About Our Practice

Yes! As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of our sessions are currently held online. Clients have the option to conduct sessions over video or phone. Most BCBS IL PPO plans are providing coverage for telehealth services, but please double check with your insurance provider to verify coverage specifically for virtual mental/behavioral health services.

We do have limited in-person options available at our beautiful office space in the Kimball Arts Center. Please inquire via our intake form for this option!

We have begun providing in-person services again and we have detailed COVID-19 protocols in place to minimize the risk of transmission. Please click [here][1] to review a document with all of our current policies.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oYY_b_o3-BW2T0aVXE-nW_f3olLA0PGxxzSBuYsXYLs/edit?usp=sharing

No, definitely not! Providing gender and/or sex therapy is one of our specialties and it is our mission to provide a sex-positive, gender-affirming space for the LGBTQ+ community, but our therapists are trained to work with a variety of concerns. You do not need to be in the LGBTQ+ community or be seeking help with concerns about sex or gender to receive therapy or coaching here. You do, however, need to be sex-positive and trans affirming as we strive to keep a safe space for all of our clients and clinicians. To read more about each of our therapists’ individual areas of specialization, please go [here][2].

http://www.practicalaudacity.com/team

We serve a wide variety of folks! While most of our clients are individuals or coupled pairs, we are always open to working with relationships of all types. That can include: triads/polycules, family relationships, friends, etc. Let us know what your needs are and we will do our best to accommodate! If you would like more than two folks to be involved, we will discuss an arrangement that works best for your situation. *The only exception is that we are not able to work with folks under 18. *

We value openness, consent, authenticity, and communication. We believe that everyone has their own “yum/yuck” lists and, as long as things are safe, risk-aware, and consensual, you should never “yuck someone else’s yum.”

Yep.

Yep.

Yep.

Nope. We believe that the best relationships are the ones we get to design ourselves for our own unique needs and desires.

Sex Therapists are a subset of “regular” or generalist therapists. Sex therapists are also licensed therapists who are also trained to see a variety of other concerns in addition to sex and relationship concerns. Knowledge of and experience working with sexual concerns differentiates a sex therapist from other mental health professionals.

Sex therapists have extensive training in sexual health, dysfunction, anatomy, the science of sex and arousal, relationship dynamics, and gender and sexual diversity.

Sex therapy can address concerns related to sex, sexuality, gender, and relationships that include (but are certainly not limited to):

* Lower sexual desire or unequal interest in sex between partners

* Sexual arousal issues

* Performance concerns

* Concern over sexual inhibitions

* Inability or difficulty with orgasm

* Sexual pain disorders

* Sexual concerns related to trauma

* Unpacking sexual concerns related to the effect of shame on gender identity and/or sexual orientation

* Relational and sexual challenges for monogamous, polyamorous and/or kink-identified partners

* Difficulty communicating about sexual matters in both monogamous and polyamorous relationships

* Individuals or partners who want to add some “spark” to their sex life

There is no one "type" of person who goes to sex therapy and there are many more reasons to see a sex therapist than those listed above.

Sex therapy begins with a thorough assessment of your concerns. The therapist will ask questions about your personal, physical, and sexual history in order to gain a better understanding of your experience. From there, the therapist and client can begin to explore the heart of the matter. The therapist may suggest specific exercises or “experiments” to do at home to facilitate talk-therapy in session.

**Sex therapy does not involve any sexual relationship or touching between the therapist and client.**

No. Participating in sex therapy does not require being in a relationship. It only requires a willingness to be open and honest with yourself and your therapist. Sex Therapy can include exploring personal pleasure, sexual trauma, and/or exploration of wants and desires.

This is your personal choice to make, but it may be helpful for you to come with your partner, or partners, if they are willing. Sexuality concerns are often very relational in nature. You and your partner(s) can use this safe space to learn, support one another, and develop a deeper understanding of each other as sexual beings.

Sexual health is a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease or dysfunction. We believe that sexual health includes pleasure at its core. Sexual health requires a positive, open, and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as having pleasurable, consensual, and safe sexual experiences. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected, and fulfilled.

Although sexual pain and dysfunction are often highly physical in nature, there is almost always an emotional component involved as well. Our society stigmatizes sex and sexuality and there are often negative messages about our bodies and sex that may get internalized as shame. This can create a lot of complexity around resolving sexual concerns. A sex therapist can help you unpack these internalized messages you have received and develop a healthier relationship with your body, your sexuality, and your partner(s). However, sex therapy is not a replacement for seeing your doctor and/or physical therapist and seeking medical advice. Your sex therapist will likely ask you to attend to any medical components to your sexual concern concurrently with therapy.

