Open List
The Open List is a list of professionals (therapists, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, consultants, relationship and life coaches, doctors, lawyers, etc.) who are experienced and knowledgeable about alternative sexuality and lifestyles, open relationships, polyamory, nonmonogamy, swinging, etc. The people on this list submitted their information, and therefore I make no claims about them. At the end of the list are links to other similar lists and directories. To be added to the Open List, see instructions at the bottom of the page.
PROFESSIONALS ORGANIZED BY STATE
Alabama California Connecticut Florida Georgia Indiana Maryland Michigan Nevada New York North Carolina Oregon Pennsylvania
Texas Virginia Washington Wisconsin Wyoming
Keith R. Abrams, PhD
Sex Therapist, Sex Educator, Clinical Psychologist
Grayson and Associates, PC, 2200 Lakeshore Drive, Suite 150, Birmingham, AL 35222
205-871-6926, kdabrams (at) bellsouth.net
Brief statement: I have been a clinical psychologist for almost 20 years, and have devoted myself to working primarily with individuals and couples on sexual health and relationship issues since I completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Program in Human Sexuality 10 years ago. I have experience working with polyamorous couples, as well as with individuals and couples representing many sexualities and lifestyles that are non-conventional.
Dossie Easton, M.A.
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #27782
San Francisco, California (Video Conference sessions available)
415-752-7455; dossiemft (at) dossieeaston.com
Brief statement: Co-author with Janet Hardy of The Ethical Slut and other books about BDSM, I serve my communities and train interns in my practice in San Francisco, where I offer therapy and counseling to individuals, couples and more. Along with lifestyle issues, I have expertise and experience in working with survivors of child abuse and other traumas, people living with serious illness, and anxiety, depression, bipolar and other emotional difficulties.
M. Francesca Gentille
Relationship empowerment coach, Clinical Sexologist, Cross Cultural Minister, Relationship By Design Counselor, Expertise in Aging & Sexuality, Expertise in Addiction Recovery & Recovery after Trauma.
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA; Sierra and Reno, NV; phone consultations or sessions
510-759-3839, Francesca (at) LifeDanceCenter.com
Brief statement: Francesca Gentille is a nationally recognized empowering relationship expert, clinical sexologist, flirting instructor, Non-Violent Communication coach, award winning co-editor of The Marriage of Sex And Spirit: Relationships at the Heart of Conscious Evolution
Danielle Harel, PhD
Sex Coaching and Therapy
Location: Lombard St. (At Buchanan), San Francisco, CA; Sunnyvale, CA; phone consultations or sessions
408-469-1989, danielle (at) celesteanddanielle.com
Brief statement: Dr. Danielle Harel is a clinical sexologist, and a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. Danielle brings her passion, depth, intuition, and magnetizing personality to her coaching session. Harnessing her extensive training as a sexologist and her background in psychology and body-based modalities, she leads people into the depth of their desires to support them in reaching their fullest sexual potential. She is particularly talented in helping her clients release shame and accept themselves fully. Danielle offers her clients a unique, experiential and exciting process to transform their relationships, create intense and loving connections and live their lives passionately.
Celeste Hirschman, M.A.
Sex Coaching and Therapy
Location: Lombard St. (at Buchanan) San Francisco, CA; phone consultations or sessions
415-336-3258, celeste (at) celesteanddanielle.com
Brief statement: In her coaching, therapy and workshops, Celeste draws on multiple perspectives including somatic therapy, sexological bodywork, and celebrating eroticism to help her clients realize their full potential and deepen their experiences of pleasure and embodiment. Celeste brings her unconditional love, presence, erotic energy and spirituality to her coaching in order to create an open, safe and exciting container where her clients can explore every aspect of themselves without guilt or shame.
Charles Moser, PhD, MD, FACP
Internal Medicine and Sexual Medicine
45 Castro Street, #125, San Francisco CA 94114
415-621-4369, docx2 (at) ix.netcom.com
Brief statement: Non-judgmental medical care, as well as treating the medical aspects of sexual concerns and sexual aspects of medical concerns
Felice Newman
Somatic Sex Coach
Location: San Francisco Bay area; phone consultations available
510.703.7125
felice (at) felicenewman.com
Brief Statement: I’m a somatic coach and sex educator, and the author of The Whole Lesbian Sex Book: A Passionate Guide for All of Us (Cleis Press). I believe that everyone can have a fulfilling sex life. Whether you have one partner or many, you can have intimate sexual relationships that expand and deepen over time. When you have sex, you bring with you the whole package of who you are: your sexual history, your beliefs about sex and gender, your accumulated sexual wisdom, your erotic imagination and yearnings, and your physical structure. My work addresses all of these aspects from the viewpoint of your concerns. What do you want? What’s missing now? Where are you “stuck”? What new competencies do you need to develop to reach your goals? I combine sex education with somatic bodywork (fully clothed). We use breathwork, self-observation, and simple movement exercises to guide you toward the new skills, practices, and perspectives that would have you say that you are thoroughly delighted with your sex life.
