MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER LIST
This is a list of therapy providers who responded to a brief Q&A about serving sex workers, self-ID as “sex worker friendly”, and volunteered to release their information on our website. BAWS does not officially endorse any of the therapists, but we have done initial vetting to have them be on this list. They are presented in random order.
how it works - an example mental health provider
first last name
Pronouns, title. Specialties & types of services offered. Phone number, email, website. Rates, insurance. Availability.
Daniela Sawicki Rivera
She/they, AMFT. Daniela has worked with sex workers and has put forth publications in support of decriminalization and destigmatization of fssw. She’s also been active in advocating for the community and offers trainings on sex work competency to folks in healthcare. She is a bilingual Latina therapist and also specializes in working with mixed race/biracial folks and LGBTQ+ folks. Location: Oakland, CA (currently telehealth) Website: www.DanielaSawicki.com Contact: Daniela@doorwaytherapeutics.com Cost: $180/session with some sliding scale slots
Denise Renye
She/her, PsyD, certified sexologist and yoga therapist, mindfulness for sex workers, business coaching for sex workers, psychedelic integration, trauma training, psychedelic therapies and research. Individual therapy, group therapy, couples therapy. (415) 286-5014. deniserenye@wholepersonintegration.com www.wholepersonintegration.com $500 intake; $380 thereafter. Sliding scale spots available at times. No insurance and no sliding scale. Available Weekday AM & Weekday PM.
Will Williams
She/him, LMFT. Depth work, childhood trauma/trauma work, social justice, harm reduction, grief/loss, somatic/body oriented (no touch), sex/body positive, attachment oriented, mindfulness, developing self compassion, EMDR, gender work. Individual therapy & couples therapy. (510) 575-0860. will@mindfulcenter.org. www.sewilliamstherapy.com $150/hour. No insurance yes sliding scale. Available Weekday AM & Weekday PM.
ivy teigel
She/they, AMFT (soon to be licensed). Sex and relationship therapy, couple therapy for sex workers and their partners, open relationships, sexuality, gender, and identity, creativity, creative blocks, ADHD, self compassion and releasing shame, grief and loss, anxiety and depression, psychedelic integration, & aging. Individual therapy & couples therapy. (415) 7875489. therapywithivy@gmail.com. www.elanastorylcsw.com. $150 for 50 min session. No insurance and yes to sliding scale. Weekday AM & PM.
Josie valderrama
They/Them or She/Her, Psychologist. Mindfulness, Somatic Awareness, Generative Trancework, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems. Individual Therapy. (415) 6830470. drjosievalderrama@gmail.com. www.drjosievalderrama.com. $80-$200. No insurance, yes sliding scale. Weekdays AM & PM.
sand cheng
They/them/their, PhD. Addictions, eating disorders, gender/sexuality concerns, relationship concerns, trauma, EMDR, Internal Family Systems, life transitions. Individual therapy. (510) 545-2321. drsandchang@hushmail.coms chang.com. Ask for rates. No insurance, yes sliding scale. Weekdays AM & PM.
allie stark
She/her, Life Coach with an MA. Realigning with your truth, finding your purpose, improving overall happiness, balance, and ease, creating sustainable changes, building healthy relationships, nutrition, nourishment, and exercise/self-care plans, religion and spirituality, addiction. Individual therapy. (480) 2204344. allie.stark@gmail.com. $150-215. No insurance yes sliding scale. Weekdays AM & PM.
amber mercader
She/her, LMFT. Somatics, EFT (Emotionally Focused therapy), Attachment Focused therapy
& social justice and activism. Individual & couples therapy. (415) 8903815 ambermercader@gmail.com https://ambermercader.wixsite.com/website $150 Individual / $185 partnership. No insurance & no sliding scale. Weekdays AM & PM.
chelsea swall
She/Her, LMFT. Grief/Loss, relationship issues/codependency, major life transitions, surrogate partner therapy, LGBTQIA+, Kink, ethical non-monogamy. Individual Therapy. (415) 6448012. chelsea@chelseaswall.com. www.chelseaswall.com. $170. No insurance & no sliding scale. Weekdays AM & PM.
avital wolf
They/Them, LMFT. APCC, Kink/BDSM, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Queer, Pansexual, Asexual, Transgender, Gender Queer, and Non-Binary, Polyamorous/multi-partnered, Sex Workers, Body Positivity. Individual, couples and mediation therapy. (415) 658-5364. Avitalwolftherapy@gmail.com. Avitalwolf.com. Sliding scale $110, no insurance. Weekday PM, Weekend AM, Weekend PM.
