Sex Therapy in Baltimore &
Maryland
Sexual wellbeing is a meaningful part of overall health — and when something feels off, it can affect confidence, relationships, and quality of life in ways that are hard to talk about. Sex therapy provides a confidential, non-judgmental space to address those challenges directly.
At CICC, our practice holds AASECT certification in sex therapy — the gold standard credential in the field, held by very few practices in the Baltimore and Maryland area. We work with individuals and couples navigating a wide range of sexual concerns, with deep respect for each person’s values, beliefs, and background.
We see clients in person at our Pikesville, MD office and via telehealth anywhere in Maryland.
What AASECT Certification Means for You
AASECT — the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists — is the national certifying body for sex therapy. AASECT certification requires extensive supervised clinical training specifically in human sexuality, above and beyond standard therapy licensure. It is not a credential any licensed therapist can claim without completing that process.
When you work with an AASECT-certified practice, you are working with therapists whose training in sexual health has been independently verified to meet the highest clinical standard in the field. In the Baltimore market, this level of specialized certification is rare.
Many therapists list sex therapy as a service area without holding specialized certification. If you are navigating a sensitive or complex sexual concern, the credential your therapist holds matters.
A Values-Respectful, Sex-Positive Approach
Sex therapy at CICC is conducted with the utmost respect for each person’s moral, ethical, and religious beliefs. We do not impose a single framework for what healthy sexuality should look like. Our role is to help you understand and address what is getting in the way of the sexual wellbeing you want — whatever that means for you and your relationship.
We work with clients of all backgrounds, orientations, relationship structures, and faith traditions. Whether you are single, partnered, married, or in a non-traditional relationship, sex therapy at CICC is a non-judgmental space.
What We Treat
Low Desire and Arousal
A loss of interest in sex — sometimes called low libido, low sex drive, or loss of desire — is one of the most common reasons individuals and couples seek sex therapy. It can stem from stress, hormonal shifts, relationship dynamics, trauma history, medication side effects, or simply the accumulated distance that builds in long-term relationships. We help clients understand what is driving the change and develop a path forward that feels realistic and sustainable.
Discrepancy of Desire
When partners have significantly different levels of interest in sex, the gap can quietly erode connection, create resentment, and generate cycles of pursuit and withdrawal that neither partner wants. Discrepancy of desire is not a problem with one partner — it is a relationship dynamic that benefits from being worked on together. Sex therapy provides a structured way to understand each partner’s experience and find a middle ground that works for both.
Erectile Dysfunction
Difficulty getting or maintaining an erection affects men of all ages and is far more common than most people realize. In many cases, psychological and relational factors play a significant role — performance anxiety, stress, relationship conflict, or the pressure that builds after one or two difficult experiences. Sex therapy addresses the psychological dimension of erectile dysfunction, often in conjunction with medical evaluation when appropriate.
Ejaculatory Disorders
Both premature ejaculation and delayed ejaculation are treatable with sex therapy. Premature ejaculation — coming sooner than you or your partner would like — often involves anxiety, conditioning, and patterns that developed early in sexual experience. Delayed ejaculation — difficulty reaching orgasm despite adequate stimulation — can stem from psychological, relational, or physiological factors. Both respond well to the focused, solution-oriented approach we use at CICC.
Vaginismus and Sexual Pain
Vaginismus — involuntary muscle contractions that make penetration painful or impossible — and dyspareunia — persistent pain during sexual activity — are physical experiences with significant psychological and emotional dimensions. Many people suffer in silence for years before seeking help. Sex therapy provides both psychoeducation and practical strategies to address these conditions, and our therapists approach sexual pain with the sensitivity and expertise it requires.
Performance Anxiety
Sexual performance anxiety — worry about how you will perform, whether your partner is satisfied, or whether you will be able to function the way you want to — can become a self-fulfilling cycle. The more anxious you are about sex, the harder sex becomes. Sex therapy interrupts that cycle, addressing both the anxiety itself and the patterns of avoidance and pressure that tend to build around it.
