napa, but now you feel more like roommates.
Evidence-based sex therapy and relationship counseling can help you become stronger partners… even if your week is packed with after-school activities, or board meetings in Palo Alto. Reconnect from wherever you are in California.
Being playful and having fun again would be amazing. You want to get the spark back. Yet, the defenses win almost every time. Bring back the ease and desire that once felt effortless. The idea of losing each other is heartbreaking. Life is better together.
Married. Engaged. Long-term committed. Straight. Bi. Gay. Neurodivergent. Polyamorous.
Improve your bond no matter what your relationship looks like.
– QUEER COUPLE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
DEBBIE CHERRY, LMFT
Sex therapy helps individuals and couples explore sexuality, sexual intimacy, and communication in a safe and supportive space with a licensed marriage and family therapist. Together, we address sexual concerns, sexual problems, and relationship challenges such as diminished interest, desire discrepancy, or performance anxiety that affect connection and emotional intimacy.
Through a compassionate, sex-positive, and evidence-based approach, I integrate emotionally focused therapy, talk therapy, and the latest cutting-edge modalities to help you gain self-awareness, heal from childhood sexual abuse or past trauma, and build healthier intimate relationships that support relational wellness and mental health.
Whether you’re working through erectile dysfunction, painful sex, or chronic pain, or navigating issues like porn addiction, ethical non-monogamy, or alternative lifestyles, sex therapy can help you improve communication, reduce shame, and deepen attachment bonds. It’s a safe environment where you can talk openly about your personal experiences, body-based shame, and the full human experience of sexuality.
Finding the right therapist is key to healing. I offer a free 15-minute consultation for new clients who want to learn more about working together in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Yes. I provide secure, confidential online therapy sessions throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including Berkeley, Palo Alto, and San Mateo. Online sex therapy allows you to explore sexuality and intimacy at your own pace, from the comfort of home, while maintaining privacy and safety.
Research shows online therapy is as effective as in-person care. Being in your own space helps you feel comfortable discussing sexual health, relationship patterns, gender identity issues, or perinatal and postpartum sexuality. Many clients, including tech professionals balancing modern life demands, find online sessions easier for addressing sexual intimacy difficulties and experiencing healing sooner.
Individuals and couples seek sex therapy for a broad range of concerns, including:
Therapy provides a supportive space to practice effective communication, reduce conflict, and rebuild trust. Through couples counseling or relationship coaching, we focus on restoring sexual connection, emotional intimacy, and relational wellness.
General counseling explores overall mental health, while sex therapy focuses specifically on sexual health, intimacy challenges, and sexuality. It combines talk therapy, clinical psychology, and family systems work to address both emotional and physical aspects of intimacy.
Unlike traditional counseling, sex therapy helps you strengthen communication skills, navigate complex relationship structures, and foster safe and supportive relationships. You’ll learn practical strategies for conflict resolution, emotional regulation, and a deeper understanding of yourself and your partner — creating a healthier, more fulfilling sex life.
Ready to explore your next step? Build a deeper connection, improve communication, and rediscover pleasure. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation today.
Not all therapy feels effective. Many couples have tried sessions that felt like “just talking.” My approach blends evidence-based methods like emotionally focused therapy, attachment-based tools, and solution-focused therapy with body-based practices to help you feel results more quickly.
Every intimate relationship has its own experimental dynamic. Some partners struggle with low self-esteem or anxiety; others face challenges around sex and sexuality difficulties or long-standing patterns shaped by modern life stress. Through compassionate, research-backed methods, we strengthen understanding, healing, and hope.
You can read client success stories and experiences from couples throughout the Bay Area who’ve reconnected and rebuilt intimacy together.
Each relationship is unique. Some clients find improvement in just a few sessions, while others benefit from several months of regular therapy. Many begin feeling relief and renewed hope after the first appointment.
For some, sex therapy serves as short-term repair for specific sexual concerns; for others, it’s a journey of growth, healing, and rediscovery. The goal is always the same — deeper intimacy, personal growth, emotional connection, and lasting relational wellness.
Yes. I offer flexible scheduling, including weekend appointments, to meet the needs of Bay Area couples balancing demanding careers, families, and tech-driven lifestyles. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, caregiver, or creative, therapy can fit your schedule and help you prioritize connection and healing.
