WHAT IS ONE BOOK THAT HAS REALLY INFLUENCED YOUR WORK AS A COUPLES & SEX THERAPIST?

When thinking of this question, I keep coming back to How to Be Sick and its sequel, How to Live Well with Chronic Pain and Illness. These books explore the common experiences of being—and loving—someone with chronic health issues. Our bodies are a big part of our relationships, and working with their limitations is an important skill for us to hone throughout our lives.

HOW WOULD YOUR CLIENTS DESCRIBE YOU?

Open, curious, calm, and grounded.

WHEN YOU’RE NOT AT YOUR THERAPY DESK, WHAT CAN WE FIND YOU DOING?

You can find me wandering around outside, making art, or doing home projects.

RJ’s Full Biography

Bodies are wonderful…and complicated. Perhaps you’re having trouble feeling aroused when you want to, or maybe pain interrupts sexy time.  Or it could be that something from your past or future keeps distracting you when you want to be intimate. In counseling we’ll explore what’s troubling you and work together to make a plan for moving forward.

My approach to counseling is centered on the here-and-now experience of the therapeutic relationship. We tend to play out the same dynamics across many relationships. In counseling we can examine and experiment with those dynamics in our sessions. Then you can take those insights into your other relationships. I also employ somatic counseling techniques, where we strengthen the mind-body connection and process emotions that may have gotten “stuck” along the way. 

Before my career transition to counseling, I studied political science at Brigham Young University and law at Georgetown. I then did public interest work in the non-profit, academic, and government sectors for over a decade. More recently I've volunteered as a crisis counselor, volunteer peer support for a harm reduction organization, and an art class assistant. Supporting people through emotional turmoil and helping them find their joy are both important to me.

My cultural background includes Mormonism, rural Southern roots, disability and chronic illness, neurodivergence, and experience in the kink, queer, trans, and polyamory communities. I welcome clients of all cultural backgrounds who seek support with their relationships and sex-related issues. I look forward to working with you!