Adrienne Parker-Morano, LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (License # MFT 39605)
Location: 341 Broadway Suite 409 Chico, CA 95928; phone counseling sessions available
530-321-6148, spiralcreations (at) sbcglobal.net
Brief Statement: I’m a psychotherapist licensed in the state of California. My specialties are alternative relationship styles, polyamory, communication, spirituality, sexuality,truth-telling and life-coaching. I do both in office and distance counseling sessions.
Geri D. Weitzman, PhD
Psychologist (License # PSY17963)
Location: 3884 24th Street (near Sanchez), San Francisco, CA 94114
Phone consultations or sessions: For California residents, I will sometimes agree to do phone sessions after the initial in-person consultation. Generally I will ask the client to come in person every 4th session or so.
415-517-7965, gdw (at) numenor.org
Brief statement: I am a licensed psychologist, practicing in San Francisco’s Noe Valley neighborhood. I enjoy helping people to find creative ways to solve problems and become more fully themselves. I offer a warm and supportive environment that affirms the diversity of each individual. My specialties include: relationship counseling, depression, anxiety, self esteem, substance abuse, internet addiction, personal growth, anger management, codependency, emotional abuse survivor issues, career issues, and coming out. I welcome clients from a variety of subcultures, including bisexual, lesbian, gay, transgender, bdsm, polyamory, hiv/poz, pagan, goth, geek, etc. For those with insurance: I am a member of the Blue Shield, UBH, Pacificare, United Health Care, and US Behavioral Health Plan panels.
Winston Wilde
Doctor of Human Sexuality, Marriage & Family Therapist (CA License MFC39060), Certified Sex Therapist (AASECT)
Location: 152 Lasky Drive, Suite 103 Beverly Hills, CA 90212
323-692-9120, docwilde (at) pacbell.net
Brief statement: Dr. Wilde works mostly with erotic minority people (swingers, BDSM, polyfolk, fetishists) in individual, couple and family therapy.
Adam Zimbardo, MFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, AASECT-certified Sex Educator
Location: 1231 Market Street, Suite 810, San Francisco, CA 94103
415-280-2221, adamz (at) adamzmft.net
Brief Statement: I have been working with nonmonogamous couples, open relationships, polyamory and BDSM/kink-identified clients for many years. I see individuals, couples, and triads, primarily focusing on short-term counseling and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
P. Michele Sugg
MSW, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), AASECT Certified Sex Therapist
Location: 184 Maple St., Branford CT 06405
203-488-2630, michele@michelesugg.com
Brief statement: Over 25 years of experience, training at Masters and Johnson Institute, 18 years at Yale Psychiatric Institute prior to private practice. Sex Therapy Advisor to Alexander Foundation for Women’s Health. Philosophy: Every individual has the right to an enjoyable, guilt free, fulfilling sex life. Eclectic approach to help attain therapeutic goals. Caring, confidential, treatment.
George Kallas, Ph.D., Psy.D.
Psychotherapist, Sex Therapist, & Hypnotherapist
Location: 940 S. Federal Hwy, Hollywood FL 33020 (also has offices in Ft. Lauderdale & Davie, FL)
954-987-0280, theorioncenter (at) yahoo.com
Brief statement: GLBT, Lifestyle/Swinger, and Poly-Friendly therapist with an eclectic therapy style.
Issa Waters
Parenting Coach
Location: Greater Atlanta Area; phone and email consultations or sessions
678-508-8633, erosissa (at) gmail.com
Brief Statement: I have been a childcare professional in the Atlanta area for over ten years. I became a Parenting Coach when I realized that parents often have little situations that arise where they could use some direct, objective, personal advice, rather than the cookie-cutter answers from books or the time and expense of therapy. Coaching can cover everything from sibling rivalry, food issues, general discipline tactics, bedtime routines, potty training, educational concerns, blended family challenges, etc. and often also strays into adult issues like sexuality and finances - anything that affects the harmony of the home.
Lara M. West, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, therapist
Location: 2512 Covington St., West Lafayette, IN 47906. Serving the greater Lafayette and northern Indianapolis area
765-497-3932, ext 95: 317-956-2030 for emergency or after hours contact
laramwest (at) yahoo.com
Brief statement: Using a realistic, strengths-based approach (and some humor), I work provide a safe, non-judgmental and objective atmosphere for clients to explore possibilities for acceptance and change.
Joe James, Ph.D.