christoph zepeda
He/his/him, Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. PTSD and complex trauma, recent traumatic events, aging and disabilities, LGBTQQIA, people who work or have worked in the sex industry or engage in sexual exchange, substance use and/or behavioral compulsions, major life adjustment. Individual & couples therapy. (415) 6498732 zepedatherapy@gmail.com www.zepedatherapy.com $100-140 sliding scale. No insurance. Weekend AM & PM.
fairley parson
She/her, LCSW. Anxiety, Depression, Loneliness, Trauma, Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors (i.e. skin picking, hair pulling, etc), Aging and Life Transitions, Grief. (415) 971-7184
fairley@fairleyparsontherapy.com www.fairleyparsontherapy.com
$190 with limited sliding scale available. Accepts out of Network, PPO providers Lyra. Weekday AM & PM.
Catherine tornai
She/her, LMFT. Grief and Loss, PTSD. Individual & couples therapy. (831) 2346754 ctornai@gmail.com $50 to $120 an hour. No insurance. Weekday AM, weekday PM, weekend AM.
Yalith Fonfa
They/them, LCSW. Complex trauma, attachment, relationship concerns, substance misuse, addictions, gender/sexuality exploration, depression, anxiety, psychedelic integration. LGBTQ, polyamory, and sex worker affirming. Attachment-Focused EMDR, Harm Reduction Therapy, and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. $220 per 50 minute session with limited sliding scale available. I don't take insurance but I can provide a superbill for reimbursement if you have out-of-network coverage. 415-493-5597, yalith@yalithfonfa.com, www.yalithfonfa.com.
Cat haueter
She/Her, They/Them, AMFT. Transgender individuals and their families, Couple/partner/polycule therapy, using Emotionally Focused Therapy primarily, LGBTQ+ affirming, kink knowledgeable and affirming, sex-work knowledgeable and affirming. Individual & couples therapy. (650) 458-7462 catherine@terrafirmawellness.com. No sliding scale and no insurance, $135-150/hour. Weekend AM & PM.
jae reed
He/him, chiropractor. Neurological emotional technique, neurological integration systems, chiropractic adjustments. Anxiety, insomia, phobias, low energy, relationships, self-sabatoge, procrastination, lack of self confidence. (415) 847-9845 info@azureskychiropractic https://azureskychiro.com/ See website for rates, sliding scale. Weekdays AM & PM.
js very
They/them/theirs, LMFT, PhD Candidate in Human Sexuality. Offer video sessions/telemental health for clients who reside in California. Issues related to trans and non-binary, LGBTQQIA, consensual non-monogamy, sex worker affirming, neurodivergent affirming, kink affirming, stress, anxiety, time management, healers, witches, small business owners, creative blocks. Individual & couples therapy. (707) 5098659 jsverytherapy@protonmail.com www.chosenfamilytherapy.com $100-$140 sliding scale. No insurance. Weekday & weekend PM.
melissa southwood
She/Her, AMFT. EMDR, Sound Healing, Transpersonal perspectives, Somatic Experiencing. (510) 394-2472 melissajsouthwood@gmail.com. Need based sliding scale, no insurance. Weekday AM & PM.
ananda patterson
She/her, Psychological Assistant. LGBTQIA+, Complex trauma, Disability/Chronic Pain. Individual Therapy.
(510) 693-0850 anandapattersontherapy@gmail.com EBTherapy.net $150/hr, sliding scale. No insurance. Weekdays AM & PM.
phillip evans
He/him, MFT. Conjoint relational therapy, individual therapy, & family therapy. (510) 724-8255 phil@evansmft.com www.EvansMFT.com $150 sliding scale, no insurance. Weekday and Weekend AM.
rowan levy
they/he, pre-licensed therapist based in Pennsylvania, remote coaching in any location, and remote grief companion in any location. Grief, end of life, complex trauma, anxiety, LGBTQ+ (especially with trans experience), religious trauma, non-monogamy, kink, ADHD, Autism Spectrum disorders, working with atheism or a spiritual or magick practice. (510) 550-5318. rowan@uncommonthreadstherapy.com Uncommonthreadstherapy.com $100-$180 sliding scale. I do not work with insurance, weekdays PM.
karen smillie
She/her, MFT. LGB, Queer, Transgender and Gender Expansive sex workers. Couples therapy. (415) 902-2039 therapy@karensmillie.com https://karensmillie.com $225/hour, $300/90-minutes, no sliding scale or insurance. Weekday AM, weekends AM & PM.
rosa Reinikainen
She/they, MFT, Doctoral Candidate. Trauma, alternative communities, cultural and collective trauma, relationships including alternative relationships kink, polyamory, sex workers, pagan communities, attachment and love. Individual, group and couples therapy. (707) 861-9359 rainandsunfamilywellness@gmail.com rainandsunfamilywellness.com $150, sliding scale. Weekday PM, weekends AM & PM.
amber mercader
She/her, LMFT. People of color, qtpoc, kink, poly/ non monogamy, health at every size, social justice and activist support, recentering around indigenous rituals and ancestry, somatics, emotionally focused therapy. Individual & couples therapy.
