Support for Healthy Sexuality, Intimacy, and Relationship Challenges
Riviera Therapy offers compassionate, experienced sex therapy and intimacy counseling for individuals and couples in Santa Barbara and throughout California. Our marriage and family therapists offer compassionate, experienced sex therapy and intimacy counseling supported by training in clinical sexology, trauma-informed care, and clinical psychology.
Our team includes multiple therapists with advanced training and certification in sex therapy and sex addiction treatment, including Certified Sex Addiction Therapy (CSAT) credentials. Riviera is one of the few therapy practices in Central California with multiple sex therapists on staff. Clients may work directly with nationally recognized Board Certified Sex Therapist Dr. Jenn Kennedy or another highly trained clinician under her supervision and guidance. All therapists in this focus area receive ongoing training and clinical support to ensure consistent, high-quality care.
Whether you’re seeking help with desire discrepancies, sexual shame, trauma, dysfunction, or conflict around intimacy, our team is here to support you with skill and respect.
Who We Help
We support clients from all backgrounds and orientations, including:
- Individuals working through shame, trauma, or discomfort around sex
- People exploring their sexual identity, orientation, or preferences
- Couples experiencing differences in desire or compatibility
- Parents reconnecting with intimacy after childbirth or life transitions
- Partners navigating infidelity, compulsive behaviors, or betrayal
- Clients with past experiences of abuse, trauma, or body image issues, including those healing from sexual trauma or navigating complex family dynamics with the support of a family therapist
- Adult children working through generational patterns or early developmental trauma that may affect their sexual or emotional well being
Our approach is affirming, sex-positive, and trauma-informed. We welcome clients across the lifespan, whether you’re just beginning to explore your sexual self or healing after decades of suppression or shame.
What to Expect
Therapy sessions focus on safety, trust, and self-discovery. We explore:
- Your personal history, experiences, and beliefs about sex
- Patterns in relationships and attachment
- Communication around needs and boundaries
- The impact of trauma, religion, culture, or past sexual trauma on your sexual self
- Exploring healthy sexuality and emotional intimacy through a depth psychological perspective
- Restoring pleasure, connection, and confidence
We integrate tools from talk therapy, attachment theory, mindfulness, Internal Family Systems, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization), object relations, and somatic psychotherapy depending on your needs. Our goal is to support healing and empowerment, not to pathologize or rush your process.
Some common goals include:
- Reclaiming your sexual identity after trauma, illness, or major life changes
- Addressing performance anxiety or avoidance
- Understanding your own desire or arousal patterns
- Building more emotional and physical safety and intimacy in your relationship
- Working through pain, shame, or disconnection
Why Choose Riviera Therapy
Riviera Therapy is a trusted provider of sex therapy in Santa Barbara and Central California. In addition to Dr. Jenn Kennedy’s deep expertise and public visibility in this field, our practice includes multiple therapists trained to support clients with complex sexual concerns. Dr. Jenn has been featured on national podcasts and speaks regularly at professional conferences, helping to reduce shame and increase awareness around sexual health and intimacy.
Our therapists draw on a foundation in clinical psychology, clinical sexology, and interpersonal neurobiology to support meaningful connections and sexual healing. We offer:
- Discreet, affirming, inclusive care
- Specialized knowledge in sex addiction, kink/BDSM, and couples dynamics
- A nonjudgmental approach to sexual healing and exploration
- Options for individual, couples, or group therapy
We are one of the few practices in Santa Barbara with a board certified sex therapist and a certified sex addiction therapist on staff. Riviera Therapy also has connections with organizations such as the Pacific Pride Foundation and the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, staying aligned with the latest standards in trauma treatment and inclusive care.
You don’t need to have a clear goal or a specific problem to get started. Many people come to therapy simply wanting to understand themselves better and build a more satisfying relationship to intimacy, connection, and pleasure.
For additional resources on women’s sexuality, you can also explore The Pleasure Project.
Begin the Conversation
Whether you’re looking for compassionate support, advanced trauma treatment, or help navigating life transitions and difficult emotions, Riviera Therapy is a trusted private practice offering expert care in Santa Barbara and beyond.
If you’re struggling with intimacy, sexuality, or feeling disconnected from yourself or your partner, you’re not alone. Our team is here to support you, whether you work with Jenn directly or one of our experienced sex therapists.
Contact us to schedule a free consultation or request an appointment today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sex therapy is a specialized form of talk therapy that helps individuals and couples address concerns related to sexual function, sexual desire, emotional intimacy, and relationships. At Riviera Therapy in Santa Barbara, our therapists create a safe space where you can feel comfortable discussing sex, explore your experiences, and work toward a healthier and more fulfilling relationship with your sexuality.
Working with a board certified sex therapist or a certified sex addiction therapist ensures that your provider has received advanced training in sexual health, clinical sexology, and trauma-informed care. Riviera Therapy is one of the few private practices in Central California with multiple certified sex therapists on staff. Whether you’re dealing with sexual trauma, dysfunction, or identity questions, you’ll receive knowledgeable and compassionate support.
Yes. Many clients come to therapy because of sexual desire differences or concerns like erectile dysfunction, pain during sex, or low libido. These are common, treatable issues. We explore both emotional and physical factors and use approaches from clinical psychology, couples therapy, and somatic psychotherapy to find what works for you.
Not at all. While many couples seek support together, we also work with individual clients who want to heal past trauma, explore identity, or develop a more affirming relationship with their body and sexuality. Whether you’re single, partnered, married, or questioning, sex therapy can support your personal growth and well being.
Our Santa Barbara team includes multiple therapists with extensive training in sex therapy, sex addiction, and trauma treatment. All therapists work under the supervision of nationally recognized expert Jenn Kennedy. We use an integrative approach that draws from Internal Family Systems, object relations, interpersonal neurobiology, and EMDR to help clients navigate complex emotional and relational challenges.
Yes. Sexual trauma can affect intimacy and self-image for years. Our therapists offer trauma-informed care to help you process past experiences, reclaim your sexuality, and find resolution. We also help you develop coping skills and restore a sense of safety, whether you’re healing from abuse, betrayal, or chronic shame.
Absolutely. Riviera Therapy is inclusive and affirming of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and relationship structures. We believe in self-affirming care and support clients exploring human sexuality in all its forms.
Yes. We offer telehealth appointments for clients across California. Online therapy allows you to access expert support from the comfort of your home. It’s well suited for people with busy schedules, limited local options, or those who feel more comfortable discussing intimate topics in a private, familiar space.
Our clients talk about many topics, including emotional intimacy, sexual dysfunction, sex addiction, desire differences, parenting and intimacy, body image, and rebuilding trust after infidelity. Therapy is a chance to reflect, feel supported, and build meaningful connections—whether you’re navigating marriage, dating, or personal transitions.
