Lauren Goldstein

Relational 

Relational therapy recognizes that much of our pain — and much of our healing — happens in relationship. I use this approach to help clients understand how they relate to themselves and others, notice the patterns that keep them feeling stuck or disconnected, and practice new ways of expressing needs, setting boundaries, and staying connected in the relationships that matter.

Psychodynamic 

I have specialized postgraduate training in psychodynamic therapy and over 20 years of clinical experience using this approach. I help clients better understand themselves, their emotions, and their relationship patterns so they can make deeper, more meaningful changes.

Couples Counseling

As an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist with training in emotionally focused couples therapy, Relational Life Therapy, and the Gottman Method, I bring specialized skills to help couples talk more openly about sex, intimacy, and desire, and rebuild emotional and sexual connection.

Emotionally Focused

I have specialized training in Emotionally Focused Therapy and use it as part of an integrative approach to couples and sex therapy. EFT helps couples understand the emotional patterns beneath conflict, withdrawal, sexual disconnection, and desire differences, so they can communicate with less defensiveness and rebuild emotional and sexual connection

Attachment Theory

I use attachment theory to help clients understand how their early relationships shape who they’re drawn to, how they love, how they protect themselves, and how they show up sexually and emotionally. This can help individuals and couples make sense of repeating patterns, talk more clearly about their needs, and build relationships that are more secure and fulfilling.

Sexual Problems

As an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, I help individuals and couples work through concerns such as low desire, mismatched desire, sexual anxiety, pain with sex, shame, avoidance, and difficulty feeling present or connected. My work is depth-oriented, LGBTQ+ affirming, and attentive to the emotional, relational, and body-based factors that can make sex feel pressured, distant, or complicated.

Relationship / Marriage Issues

I help couples heal from sexual disconnection, desire discrepancy, infidelity, and other relational ruptures. I focus on helping partners communicate more clearly about sex, needs, hurt, and resentment so they can understand what has broken down, rebuild trust, and reconnect emotionally and sexually.

Cancer

I work with couples navigating cancer, caregiving, and the ways illness and treatment can affect intimacy, sexual functioning, desire, body image, and connection. I help partners talk more openly about fear, grief, changing roles, physical limitations, and sexual changes so they can stay connected and find new ways to experience closeness during and after treatment

Anxiety

I work well with people whose anxiety shows up as overthinking, perfectionism, difficulty relaxing, self-criticism, or feeling mentally on all the time. I help clients understand the deeper emotional patterns beneath anxiety so they can feel more grounded, present, and connected to themselves. I also help clients work through the ways anxiety can interfere with sex, intimacy, and desire so they can feel more ease, connection, and confidence in their relationships.

LGBTQ Issues

I’m LGBTQ+ affirming & have specialized experience working with queer women, queer couples, bisexual clients, asexual and demisexual clients, gender nonconforming folks, and people with identities that are often invisible or misunderstood. I help clients work through issues related to identity, desire, sex, intimacy, relationship patterns, and the stress of not fitting neatly into the categories others expect.