what i’m about
I’m Jen Joseph.
(she/her/hers)
I’m an NYC-born, West Coast dwelling therapist and healer endlessly curious about, and excited by, personal and collective growth, healing and all things sex and relationship geekery. I’ve been a practicing psychotherapist since 2013 and began to dive into the world of sex therapy in 2017 and am now an AASECT certified sex therapist. My practice and training continues to be centered around helping folks with all things sex and relational intimacy.
My style is nurturing, direct, compassionate, and at times, playful. I’m straight talking, sensitive and engaged. I like to center my approach in the here-and-now while understanding how your history and background has shaped the person (or people) you are today.
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 love. 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. ”
I enjoy supporting those in intimate relationships (and those who want to be) create satisfying partnerships based in love, joy and authenticity. I delight in helping folks navigate the task of being a caring partner while being true to oneself. Whether you need support with communication, recovering after a betrayal, building your future, or rediscovering passion in your relationship, 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.
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.
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 frequently invest in continuing education trainings and receive weekly consultation from expert therapists in the field.
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.”
Education
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
Training + Certifications
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in California + Oregon
Certified Sex Therapist (CST) through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT)
Problem Sexual Behavior (PSB) Certified by the Sexual Health Alliance with Dr. David Ley and Michael Vigorito, year-long training
Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT) with Stan Tatkin, Level 2 Therapist
Discernment Counseling Practitioner, trained with Bill Doherty at the Doherty Institute
Graduate of the Developmental Model Couples Therapy Training, The Couples Institute, year-long training
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) Core Skills Training + EFT Externship
Transformative Couples Therapy Core Training with David Mars, year-long training
Relational Life Therapy Level 1 with Terry Real
Transforming Resistance Series with Steve Shapiro
Tami Chelew’s ISTDP-informed Couples Therapy Monthly Series (in process)
Pre-core Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) training with David Rudesil, three days online
Lifescript training + Transactional Analysis 101 Training, 24 hours, with Dr. Vann Joines at the Southeast Institute
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) Immersion with Diana Fosha, AEDP Level 1 Therapist
Sex Therapy Certificate Program, California Institute of Integral Studies, 2017-2021
Integrative Couples Therapy Training, Integrative Sex Therapy Institute
Foundations of Somatic Sex Education, Level 1, Institute for the Study of Somatic Sex Education, online (in process)
Somatica Institute Couples Training
Certified VortexHealing® Practitioner (trained at the highest level), 2008-present, VortexHealing Institute
Expressive Arts Therapy Level 1 Personal Embodiment, Tamalpa Institute
Webinars with Martha Kauppi and Marty Klein on polyamory, desire discrepancies, attraction issues, low-sex partnerships
Ongoing, weekly individual and group consultation with senior sex and relationship psychotherapists in the field
Clinical Experience
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
Professional Affiliations + Memberships