Psychologist
Location: 4400 East West Highway, Suite 712 Bethesda, MD 20814, in person sessions and phone consultations
301.657.1144
DrJoe (at) DrJoeJames.com
Brief Statement: I have been working with individuals, couples, triads, foursomes and moresomes from the swinging, polyamory and BDSM communities in the Washington, D.C. area since 1995. I strive to create a warm and nonjudgmental atmostphere in which people can comfortably explore the issues they are struggling with. Whether you are seeking therapy for reasons related to your lifestyle or for reasons unrelated, you can rest assured that I am knowledgeable and accepting of that aspect of your life.
Shervon Laurice, MS, LCPC
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Location: Silver Spring MD; phone consultations or sessions.
301-873-4457, slaurice (at) gmail.com
Brief statement: I enjoy working with adults on issues around depression, anxiety, sexual identity/GLBT, stress, relationships, spirituality, and personal growth. I practice a holistic, mindfulness approach to therapy in which I walk with my clients on their journey toward self-discovery and personal growth. My focus is to facilitate life change by helping clients “clear away the mud” from the lens with which they view themselves, others and the world around them.
Eric S Blumberg, Ph. D., LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Location: Bonaventure Center, 11111 Hall Road, Suite 303, Utica, MI 48317
office: 586-997-3153 (general clinic questions such as insurances accepted); cell: 248-416-0685 (for appointments)
esblumberg (at) pobox.com
Brief statement: Sexologist and counselor/therapist providing lifestyle sensitive counseling to poly, kink, and LGBT people. Knowledgeable about and accepting of alternative lifestyles. Provides warm and genuine therapy and relationship counseling/coaching to all, based on the issues brought in rather than vanilla community judgmental expectations about what “should” be worked on. With my sexologist hat I provide coaching in the areas Tristan writes about and films, and I am an expert at coaching men and women on extending their sexual pleasure to include multiple (mostly women) and extended up to 1/2 hour (men and women) orgasms. Very experienced in working with highly sexual women to discuss any issues that may be arising from this normal but higher than usual desire aspect of their lives.
see: M. Francesca Gentille under California
Mark Michaels and Patricia Johnson
Tantra Teachers
Location: New York Metropolitan area
914-962-7328, info (at) TantraPM.com
Brief Statement: We have been teaching Tantra and Kriya Yoga together since 1999. We are the authors of The Essence of Tantric Sexuality, a National Best Books 2007 Award-Winner in the Health: Sexuality category and an Award-Winning Finalist in the Religion: Eastern Religions category, and Tantra for Erotic Empowerment. We also wrote and appeared in two instructional DVDs: “Tantric Sexual Massage for Lovers” and “Advanced Tantric Sex Secrets” (Alexander Institute, 2008), and have contributed articles to various online and print publications, including Chronogram and Debonair. We’re available for group workshops and private instructions and honor all consensual forms of sexual expression.
Reid Mihalko
Sex and Relationship Coach and Educator
Location: New York Metro Area (also San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas); in person and phone sessions and workshops
212.737.6368, 917.207.4554; reid@cuddleparty.com
Brief Statement: Reid Mihalko is a coach, writer and educator with a remarkable ability to create a profound sense of safety for clients upon meeting or speaking with them. His coaching focuses on opening up new space for sexual and sensual self-expression inside relationships through the use of role modeling, forthright communication, and a deeper, pragmatic understanding of how relationships and emotions work. Reid’s coaching approach is simple: He uses that sense of safety he so easily generates as a tuning fork to teach people how to make themselves feel safe and empowered. From their own foundation of safety, and applying the powerful communication tools and perspectives woven through Reid’s life and work, clients can then invite others into their “safe-space.” Reid has worked with thousands of individuals from all walks of life, all orientations, relationship “lovestyles,” countries and religionsNORTH CAROLINA
Amy Stapleford, M.Ed.
Sexuality educator, coach, blogger, group facilitator, artist, activist, nerd and enthusiast
Location: Chapel Hill, NC; phone consultations or sessions
amy (at) embodiedsexuality.com
Brief statement: I am a sexual embodiment coach and sexuality educator who accompanies folks as they create relationships that work for them by assisting them in identifying and embracing their desires and boundaries, actively living in and through the body, and learning how to clearly communicate with partners. I believe there is no “Right” way to be a sexual being, as long as relationships and activities are all fully consensual.
Anna Marti
Intimacy Coaching, Sex and Spirit Coaching
Location: Portland, OR
503-705-7753, annamarti15 (at) hotmail.com
Brief statement: Anna Marti is an Intimacy Coach, passionate in supporting men and women of all ages, all orientations, alone or partnered, towards creating new and practical maps towards a vibrant and nourishing erotic connection with themselves and the world. She provides a bridge between more esoteric ‘tantric’ teachings and western psychotherapeutic and somatic practices that are congruent with personal values. Sessions contain a combination of teaching, counseling and experiential practices. She has been practicing for 17 years and is a member of AASECT, ASEP and SSSS.