(510) 8903815 ambermercader@gmail.com http://ambermercader.wixsite.com/website Individuals $150 partnerships $185, sliding scale. Weekdays AM.
lauren Cohn-Frankel
They/them, AMFT. Queer, trans, gender and sexuality issues (incl poly and kink). Trauma, chronic pain/illness/disability, grief and loss, substance use (harm reduction), adults, teens, and couples/relationships. (510) 550-5854 laurencohnfrankel@gmail.com http://www.axismundicenter.org/working-with-lauren-cohnfrankel $150 sliding scale. Weekday PM.
Mackenzie stuart
She/her/they/them, LMFT. Ethical nonmonogamy, especially polyamory, depression and suicide. Individual therapy,
couples Therapy. (510) 394-4679. mackenzie.stuart@counselingmail.com. www.mackenziestuartlmft.com. $150 individual (50 minutes); $225 partners (75 minutes). Accepts insurance: Magellan, Blue Shield, out of network. Available Weekday AM & Weekday PM.
phillip baker
He/Him, AMFT. EMDR/trauma work, couples therapy, gender-focused work. Individual &
couples therapy. (866) 227-7715, extension701. philip.baker@bayareatherapygroup.com Philipbakertherapy.com $50-110, sliding scale. Available weekday AM, PM & weekend AM.
keely holmes
They/them, PsyD. Kink-aware, poly-friendly, queer competent. I also work with transgender and non-binary folx. I have worked with a number of sex workers in couples and individual therapy. Individual & couples therapy. (415) 501-9098 drkkolmes@hushmail.com drkkolmes.com $210 for 45 mins individual, $375 for 75 mins. No sliding scale. Weekday PM.
amanda piasecki
She/her, LMFT. Specializes in PTSD, CPTSD, attachment, intergenerational trauma, queer people and transfolks, first generation/children of immigrants. Therapy for individuals, couples and groups of any configuration. (415) 340-2122.
https://www.therapyden.com/therapist/amanda-piasecki-oakland-ca
$175-$200, sliding scale. Online therapy. Tues, Weds, Thurs noon-8pm.
rafinee butler
She/her, LMFT, PhD. Human Sexuality, trauma, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, spectrum. Individual & couples therapy. (510) 6460443. dr.r.butler@gmail.com. www.rafinee.com. $145 per 50 min session, sliding scale. Weekday AM & PM.
hunter leight
They/them, counselor. I work with sex workers, trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people, nonmonogamous people, drug users, anarchists, anti capitalists, and other communities. I do hands on sex ed and sexual actualization work. I am not a licensed therapist because I challenge the standard therapeutic model. theywhohunt@gmail.com hunterleight.com sexworksupport.com Sliding Scale $75-$100 over the phone. Available weekday AM & weekday PM.
Elliott Endre, M.A.
They/Them, LMFT, individual, polycule, group somatic psychotherapist and sex therapist; therapy for creating sustainable relationships to sex, money, and power. Specialist in the nervous system and the brain. Group coaching offering: PROS (Providers Resourcing Online Support), Group thearpy offering: SQ*IRT (Sex Queens in Radical Therapy). Individual offerings: ADHD coaching, Attachment therapy (Emotionally Focused Therapy, EFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Gestalt, Somatic Sensory-Motor Therapy (SSMT), and womanism. Rates: 1-1 $250, group work $180-$100 sliding scale, private practice. Available weekday AM and weekday PM. Contact: www.elliottendre.com | elliott@elliottendre.com | (628) 600-1573
Morty Diamond, LCSW
I’m Morty Diamond, a trans-identified psychotherapist who has lived in the Bay Area for the past 9 years. I have a lot of experience working with sex workers, mostly within the last 7 years of my career. I worked at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation for 5 years, working with HIV positive gay men and trans identified women. Many of my clients at SFAF had a history of working in the sex trade. After my time at SFAF, I knew that I would eventually like to donate my clinical skills to support local sex workers. I am going to open two low-cost slots in my clinical therapy practice (no more than $25 per session) for sex workers who are interested in working with me and cannot afford full cost therapy. I am also interested in gathering other therapists who feel called to also offer similar rates to sex workers and can open one or two slots in their practice. Please email: Mortydiamond@gmail.com / psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/morty-diamond-oakland-ca/788094
NATALIE DUCASTELLE, AMFT, CPCC
She/her. AMFT, CPCC. Having spent 16 years working in the sex industry, Natalie is passionate about creating safe, affirming, welcoming spaces in support of the mental health and well-being of sex workers and the people who love them. Holistic, somatic/body-oriented, relational. Working with trauma, anxiety, life transitions, connecting with your purpose, finding fulfillment and expression in life, work, and relationships.
