Real Talk: Sex, Relationships + Discernment
online therapy for individuals + couples across California + Oregon
AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, Problematic Sexual Behavior Certified, Certified Discernment Counselor
including the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles + Portland
Does your partner recoil or stiffen up every time you try to approach them physically? Do they think you only want sex when you actually (also) want affection and a cozy, intimate relationship with your beloved?
where you want to be: Your partner is genuinely excited to greet you with a passionate kiss, asks you to cuddle with them in bed tonight and wonders if you’d like to explore each other’s bodies and desires together.
Does the thought of sex with your partner totally turn you off? Do you immediately think about how guilty you feel for having low or no desire — and so you offer obligatory, check-off-the-box sex that is unsatisfying for both of you?
where you want to be: You don’t feel guilty for saying no, and you also don’t force yourself to fake a yes—whether you’re having sex or not, it’s not a constant source of conflict—it’s connection.
You just found out that your partner is having an affair. They’re not sure they want to stay married or even work on the marriage with you. You’re heartbroken, confused, blindsided. They haven’t decided yet– but what can you even say or do?
where you want to be: Having the support of a contained, structured environment to reflect on the state of your marriage— you show up grounded, holding onto your values and vision for the marriage despite the chaotic storm.
You know your spouse cares about you, but you’re just not feeling in love anymore. It’s been years of disconnect, sweeping a relationship-worth of issues under the rug, conflicts you haven’t been able to resolve.
where you want to be: You take stock of what led you to this place in your marriage. You’re at peace, having the confidence that you’ve done everything you could to fix it.
Your unhappiness in the marriage has led you to romantically engage with someone who makes you feel seen and alive. But you’re not sure– do you leave your spouse, your family, the life you’ve known— to pursue a possibility of something better? You feel so guilty and torn, but you just can’t lie to yourself anymore.
where you want to be: You understand why you’re not in love with your partner anymore— and see a path forward for feeling in love with your spouse again, healing your marriage or leaving.
I’m Jen Joseph, MA, LMFT, CST
Whatever you're bringing — a sex life that's gone quiet, a relationship stuck in the same exhausting loop, a marriage you're not sure you want to save — you've found someone who can handle it. I'm Jen Joseph, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, licensed psychotherapist, Certified Discernment Counselor and seasoned couples therapist. I've spent over a decade working with some of the most complex, sensitive, and painful issues individuals and couples bring to therapy.
I’m active, direct, and deeply invested in your progress. I ask the questions many therapists avoid and stay focused on what's really going on beneath the surface — with care, compassion and curiosity.
I welcome diversity of all kinds in my practice and am LGBTQIA+, kink, ENM and neurodivergent competent and affirming.
Therapy for Residents of California & Oregon
Sex Therapy
Individual and couples sex therapy for libido + mismatched desires; lack of sexuality, sexual functioning issues; performance anxiety; out-of-control sexual behavior; erotic recovery after infidelity; sex after trauma; conflicts around kink, fetishes and more.
Couples, Relationship Therapy & Marriage Counseling
For couples (polycules, too) dealing with communication issues; high-intensity fighting; parenting struggles; unresolved conflict; affairs and betrayal; lack of emotional and sexual intimacy; challenges with ethical non-monogamy; and pre-marital issues.
Discernment Counseling
For mixed-agenda, married couples where one spouse isn't sure they want to stay and the other wants to save the marriage. Not couples therapy — something more focused, and more honest about where each of you actually are. Counseling from a genuinely trained, Certified Discernment Counselor with the Doherty Relationship Institute.
“I’ve been supervising Jen for over a year now, and I continue to be deeply impressed by her thoughtfulness, skill, and heart she brings to her work. She has a rare combination of exquisite attunement and the ability to be direct when needed. Her work with both individuals and couples is truly impressive. She pours herself into her work and is tireless in her commitment to growing, learning, and refining her craft. Her dedication to her clients is second to none. My esteem of Jen and her work can be summarized by the fact that I would wholeheartedly recommend her to my own family members for therapy.”