In your first session, you’ll share your history, sexual concerns, and goals for growth. We’ll explore your relationship dynamics, intimacy challenges, and past experiences that may shape current patterns.
The first session creates a safe and supportive space for discussing sexuality, relationship challenges, or body-based shame without judgment. Together, we’ll begin uncovering barriers to pleasure, safety, and emotional intimacy.
Yes. Each session includes actionable, evidence-based tools designed to improve your sex life and emotional bond. Examples include:
These tools help couples integrate awareness and intimacy into daily life — improving both emotional closeness and sexual well-being.
Absolutely. I work with individuals and couples of all genders, orientations, and relationship structures. As a queer-affirming therapist, I welcome diverse relationships including LGBTQ partnerships, poly relationships, and ethical non-monogamy.
My practice celebrates diversity and honors each client’s self-awareness, gender identity, and expression. I provide an affirming space to explore sexuality, relational wellness, and alternative lifestyles while deepening intimacy and mutual respect.
No. A licensed family therapist remains neutral. The goal isn’t to take sides but to help both partners better understand each other, reduce pain, and build emotional safety. Even in the face of concerns like extramarital affairs or diminished desire, the focus is on compassion, communication, and rebuilding trust.
No. Many couples begin proactively, before reaching crisis. Therapy supports healthy communication and intimacy — helping couples reconnect, prevent misunderstandings, and strengthen their relationship before deeper issues develop.
Sex therapy can also help individuals improve confidence, understand their sexuality, and create a more balanced and fulfilling life.
Sometimes. Insurance may cover therapy related to mental health diagnoses such as anxiety, depression, or trauma. However, sessions focused primarily on sexual health or relationship concerns are rarely covered.
Many clients choose private pay to maintain privacy and prioritize healing, growth, and relational wellness without requiring a mental health label.
Sessions typically range from $175–$350 per 50-minute session. Many clients see this as an investment in their relationship health — often less costly than ongoing disconnection or the stress of unresolved intimacy challenges.
Coverage depends on your provider. Some offer reimbursement for therapy addressing anxiety or grief, while others may not cover sessions focused primarily on sexuality or couples counseling. Always verify your benefits before starting.
I accept credit, debit, and HSA/FSA cards, processed automatically for convenience.
Yes. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, I’m bound by confidentiality laws, except in rare cases involving safety. Many clients choose private pay to avoid mental health diagnoses being shared with insurers, preserving privacy and peace of mind.
Look for a licensed and experienced sex therapist with expertise in sexual health, emotionally focused therapy, and couples counseling. You deserve someone who understands the complexity of sexual connection and helps you feel comfortable discussing sexuality in a safe space.
With over 20 years of experience working with couples across the San Francisco Bay Area, I help clients heal from trauma, rebuild trust, and grow closer using cutting-edge modalities that integrate mind, body, and relational healing.
San Francisco couples represent extraordinary diversity — from tech professionals in Palo Alto to creatives in Oakland and caregivers in Berkeley. I honor your unique background, culture, and values while creating an inclusive, trauma-informed, and sex-positive environment for growth.
Yes. I support relationships where one or both partners are neurodivergent or part of nontraditional or poly relationships. Online therapy offers flexible access to a safe and supportive space where you can explore intimacy, relationship coaching, or alternative lifestyles.
That’s common. Many individuals begin therapy on their own to address sexuality, relationship challenges, or self-awareness before inviting their partner to join. Growth often begins with one person taking the first step toward healing.
Couples are frequently surprised by how much clarity and emotional relief they experience after a single session. Book your free consultation to learn more.
Yes. I provide affirming, queer-inclusive sex therapy for LGBTQ+ clients and couples. Whether exploring gender identity issues, perinatal and postpartum sexuality, or rebuilding after sexual trauma, you’ll find a compassionate and welcoming space designed for authentic healing.
That’s okay. Relationship therapy can bring clarity, helping you determine whether you want to deepen your connection or separate with understanding. Therapy supports open communication, emotional processing, and mutual respect — whatever your path forward.
If there’s active violence, untreated addiction, or immediate safety concerns, individual therapy or crisis support may be required before beginning.
Otherwise, sex therapy welcomes anyone ready to explore sexuality, deepen intimacy, and strengthen emotional connection in a supportive, nonjudgmental environment.