$180 for individuals and $210 for families and couples.
(510) 519-1772. natalieducastelle@gmail.com. Natalieducastelletherapy.com
No insurance. Yes sliding scale. Available weekdays AM & PM.
Erica Berman, LMFT
she/her. I offer relational somatic therapy, masked and in person, in Oakland. I am an inactive sex worker and am deeply passionate about sex worker healing for sex workers. I am the founder of whores bath, a healing spa for and by sex workers.
My therapy practice is grounded in working in the realms of the body and healthy bonding (attachment theory) and deep systemic healing through new ways of learning intimacy and connection. I offer trauma informed relational somatic therapy utilizing consent based non-sexual touch and movement as well as mindfulness and emdr (if approriate).
My rate is 175$ per 50 minute session, and although I do not take insurance or work with insurance companies, I do offer a superbill for reimbursement, if your insurance takes that.
Please take a look at my website and if you are interested and want to set up a consultation, email me at: somatictherapywitherica@ericaelenaberman.com
Laurén O’Brien, ASW
Laurén O’Brien (she/they) ASW (supervised by Theresa Chesnut LCSW). Specialties in eating disorders, anxiety, depression, attachment, trauma, out of control sexual behaviors, and general life transitions. I am a queer, kinky, recovered clinician with lived experience in the adult industry. I offer virtual sessions in CA, individuals, couples, and groups. (650) 206-4505 x 0 , laurenobrien@thechesnutgroup.com www.thechesnutgroup.com. $150 for 50 minutes, sliding scale available, no insurance accepted but superbills available for client to submit. Current availability, & free 15 minute consultations available.
Stephanie Bain (she/her)
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, AMFT #126452
Supervised by Laura Mae Northrup, LMFT #90875
I work with individuals who have been told they're “too sensitive” or “too much,” or have felt misunderstood or feel alienated from the mainstream. My work with individuals focuses on the impacts of trauma, anxiety and depression, affect regulation, relational stress, and issues specific to the LGBTQ+ community. I also provide couples/partners therapy working from an attachment-based lens. Private pay $160+, some sliding scale available.
Haley Hewitt, LMFT
She/her, They/Them. LMFT and Yoga Teacher. Offer video sessions/telemental health for clients who reside in California. Issues related to complex trauma, trans and non-binary, LGBTQQIA, consensual non-monogamy, sex worker affirming, neurodivergent affirming, kink affirming.
Modalities include: EFT (Emotionally-Focused Therapy), Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems, Brainspotting, Psychedelic Preparation and Integration, Psychedelic Therapies and Research.
Individual therapy, group therapy, couples therapy. (925) 297-5175. haley@counselinginlafayette.com.
www.lamorindacounseling.com. $200-250 per 50-minute session.
Melissa Tan, AMFT
She/her, AMFT. MA in Integral Counseling Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies. Trained in Gestalt/Existential psychotherapy and integrating elements of Attachment, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (trauma-informed), and Liberation Psychology. I feel a particular connection to working with self-esteem and boundaries, cultural identity, relationships, parenting, sex workers, chronic illness, and estranged family relationships. (415) 578-0094 mtan@mymail.CIIS.edu or contact through Psychology Today. SF/North Bay based, and virtual anywhere in CA. Individuals & couples. $150/50 minute session (sliding scale available), I do not accept insurance but do accept FSA/HSA and can provide superbills. Available Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm.
Harm Reduction Therapy Center
Clinics in 12 neighborhoods of San Francisco, and pop-ups in many more. From their mission statement: “Harm Reduction Therapy Center provides integrated mental health care and substance use treatment to people who, because their relationship with drugs is so intertwined with other emotional and social aspects of their lives, need more than simple “just say no” solutions and mainstream programs.”