“All things are bound together. All things connect.”
– Chief Seattle
The Stuff You're Most Curious About
What is Sex Therapy?
Sex Therapy focuses on human sexuality and the way our sexuality influences our relationships and our mental health. Sex Therapy helps people sort out their thoughts and feelings around gender identity, sexual expression, romantic & erotic relationships, and our own physical bodies. Sex Therapy can occur individually or with your partner(s).
Can ANY therapist offer Sex Therapy?
"Sex Therapy" itself is not a protected term. In theory, ANYONE can call themselves a Sex Therapist. That's why it's important to look for Mental Health Providers who:
- Have completed advanced training in Sex Therapy
- Are members in good standing of AASECT, the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists
- Who are either Certified by AASECT as Sex Therapists or are actively pursuing AASECT Certification.
You're Not Licensed in My State/Country, Can You Still Work With Me?
If You Are In the United States:
The law requires that I be licensed wherever I am physically located and wherever my client's are physically located. I am currently licensed to provide mental health services in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Florida, and Arizona. If you are not a resident of these states, but are confident that I am the therapist for you, I am happy to consider obtaining licensure in your home state. This is a complicated process that requires a considerable time and financial investment to achieve.
Because of this fact, a request for licensure in your home state must be submitted in writing, along with payment of $450. This fee covers the cost of the licensing process and will be applied as a credit towards future sessions once licensure is obtained. Should you decide not to pursue counseling, this fee is non-refundable.
If You Are Located Outside of the United States:
Unfortunately, I am unable to provide psychotherapy and mental health counseling across international lines. If you are interested in interpersonal communications, conflict resolution, or engagement coaching, please consider reaching out to Stefani (at) TzefiraConsulting (dot) com for more information about non-therapeutic consulting services. Tzefira Consulting. LLC is not affiliated with Bound Together Counseling, PLLC.
The law requires that I be licensed wherever I am physically located and wherever my client's are physically located. I am currently licensed to provide mental health services in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Florida, and Arizona. If you are not a resident of these states, but are confident that I am the therapist for you, I am happy to consider obtaining licensure in your home state. This is a complicated process that requires a considerable time and financial investment to achieve.
Because of this fact, a request for licensure in your home state must be submitted in writing, along with payment of $450. This fee covers the cost of the licensing process and will be applied as a credit towards future sessions once licensure is obtained. Should you decide not to pursue counseling, this fee is non-refundable.
If You Are Located Outside of the United States:
Unfortunately, I am unable to provide psychotherapy and mental health counseling across international lines. If you are interested in interpersonal communications, conflict resolution, or engagement coaching, please consider reaching out to Stefani (at) TzefiraConsulting (dot) com for more information about non-therapeutic consulting services. Tzefira Consulting. LLC is not affiliated with Bound Together Counseling, PLLC.
So When Do I Take My Clothes Off?
Never! Or at least…not during our sessions together. Sex Therapy is a form of talk therapy. Depending upon your specific needs, we may discuss topics such as:
- Masturbation
- Sexual Intercourse
- Porn/Erotica Use
- Your Physical Anatomy
- Erectile or Arousal Difficulties
- Sex Toys
- Sexual Techniques & Positions
- Religious/Cultural Messages about Sex
What Does Kink Affirming Practice Mean?
Kink Aware Practice, or KAP, means that I am comfortable discussing all forms of relationship styles and sexual expression, including BDSM, fetishes, polyamory, and more. I pride myself on going beyond mere “awareness” of the kink community. I call myself a Kink Affirming therapist. I understand the needs of AltSex community members. In fact? I literally wrote the book on therapy with kinky clients! Your unique relationship and the ways you express love and affection contains tremendous strength that we can build on in our work together.
Does Faith Affirming Practice Mean That You're Religious? Do I Have To Be?
My faith influences my clinical practice in two key ways: I believe deeply that sexuality and intimacy are a divine gift, and I believe that each of us is born exactly as we are meant to be. These are the guiding principles of my practice.
For clients who come from religious backgrounds, I want leverage the strength and purpose that their religious tradition offers in order to help them experience the full potential for love and connection that I believe we are meant to have. And for those who have had religion weaponized against them, who have been told that they were evil, sinful, or somehow born “wrong”, I am here to help them reconnect with their authentic selves in a way that allows them to experience their connection to the sacred however they define it and in whatever capacity that they wish to do so.
My religion and culture have influenced my career path and inform my perspective on gender, sexuality, and relationships; but I do not offer Religious Therapy. I meet you where you are and help you find the good, the uplifting, the awe-inspiring, and the holy in your life and in your love…whatever form that takes for you.
For clients who come from religious backgrounds, I want leverage the strength and purpose that their religious tradition offers in order to help them experience the full potential for love and connection that I believe we are meant to have. And for those who have had religion weaponized against them, who have been told that they were evil, sinful, or somehow born “wrong”, I am here to help them reconnect with their authentic selves in a way that allows them to experience their connection to the sacred however they define it and in whatever capacity that they wish to do so.
My religion and culture have influenced my career path and inform my perspective on gender, sexuality, and relationships; but I do not offer Religious Therapy. I meet you where you are and help you find the good, the uplifting, the awe-inspiring, and the holy in your life and in your love…whatever form that takes for you.