Out-of-Control Sexual Behavior
When sexual thoughts, urges, or behaviors feel compulsive, difficult to manage, or at odds with your values — sometimes described as sexual compulsivity or out-of-control sexual behavior — sex therapy can help you understand what is driving the pattern and develop a more intentional relationship with your sexuality. Our approach is non-shaming and grounded in the current clinical understanding of sexual behavior, consistent with AASECT’s framework.
Infidelity and Sexual Betrayal
When sexual betrayal has damaged trust in a relationship — whether through a physical affair, an emotional affair, or compulsive sexual behavior — the healing process involves both the relationship and each individual’s sense of self. Our therapists work with the sexual and emotional dimensions of infidelity recovery together, which is where CICC’s combination of sex therapy and couples therapy expertise is particularly valuable.
Sex Therapy for Individuals and Couples
Sex therapy at CICC is available to both individuals and couples. Some concerns are best addressed individually — particularly when the issue is primarily personal, such as a history of trauma, shame around sexuality, or performance anxiety. Others are relational by nature and benefit from both partners being present.
Many clients begin individually and later involve their partner, or vice versa. Our therapists will help you determine the right format based on your specific situation and goals.
For couples where sexual issues and relationship distress are intertwined, CICC is one of the only practices in Baltimore with both AASECT-certified sex therapy and EFT-certified couples therapy under one roof — meaning both dimensions can be addressed by therapists trained in each.
What to Expect in Sex Therapy
Sex therapy is talk therapy. Sessions do not involve physical contact or any kind of physical examination. Everything takes place through conversation — exploring your history, understanding the patterns that have developed, and working toward the changes you want to make.
The first session is an assessment — your therapist will ask about what has brought you in, your relevant history, and your goals. From there, sessions are structured around those goals, typically combining psychoeducation, skill-building, and deeper exploratory work depending on what you are working through.
Session length, frequency, and overall duration vary based on what you are addressing. Many sexual concerns respond well to focused, short-term work. Others benefit from a longer process, particularly when trauma, relationship dynamics, or longstanding patterns are involved. We discuss realistic expectations in the first session.
Sessions are 50 minutes and available in person at our Pikesville office or via telehealth anywhere in Maryland.
Common Questions About Sex Therapy
Sex therapy is a specialized form of talk therapy focused on sexual concerns and sexual wellbeing. It is conducted by a licensed therapist with advanced training in human sexuality. Sessions involve conversation — not physical contact of any kind. A sex therapist helps you understand the psychological, relational, and emotional factors contributing to your concern and develop practical strategies for change.
AASECT — the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists — is the national certifying body for sex therapy in the United States. AASECT certification requires supervised clinical training specifically in human sexuality, in addition to a therapist's standard licensure. It is the gold standard credential in the sex therapy field. CICC holds AASECT certification, which is rare among therapy practices in Baltimore and Maryland.
No. Sex therapy is available to individuals regardless of relationship status. Many clients come alone to address personal concerns — desire, arousal, performance anxiety, sexual shame, trauma history, or questions about their sexuality. You do not need to be partnered or married to benefit from sex therapy.
A general therapist may have some familiarity with sexual issues, but sex therapy is conducted by a therapist with specialized training in human sexuality. The clinical framework, the language, and the specific interventions used in sex therapy are distinct from general psychotherapy. For sexual concerns, working with a therapist who holds specialized training in this area makes a meaningful difference.
It depends on what you are working through. Some concerns — particularly those driven by anxiety or specific behavioral patterns — respond well to short-term focused work over 8–12 sessions. Others, particularly those involving trauma, longstanding patterns, or complex relationship dynamics, benefit from a longer process. We discuss a realistic timeline in the first session based on your specific situation and goals.
Yes. We offer telehealth sex therapy to clients anywhere in Maryland. Many people find telehealth particularly well-suited to sex therapy because of the privacy it provides. Sessions are conducted via secure video and follow the same process as in-person work.
Yes. Sex therapy at CICC is fully confidential, subject to the same legal and ethical standards that apply to all therapy. We discuss confidentiality and its limits in the first session so you know exactly what to expect.
Session fees are listed on our team page. CICC is an out-of-network provider. We provide receipts for out-of-network insurance reimbursement submission, and many FSA and HSA accounts cover therapy. We offer a free 15-minute consultation before you commit to anything.