Certified Sex & Couples Therapist · LCSW
When intimacy
feels distant,
expertise matters.
Specialized therapy for couples and individuals navigating desire, connection & complex relationship transitions.
Working with thoughtful professionals, couples at a crossroads, and individuals in the full spectrum of relationship structures: LGBTQ+, ENM, kink-aware, and beyond. Telehealth in New York, Connecticut & Michigan.
Paula Kirsch
LCSW, CST · PhD Student, MSTI
- Certified Sex Therapist (IBOSP & IAPST)
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Gottman Trained, Level II
- Brainspotting Trained
- PhD Student in Sexology, MSTI
Who I Work With
Therapy designed for those who are ready to do the work.
My practice serves high-functioning professionals and thoughtful individuals who want real, lasting change, not a prescription pad and vague reassurances. I work within the full complexity of modern relationships.
If your public life looks successful while your private life feels strained, you're in the right place.
Begin TodayCouples at a Crossroads
Struggling with desire gaps, communication breakdown, or wondering whether to stay or go.
Women's Sexual Health
Often referred by OB/GYNs for addressing pain with sex, low desire, hormonal changes, vaginismus, and intimacy after medical events.
High-Achieving Professionals
Successful careers, private relationship distress, navigating intimacy on a demanding schedule.
LGBTQ+, ENM & Kink Communities
A truly affirming space for diverse identities and relationship structures, free from judgment.
Mixed-Orientation Couples
Navigating sexual incompatibility, orientation disclosure, or identity evolution within a partnership.
Divorce & Life Transitions
Women questioning whether to stay or leave, navigating separation, or rebuilding identity and intimacy after a major relationship shift.
Specialty Services
Expert care for complex needs.
01
Sex Therapy
Addressing desire discrepancy, sexual dysfunction, intimacy avoidance, trauma, and body image concerns using evidence-based methods, including EMDR and Brainspotting, in a confidential, clinical environment.
Explore Sex Therapy02
Couples Therapy
Rebuilding trust, improving communication, and navigating conflict using Gottman Method techniques. Whether you're working through resentment, considering divorce, or wanting to strengthen an already good relationship.
Explore Couples Therapy03
Brainspotting
A powerful brain-body technique for processing trauma, emotional blocks, and deeply held relational patterns that talk therapy alone may not reach. Paula's preferred clinical modality, available as regular sessions or intensive formats.
Explore Brainspotting04
LGBTQ+, Kink & Polyam Affirming
An unequivocally affirming practice for all gender identities, sexual orientations, and relationship structures. Your choices and identity are not pathologized. They're the starting point.
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Women's Sexual Health
Specialized therapy for women experiencing sexual pain, low desire, vaginismus, arousal difficulties, or intimacy challenges following medical events or hormonal changes. Frequently partnered with OB/GYN referrals for integrated care.
Learn More06
Brainspotting Intensives
Extended-format Brainspotting sessions for accelerated trauma processing. Ideal for those who need deeper work than weekly sessions allow, or who are traveling specifically for intensive care.
Explore IntensivesAbout Paula
A clinician with
real depth of expertise.
"I work at the intersection of clinical rigor and genuine human complexity, because that's where real change actually happens."
I'm Paula Kirsch, a Certified Sex Therapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and PhD student in sexology at MSTI. I specialize in working with couples and individuals navigating intimacy, desire, and the full spectrum of relationship dynamics.
My clients tend to be thoughtful, high-functioning people who have often tried other forms of therapy and found them too surface-level. They come to me because they want a clinician who understands the nuanced terrain of sexuality, relationship structure, and emotional connection, and who won't flinch at the complexity.
My Approach
Evidence-based.
Deeply human.
Gottman Method
Empirically validated couples work focused on trust, friendship, and navigating conflict constructively.
Brainspotting
Brain-body trauma processing that reaches what cognitive approaches alone cannot access. Paula's preferred modality for deep, lasting change.
EMDR Trained
Trained in EMDR for trauma processing, with a clinical preference for Brainspotting as a deeper, more gentle alternative.
Sex-Positive Clinical Framework
Rooted in current sexology research, not outdated norms, affirming the full range of human sexuality.
Telehealth Practice
Private, secure sessions
from your home.
Skip the commute. All sessions are conducted via HIPAA-compliant video: private, discreet, and available in three states.
New York
Serving NY professionals who value privacy, convenience, and clinical sophistication. No commute. No waiting room. Fully confidential.
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Connecticut
Licensed in CT, with deep roots in the state and an understanding of the unique pressures of professional life in the Northeast.
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Michigan
Licensed in Michigan offering specialized sex therapy, couples therapy, and LGBTQ+ affirming care across the state.
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Clinical Insights
From the practice.
Women's Sexual Health
Postpartum Intimacy & Identity Shifts: Body, Desire, and Relationship After Birth
Women's Sexual Health
Understanding HSDD: When Low Desire Is More Than a Prescription Can Fix
Clinical Insights
Explore All Articles from the Practice
Ready to Begin?
The right therapist makes
all the difference.
Reaching out takes courage. When you're ready, I'm here, with the clinical depth, the specialized training, and the genuine commitment to help you move forward.