Aren't You Like, Famous, Or Something?
It’s quite possible that you’ve seen my name! In addition to my book, The Leather Couch: Clinical Practice with Kinky Clients, I speak at conferences around the country on topics related to relationships, communication, and sexuality.
I am a frequent expert on sexuality and relationships for a variety of popular media outlets, including The New Yorker, Cosmopolitan, PornHub, The New York Post, Marie Claire, Teen Vogue, and more.
I’m also a regular guest on Let’s Go There with Ryan and Shira, a daily radio program head around the country and a contributor to both Psychology Today and the PornHub Sexual Wellness Center; so you very well might have heard my voice before today.
I am a frequent expert on sexuality and relationships for a variety of popular media outlets, including The New Yorker, Cosmopolitan, PornHub, The New York Post, Marie Claire, Teen Vogue, and more.
I’m also a regular guest on Let’s Go There with Ryan and Shira, a daily radio program head around the country and a contributor to both Psychology Today and the PornHub Sexual Wellness Center; so you very well might have heard my voice before today.
The Practical Stuff You Need To Know:
Who Do You Treat?
Many of my clients feel embarrassed, ashamed, or scared about the concerns they are bringing to therapy. They’ve been told that polite people don’t discuss sex, or sexuality, or gender. Some of them are afraid that speaking their truth will only make things worse. Others are 100% confident in who they are and what they like…and they’re sick to death of therapists who try to make their sexual identity an issue when it simply isn’t.
I understand both of these perspectives and I work to ensure that never you feel judged, shamed or out of place. My focus is on helping folks struggling with their relationships, their sexuality, their gender, or their own sense of self to clarify their feelings, communicate their desires, and set and enforce the boundaries that they need to lead happy, healthy, connected lives.
I understand both of these perspectives and I work to ensure that never you feel judged, shamed or out of place. My focus is on helping folks struggling with their relationships, their sexuality, their gender, or their own sense of self to clarify their feelings, communicate their desires, and set and enforce the boundaries that they need to lead happy, healthy, connected lives.
Where are you located?
Social distancing can be quite difficult in the therapist’s office. To be honest? Maintaining a 6-foot distance and wearing a mask are not conducive to our ability to connect with one another and do impactful work together. That’s why Bound Together Counseling currently offers HIPAA-compliant telehealth sessions to clients located anywhere within the States of Michigan, Arizona, Florida, and Ohio. This has allowed us to expand our reach beyond the Metro Detroit community and to be proactive in protecting the health of our clients and ourselves.
Do you take insurance?
Here’s the thing about insurance companies: they require a medical justification for anything you ask them to pay for. Which makes sense if you need an x-ray after falling off a horse… but might be something you’re less okay with when you’re talking about your performance anxiety, your balloon fetish, or your swinging lifestyle. I am a passionate advocate for informed consent and I want you to have a full understanding of what it means to ask your insurance to pay for your sex therapy.
In order to bill your insurance, I have to give you a medical diagnosis, using the DSM-5: the official guide to mental health conditions published by the American Psychological Association. For some folks, this is comforting- you finally have a word for that thing you’ve been dealing with for years! You know it’s real! For others, it can feel like a profound violation of privacy- even trust- to have a clinical label applied to them. This can be especially true when what I’m diagnosing is a significant part of who you are or how you love.
Generally, I have found that my clients prefer the privacy and autonomy that comes with a private pay model. I offer package pricing and a sliding scale option for those who have traditionally gone through insurance. Let’s talk about what works best for you.
In order to bill your insurance, I have to give you a medical diagnosis, using the DSM-5: the official guide to mental health conditions published by the American Psychological Association. For some folks, this is comforting- you finally have a word for that thing you’ve been dealing with for years! You know it’s real! For others, it can feel like a profound violation of privacy- even trust- to have a clinical label applied to them. This can be especially true when what I’m diagnosing is a significant part of who you are or how you love.
Generally, I have found that my clients prefer the privacy and autonomy that comes with a private pay model. I offer package pricing and a sliding scale option for those who have traditionally gone through insurance. Let’s talk about what works best for you.
Can You Help Me Submit My Bills For Reimbursement?
We have partnered with Reimbursify to help you easily submit your claims for out-of-network health insurance reimbursement at no cost to you. Once you've downloaded the Reimbursify app, you simply take a quick snapshot of your Super Bill and upload it into your account. Reimbursify will handle submitting your claim and ensuring that you get a check back from your insurance company for everything your policy allows.
Do You Prescribe Medication?
As a Licensed Master Social Worker, I do not prescribe medication. However, I am happy to answer questions about the medical interventions that are available to those struggling with sexual or emotional concerns. Should you decide that you want to explore these options further, I will refer you to a qualified medical provider. Needing medication does not disqualify you from continuing therapy- it just expands the team.
How Do I Get Started?
Send me a message via text, email, or by using our online form. I will reach out to you to schedule a brief 15-20 minute phone consultation. If you decide that I’m a good fit to meet your needs, we will schedule your first appointment. You’ll receive a follow-up email with a variety of forms to complete ahead of our first session. Once those have been returned? You’re all set and our work together can begin.