Sex Therapy Counseling

At Collaborative Therapy Center, we provide compassionate, faith-aligned sex therapy for individuals and couples in North County San Diego who want to improve intimacy, reduce shame, and experience greater connection.

You’re Not Alone - Common Experiences

Many people feel alone in their struggles with intimacy. You may be experiencing ongoing tension or emotional distance in your relationship despite trying to talk about it, mismatched levels of desire, feelings of frustration, rejection, or inadequacy. Some individuals also face physical challenges such as pain during sex, difficulty reaching orgasm, or feeling disconnected from their body, while others carry deep shame from past messages about sex received in childhood, church, or early relationships.

It’s common to feel embarrassed or afraid to discuss these very personal issues, even with your partner, and to wonder whether your desires, struggles, or experiences are “normal.”

Who We Help

At Collaborative Therapy Center, We help individuals and couples who are navigating challenges with sexual intimacy, including:

  • Different levels of sexual desire in a relationship

  • Low or no desire for sex

  • Difficulty experiencing orgasm (anorgasmia)

  • Pain during sex

  • Vaginismus

  • Peyronie’s disease

  • Unwanted sexual behaviors or patterns

  • Shame or negative messages about sex from childhood or faith background

  • Emotional disconnection that affects physical intimacy

Your Questions About Sex Therapy Answered

  • Intimate relationships include both emotional and physical intimacy. While many forms of therapy address emotional concerns like communication and conflict, sex therapy also focuses on how these emotional issues impact physical intimacy, along with specific physical intimacy concerns.

    Linda utilizes Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with couples and addresses both the emotional cycle and the sexual cycle. The “cycle” refers to the repeating pattern between partners that creates distance rather than connection. Linda works with couples to help them reduce that distance and create safety and connection, even in the most personal topics related to sex.

    Sex therapy is also appropriate for individuals who are concerned with their sexual wellness or experiencing difficulties with sexual functioning.

  • Sex therapy addresses a wide range of concerns related to sexual functioning for both individuals and couples.

    Common issues include:

    • Different levels of desire between partners

    • Low or no desire for sex in men or women

    • Little to no orgasm for women (anorgasmia)

    • Pain with sex

    • Vaginismus

    • Peyronie’s disease

    • Unwanted sexual behaviors

    • Struggles with sex due to messages received during childhood or early adulthood

  • Not at all. One reason Linda specializes in sex therapy is because so few people feel safe enough to talk about these topics. Therapy exists to reduce shame and help you experience yourself as a whole person, without feeling like parts of you are unacceptable. You will not be judged.

  • The first session focuses on building a trusting relationship and identifying your goals for therapy. Your therapist will ask questions to better understand your experience. Assessment questions can feel awkward because we rarely have such personal conversations about sex, but they help create a clear picture of what you’ve been experiencing.

    Your therapist may also explore relevant personal history, including sexual development. Everything is handled with care, confidentiality, and without judgment.

  • Most people feel embarrassed at first and this is completely normal. Your therapist is very comfortable discussing these topics and will move at your pace. You never have to share anything you’re not ready to discuss. Your therapist will support and encourage you as you work toward your goals.

  • Collaborative Therapy Center can be a great fit for you. Our therapists are trained to integrate faith into treatment when requested. We understand that your faith is a deeply personal part of your life and will include it appropriately if you’d like.

    Some clients explore messages they received about sex in church settings. We are respectful of all beliefs — if you prefer not to include faith in your sessions, simply let us know.