Our Approach
Safety Is Something You Feel, Not Something You Force
Sex therapy at SOMA is somatic trauma therapy applied to the body's protective and sexual response systems. It is individual work, not couples counseling and not behavioral coaching. We do not ask you to push through, perform, or override what your body is telling you. Instead we work with the nervous system directly, integrating EMDR, somatic therapy, and certified sex therapy protocols, so safety becomes something you feel rather than something you talk yourself into. You do not need a trauma diagnosis, and you do not need the right words for what feels off.
This content is educational and informational. It is not psychotherapy, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it is not a substitute for care from a licensed professional. Reading this page does not create a therapist-client relationship with SOMA. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 or call 911.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Trauma-Informed Sex Therapy
Is trauma-informed sex therapy the same as couples counseling?
No. Sex therapy at SOMA is individual work, not couples counseling and not behavioral coaching. It is somatic trauma therapy applied to the body's protective and sexual response systems. Rather than assigning exercises or techniques to push through, we work with your nervous system directly, so safety becomes something you feel rather than something you talk yourself into. Care is provided by Dr. Reyna Aday, PhD, LMHC, a Board Certified Sex Therapist. You can come on your own, whether or not you are in a relationship, and whether or not a partner is involved in the concern.
Why do I feel numb, tense, or disconnected during intimacy?
These are protective responses, not personal failures. When the nervous system senses threat, even old threat the mind has moved past, the body can brace, tighten, or go numb to keep you safe. Desire, arousal, and pleasure are nervous-system states, and they tend to recede when the body does not feel safe enough for them. This is why willpower and technique often do not help. At SOMA we work with these protective patterns rather than overriding them, so your body can gradually find the safety that lets those states return on their own.
Do I need a trauma diagnosis or a specific memory to start?
No. You do not need a trauma diagnosis, and you do not need the right words for what feels off. Many people arrive knowing only that something in their body braces, shuts down, or does not respond the way they want, without a clear story to explain it. That is enough to begin. Trauma-informed sex therapy at SOMA follows what your nervous system shows us in the present, rather than requiring you to recover or narrate specific events. The work meets you where your body is, not where you think it should be.
What clinical approaches does SOMA use in sex therapy?
SOMA integrates EMDR, somatic therapy, and certified sex therapy protocols within a trauma-informed frame. Because desire and arousal are nervous-system states, the focus is on helping the body feel safe rather than on performance or technique. We do not ask you to push through, perform, or override what your body is telling you. Instead we work with the protective and sexual response systems directly. Care is provided by Dr. Reyna Aday, PhD, LMHC, a Board Certified Sex Therapist, so clinical rigor and a trauma-informed approach come together in the same room.
Is sex therapy at SOMA private, and is it available virtually?
Yes. Sessions are confidential individual work, conducted with clinical care and without explicit demands on you. SOMA sees adult clients in person at our Coral Gables office and virtually by telehealth for residents of the states where we are licensed. Many clients find virtual sessions allow them to do this work from a space where they already feel safe. SOMA is private pay and out of network, and we can provide a superbill for possible out-of-network reimbursement. HSA and FSA funds are often eligible. Rates are shared during your consultation.