Sex Therapy
Sexual and intimacy concerns are among the hardest things to talk about, and among the most important. As a board-certified sex therapist with a PhD in Clinical Sexology, this is the territory I'm trained for: sexual trauma and the wounds of sexual assault, intimacy and desire concerns, betrayal, and sexual health issues including vaginismus. The work is direct, nonjudgmental, and discreet.
Here's How I Can Support You
Performance Anxiety
Performance anxiety in sex is rarely about sex alone. It shows up where pressure, self-monitoring, and past experience meet the body. We work with what's driving the anxiety (often a mix of nervous-system patterns, beliefs about adequacy, and relationship dynamics), build practical tools to interrupt the cycle, and address any underlying trauma directly when it's present.
Arousal Challenges
Struggling with desire or physical arousal is more common than you might think, and it can have many roots: stress, relationship issues, hormonal shifts, or past hurts. We'll explore both mind and body factors, using education on sexual response cycles, sex-positive communication skills, and gentle sensate-focus exercises to help you rediscover what feels authentic.
Low Self-Esteem Around Intimacy
Negative self-beliefs can block connection and pleasure. Through cognitive-behavioral strategies, self-compassion practices, and body-image reframing, we'll challenge internalized messages and nurture a kinder, more accepting relationship with yourself, so you can step into intimacy from a place of self-worth.
Healing Sexual Trauma and Complex Trauma for Intimacy
Sexual Assault Recovery
Sexual trauma can profoundly affect your sense of safety, trust, and pleasure. We move at your pace, using somatic awareness, breath-work, and trauma-focused modalities (EMDR, parts-work) to help your nervous system regulate and feel its own ground again. The aim is to rebuild autonomy over your body and to rediscover what feels good to you.
Complex Trauma and Its Impact on Sex
When trauma is chronic or relational, such as prolonged neglect, betrayal, or developmental wounds, it can affect your ability to feel safe, trust your partner, and stay present. Using an integrative blend of somatic therapy, attachment-focused work, and polyvagal exercises, we'll help you track and regulate your nervous system's responses and create new pathways for safety and connection in intimate moments.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is sex therapy and what does it involve?
- Sex therapy is a specialized form of psychotherapy that addresses sexual concerns, dysfunction, and intimacy challenges. With Dr. Reyna Aday, sessions are talk-based and trauma-informed: there is no physical contact. We use evidence-based approaches including cognitive-behavioral strategies, sensate-focus exercises, somatic awareness, and EMDR to address the psychological and relational roots of sexual concerns.
- What issues does Dr. Reyna Aday treat in sex therapy?
- Dr. Aday addresses a wide range of concerns including performance anxiety, low desire or arousal difficulties, sexual trauma and assault recovery, pain during sex, low self-esteem around intimacy, relationship and communication challenges, and the impact of complex trauma on sexual functioning.
- Is sex therapy confidential?
- Yes. All therapy with Dr. Reyna Aday is strictly confidential and governed by professional ethics codes and HIPAA regulations. The only exceptions are mandated reporting requirements that apply to all licensed therapists.
- Do I need to come with a partner for sex therapy?
- No. Many clients begin sex therapy individually. Dr. Aday works with individuals and couples. The decision to involve a partner depends on your specific concerns and goals, and is always your choice.
- How does trauma affect sexual health?
- Trauma (whether sexual, relational, or developmental) can profoundly affect the nervous system's sense of safety, which is foundational to sexual wellbeing. Trauma responses such as hypervigilance, dissociation, or shutdown can manifest as low desire, arousal difficulties, pain, or avoidance of intimacy. Dr. Aday's trauma-informed approach addresses these nervous system patterns directly.
Ready to Begin?
Reach out to schedule a consultation and we'll figure out whether this is a fit for what you're working with.