Many Transgender and/or Genderqueer individuals experience, or have experienced, a lack of connection to their bodies. This lack of connection can create difficulties in partnered and solo sex. A sex therapist can help you explore ways to affirm your identity while still creating room for sexual intimacy and connection.

The influence of heteronormativity related to sexuality (the idea that only cisgender, straight, penis-in-vagina sex is “normal” and acceptable) is very real and can sometimes cause individuals who identify outside of this narrow box to feel shame. A sex therapist can also help you unpack these societal messages that have been internalized and move towards creating a sexual life that feels authentic, satisfying, and pleasurable while also holding the reality of gender dysphoria.

Experiencing sexual trauma is, unfortunately, a very common occurrence for many individuals. These traumatic experiences can leave people with traumatic reminders and triggers related to sex that might get in the way of being able to fully experience pleasure. A sex therapist can help you unpack these triggers and reminders and develop healthy boundaries and coping skills to allow you to fully experience pleasure and connection to both your body and your partner(s).

Therapy and coaching are similar in a lot of ways. Therapists are mandated to have at least a Master's degree and sometimes a doctorate in psychology and have supervised work for several years before they are licensed. Many coaches also have extensive training and knowledge around these things, but the training and supervision is not mandated. All of our staff members are trained and licensed as therapists and also are able to provide coaching.

Therapy

Therapy can go deeper into mental health issues than coaches and therapists are trained to deal with mental health crises and trauma.

• Therapy is part of our healthcare system.

• Therapy is protected under HIPAA privacy and confidentiality laws.

• Therapists are mandated to have at least a master's degree and sometimes a doctorate in psychology and have worked under supervision for several years before they are licensed.

• Insurance will cover therapy. Insurance plans vary significantly in coverage of mental health care.

• Therapy can only be done with people who reside in the state the clinician is licensed in, in most cases.

• Therapy services must include a diagnosis code and notes for every session. These become a part of the client’s permanent medical file.

We are only available to provide therapy for Illinois residents, with the small exception of Kansas residents (as we have one therapist who holds a license in KS).

Coaching

Coaching is usually aimed at discovering what is holding you back currently and how to help you reach your goals, though therapy can accomplish this goal as well.

• Coaching is not healthcare and is not an essential service. It is not designed to meet immediate, crisis, or essential mental health needs.

• You may not be a good fit for coaching if you are currently struggling with deeper mental health issues and not under the care of a therapist as well.

• Many coaches also have extensive training, knowledge, and mentorship, but the training and supervision is not mandated.

• Coaching can only be paid for out-of-pocket.

• Coaching can be done remotely and across state lines.

While coaching is not legally protected by HIPAA privacy and confidentiality laws, all of our staff members will hold themselves to the same ethical standards as they would when providing therapy. Your information will be stored in the same secure system that we use for therapy clients. This commitment is outlined in our informed consent forms.

If you have questions about whether therapy or coaching is right for you, contact us.

If you would like to utilize benefits from your insurance plan, you would need to seek therapy services rather than coaching.

If your intention is to work through deeper mental health issues, coaching may not be a good fit. Mental health concerns that are not a good fit for coaching include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Suicidal ideation and active self harm

• Intense/deep trauma work

• Active substance use

• Psychosis

• Intense personality disorders

• Eating disorders

• Domestic violence

Sometimes exceptions can be made if you are concurrently seeking therapy in-state for these issues or are no longer affected by these issues. Contact us if you have any questions.

You can fill out our intake form here to begin the process of booking your first intake appointment: https://practicalaudacity.typeform.com/to/GQrUNl

Currently, there is no general waitlist as we have staff members with open availability. When you visit our secure booking page, you will be able to see which therapists have current availability. If your preferred therapist is not available, please let us know if you would like to be added to their individual waitlist.

Please visit our Team Page here to learn more about each of our wonderful therapists and see who resonates with you. All of our therapists have particular expertise in working with gender and sex/relationship concerns, among many other specialties.

We believe a full intake session is the best way to determine goodness of fit with your chosen therapist. If you have any questions or concerns please email Laurel at intake@practicalaudacity.com.

We highly recommend the mental healthcare services of Howard Brown Health, Center on Halsted, and Live Oak Chicago.

You can also visit our free and low-cost resource list for further recommendations [here][5]. If you need more specific referrals, please reach out to intake@practicalaudacity.com.