Andrea Battiola, Ed.S., LPC, LMHC

I was drawn to the field of couples and sex therapy from a young age (a freshman in high school to be exact), because of the immense impact that our intimate relationships have on our lives. Even as a young person this was clear to me. Our diversity in culture, gender, sexuality, religion, age, and ability both enriches and brings unique struggles to our relationships. However, no matter our background, we all desire to be loved and give love in our lives. This work allows me to be at the forefront of helping individuals and couples create the loving, dynamic, sexual, and mutually respectful relationships they desire. I find immense joy in watching my clients move through distress and into the enriching lives they have been seeking. 

It took many years, extensive education, and specialized training to get to this point. My early academic training includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and a certification as a Sexual Assault Advocate in the state of Minnesota. After undergrad, I continued my education at Loyola University - Chicago in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I graduated with an advanced Master’s degree, as an Education Specialist (Ed.S). In conjunction with AASECT-affiliated many workshops and conferences, I completed a year-long sexual education and sex therapy training with The Buehler Institute in 2014. I currently hold professional licenses in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Washington State.

My entire career, from graduate school onward, has focused on working with individuals and couples experiencing sexual struggles. Through focusing my caseload in this space, receiving specialized supervision and consultation, and attending many specialized conferences and workshops, I’ve ensured I maintain a high level of expertise and competence in the field of sex therapy. 

I opened Peak Couples and Sex Therapy in Washington, D.C. in the fall of 2016. Since then, the practice has grown to include multiple associates offering specialized treatment, workshops and group offerings, and virtual services that offer the freedom and flexibility to continue your therapy despite the busyness of life. 

With my clients, I aim to offer straightforward feedback and guidance that is balanced by my genuinely compassionate nature. I enjoy working with clients holistically to help them improve communication, live authentically, and create intimate bonds. My clinical interests include desire discrepancies, women’s and men’s sexual dissatisfaction, working through infidelity, helping trauma survivors reclaim their sexuality, as well as working with people of all sexual orientations and diverse cultural backgrounds to discover their own optimal sexual wellness.

Professional biography