what i’m about

I’m Jen Joseph.

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(she/her/hers)

I’m an NYC-born, West Coast dwelling therapist endlessly curious about growth, healing and the creation and maintenance of satisfying relationships. I’ve been a practicing psychotherapist since 2013, began my professional sex therapy journey in 2017 and am now an AASECT certified sex therapist with an additional specialization in couples therapy. My practice and training continues to be centered around helping folks with all things intimate— sexually and emotionally.

My style is warm, direct, interactive and when appropriate, light-hearted and playful. I’m straight-talking, sensitive, engaged and strive to help you meet your goals as efficiently as possible. I support a focused approach, versus open-ended, ‘sit back and chat’ kind of therapy. I center my approach in the here-and-now while understanding how your history and background has shaped the person (or people) you are today.

I frequently engage in continuing education to advance my skills and habitually receive clinical consultation so that I can provide the most effective care possible.

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Living a rich, satisfying life often requires an examination of the beliefs and patterns that both motivate you and hold you back. Sometimes this examination can lead to dark corners of the psyche that can be scary to navigate alone. As your healing companion on the journey, my job is to energetically and emotionally “have your back” so that you feel both challenged to grow and lovingly accepted right where you’re at. 

Healing happens in the context of safety and care. Through attuned listening, warmth, and presence, we’ll help you explore your inner world with curiosity and kindness and work toward shifting patterns that keep you stuck.

Your vision will become clear only when you look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.

~ Carl Jung

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I enjoy supporting those in intimate relationships (and those who want to be) create satisfying partnerships based in mutual care and authenticity. I delight in helping folks navigate the task of being a loving partner while being true to oneself. Whether you need support with communication, recovering after a betrayal, building your future, or connecting sexually, I'm here for you. I offer a non-judgmental space and pointed direction to help you find the clarity, connection and pleasure you seek.

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I hold a sex-positive, intersectional feminist, and social justice lens on the world, and strive to empower clients to live in ways that feel in integrity for them. I welcome diversity, of all kinds, in my practice and have experience working with folks from kink, LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, and ethically non-monogamous communities.

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As far as my own journey goes, I've been on a spiritual and healing path for nearly two decades and have explored a range of modalities and practices. A multidisciplinary artist at heart, I've played in many different creative realms and continue to find great joy, exhilaration, and catharsis on the dance floor. As a healer/therapist, I bring my professional skill, training and experience, as well as an ongoing engagement in my personal transformational process.

As a life-long learner, I’m deeply committed to my personal and professional development. I regularly invest in continuing education trainings and receive weekly consultation from expert therapists in the field.

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Additionally, I’m an advanced-level (1000+ hours) certified VortexHealing® Divine Energy Therapy practitioner and provide distance energy healing services to those wanting to transform emotional patterns and/or physical issues through an energetic and psycho-spiritual approach.

“Every time a trauma is healed, we restore a part of our past and make possible a brighter future for ourselves and succeeding generations. We transform separation, othering, and scarcity into relation, interdependence and abundance.”
— Thomas Hubl

    • M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Concentration in Expressive Arts Therapies, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, CA (2014 graduate)

    • B.A. in Women's Studies, Minor in Religious Studies, McGill University, Montreal, QC

    • Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in California + Oregon

    • Certified Sex Therapist (CST) through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT)

    • Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT) with Stan Tatkin, Level 2 Therapist, 2023

    • Ongoing training in ISTDP-Informed Couples Therapy with Diane Byster, Tami Chelew and Johannes Kieding

    • ISTDP-Informed Couples Therapy Monthly Series with Tami Chelew 2023-2025

    • Dynamic Emotion Focused Therapy (DEFT), Level 1, 2025 (in process)

    • Problem Sexual Behavior (PSB) Certified by the Sexual Health Alliance with Dr. David Ley and Michael Vigorito, year-long training, 2022-2023

    • Discernment Counseling Practitioner, The Doherty Institute, 2023

    • Graduate of the Developmental Model Couples Therapy Training, The Couples Institute, year-long training, 2021-2022

    • Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) Core Skills Training + EFT Externship, 2019 + 2021

    • Transformative Couples Therapy Core Training with David Mars, year-long training, 2023-2024

    • Relational Life Therapy Level 1 with Terry Real (in process)

    • Transforming Resistance Series with Steve Shapiro, 2024

    • Bi-monthly couples therapy consultation group with Dr. Michael Klein, 2021-2024

    • Sex therapy consultation group with Martha Kauppi and Zoe Sipe, 2023

    • Ongoing, weekly individual case consultation with senior sex and relationship therapists, 2021-present

    • Pre-core Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) training with David Rudesil, three days online, 2023

    • Lifescript training + Transactional Analysis 101 Training, 24 hours, with Dr. Vann Joines at the Southeast Institute, 2023

    • Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) Immersion with Diana Fosha, AEDP Level 1 Therapist, 2022

    • Sex Therapy Certificate Program, California Institute of Integral Studies, 2017-2021

    • Integrative Couples Therapy Training, Integrative Sex Therapy Institute, 2022

    • 50 hours total of sex therapy supervision with Paula Leech and Kamara McAndrews, 2019-2021

    • Foundations of Somatic Sex Education, Level 1, Institute for the Study of Somatic Sex Education, online (in process)

    • Somatica Institute Couples Training, 2018

    • Certified VortexHealing® Practitioner (trained at the highest level), 2008-present, VortexHealing Institute

    • Expressive Arts Therapy Level 1 Personal Embodiment, Tamalpa Institute, 20

    • Webinars with Martha Kauppi and Marty Klein on polyamory, desire discrepancies, attraction issues, low-sex partnerships

    • Private Practice Sex + Relationship Psychotherapist, 2018-present

    • Couples Therapist with the Couples Center, 2018-2020, CA

    • Sex + Relationship Therapist with The San Francisco + East Bay Center for Sex + Relationship Therapy, 2018-2021, CA

    • Associate Psychotherapist at the Marina Counseling Center 2015-2018, CA

    • Psychotherapist Intern at the Community Institute for Psychotherapy, 2013-2015, CA

Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation here.