David Dean Schwartz, MSW, Ed.D (candidate)
LSW (Licensed Social Worker)
Location: 8302 Old York Rd., Elkins Park, PA 19027; serving SE Pennsylvania and Southern NJ.
215-392-4636, dave-lsw (at) comcast.net
Brief statement: I am currently completing a doctorate in Human Sexuality at Widener University, and working towards AASECT Certification. More information about my philosophy and approach is available at my website.
Denis “Woodja” Flanigan, M.S., L.P.A.
Psychotherapist
Location: 2600 Southwest Fwy, Suite 409, Houston, TX 77098. Offering brief phone consultations and in-office sessions. 713-589-9804
denisflanigan (at) aol.com
Brief Statement: Offering individual psychotherapy, relationship counseling, career counseling, personality assessments, and presentations addressing various issues. Active in the local GLBT and leather/BDSM communities and is accepting of persons from a range of genders (M, F, T), ethnicities, and sexual lifestyles (e.g., polyamorous, swingers/the lifestyle, Sir/boy, BDSM, GLBT/heterosexual, etc.). Initial consultation at no charge.
Robert McGarey, M.A.
Poly Relationship counselor
Loction: Available nationally by phone. Located at The Human Potential Center, 2007 Bert Avenue, Austin, TX 78704
Phone consultations or sessions? Yes, and the first introductory half-hour session is free5-phone number(s)
512-441-8988; Bob (at) HumanPotentialCenter.org
Brief statement : Personal Growth/Relationship Sessions for Individuals, Couples, Triads, Quads or Moresomes. Author of The Poly Communication Survival Kit. Frequent presenter at national poly conferences. Over 25 years experience with poly issues. Knowledgeable, insightful, non-judgmental. Phone sessions available. $90 for full 60-minute hour. Sliding scale available.VIRGINIA
Sarah Sloane
Life coach / communications & relationship coach
Location: Northern Virginia / Washington DC area; phone / email consultations
sarah.sloane (at) gmail.com
Brief Statement: Sarah Sloane is an educator and coach focusing particularly on working with clients who self identify as polyamorous, kinky, queer, and other sexual / gender minorities. Sarah’s commitment to clients is to work with them to identify areas of challenge and blockage in all areas of their lives, and support them in goal creation and attainment, using her coaching skills, her compassion, and her knowledge in the areas of time management, organization, and mission statement / goal creation and planning.
Jody Myers, MA
Therapist and/or consultant for individuals, couples, and families
Location: Seattle area
206-437-5623, jodymyers (at) mac.com; findingthebalance (at) oz.net
Brief statement: I accept and embrace the diversity of human experience and expression. Within that construct, I act as a catalyst stimulating growth and learning that can facilitate each unique situation to unfold and expand into more personal satisfaction.
Jasmine St. John
MS, MFT
Location: Madison, WI
608-663-6154, jsj (at) jsjtherapy.com
Brief statement: Specializing in alternative relationships configurations, GLBT, polyamory, alternative family formations, sexual identity, sex workers, fetishes, BDSM, sexual exploration, swinging, sexual abuse, sexual spirituality, introducing sexual ideas to your partner/s, self acceptance of sexual preferences, and non traditional approaches to sexuality. The therapist also works with traditional couples in regards to their relationship, sexual choices, and communication.
Wally Wolfe, LPC
Professor (Psychology and Human Sexuality) with part-time general counseling practice. The “LPC” reflects Wyoming licensure as a professional counselor.
Location: Northwest College, Frisby Building, 231 W. 6th St, Powell, WY 82435.
307-754-6132, wally.wolfe (at) northwestcollege.edu
Brief statement : 20+ years of experience as a therapist, 15+ years teaching Human Sexuality, research interest in alternative sexualities in rural communities (we don’t all live in NYC or Southern California), listed as a “kink friendly” professional with the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom. Safe¸ non-judgmental, and (this is a rural area) very careful with confidentiality.
American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT)
Bisexuality-Aware Professionals Directory
list of professionals who are sensitive to the unique needs of bisexual clientele.
Kink-Aware Professionals
Resource for people who are seeking psychotherapeutic, medical, and legal professionals who are informed about the diversity of consensual, adult sexuality (maintained by the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom).
Kink-Aware Professionals - Canada
Poly-Friendly Professionals
list of professionals who have been referred or who have identified themselves as being open-minded about polyamory and polyamorous issues.
If you or someone you know would like to be added to the Open List, email the following information to sarah (at) puckerup.com:
-Name
-Title/Occupation/License/What You Do (examples: MSW, PhD., relationship coach)
-Location: this can be a street address or the area you serve, like New York Metropolitan area
-do you do phone consultations or sessions?
-phone number(s)
-Email address
-website
-brief statement about experience, your practice, anything else you want to say
