Julie is our Clinical Director and Director of the Contemporary Institute of Clinical Sexology. She is a UKCP Registered and Accredited general psychotherapist, COSRT Senior Accredited Sex and Relationship Therapist and COSRT Accredited Clinical Supervisor. Julie has extensive experience working with sex and relationship themes both in the NHS and in private practice. Julie is a Pink Therapy endorsed GSRD Aware Trainer.
Kathy holds a combined role in our team, both supporting Sex Therapy Herts as our Practice Manager and supporting CICS as Course Administrator. She has spent her working life in mental health, initially as an NHS administrator at Fairfield Hospital and latterly as Practice Manager for Local Counselling Centre. Kathy brings with her an in-depth knowledge of different healthcare models and healthcare providers. A naturally warm and empathic person, Kathy has enormous skill at helping our clients access the appropriate help they need.
If you have an enquiry about accessing psychosexual or relationship therapy, please contact Kathy on kathy@contemporarypsychotherapy.co.uk
The Sex Therapy Herts Team are all studying with the Contemporary Institute of Clinical Sexology (CICS) and are at a point in their specialist training to be able to apply their learning to clinical practice. Their training at CICS is sex positive, inclusive, evidence based and up to date. As you can see from their profiles, they all bring relevant previous life and work experiences to add to their excellent specialist training.
Evie's background is in adult sex ed, helping those let down by inadequate sex education, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community, to unlearn myths surrounding their bodies and sexuality in a shame-free way.
She offers a non-judgmental, collaborative environment for addressing sexual and relational issues. Being queer and neurodivergent herself, Evie understands how vital it is to have a safe space to process feelings and experiences, and she takes great pride in facilitating this for her clients.
In 2020, Jo reached a point where she decided to pursue her long-held passion to become a Sex and Relationship Therapist. Jo has learned through her career that communication skills are key to building strong relationships. She understands how difficult it is for clients to open up about a subject that is so personal and adjusts the therapeutic process to the clients' pace. Jo believes her experiences allow her to provide an open, free of judgement and safe space to clients, where they can explore with curiosity where they are at, get the support in the steps in between, and towards, their therapeutic goal.
Jo makes use of a bio-psycho-social framework to understand better the clients' experiences. She is currently in her final year of training at CICS and looking forward to supporting people on their journey to having healthier and fulfilled sex lives and relationships. Jo is available to provide sessions in English or in her native language Portuguese. Jo is now offering in person sessions in Hove.
Kahverry is a Psychosexual Therapist in training and fully qualified GP, with a background in addressing a wide range of sexual health and relationship concerns. Her expertise includes sexual dysfunctions like arousal difficulties, low desire, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and issues related to menopause, illness, ageing, and disability. She also works with clients on relationship challenges such as infidelity, communication, and cross-cultural dynamics.
Drawing from her Sri Lankan Tamil heritage and UK upbringing, Kahverry offers culturally sensitive care, particularly around sexuality, gender, and identity. She supports individuals struggling with infertility, loss, compulsive sexual behaviours, shame, and sexual anxiety. Using a bio-psycho-social approach, she creates a safe, non-judgmental space to help clients improve their sexual well-being and relationships.
Marcus is a trainee psychosexual therapist with a background in music, acting and performing. He practices kink and polyamory / ethical non-monogamy and is a proud member of these communities. Addressing the issues faced by these communities, as well as the LGBTQ+ and sex worker communities, is a special interest of his, both personally and politically.
Marcus is passionate about finding and exploring the authentic self, free from self-judgement, shame, or stigma, and helping clients through the inevitable difficulties of living alongside our current social, cultural, and political norms.
Stephen is a military veteran who qualified as a counsellor specialising in humanistic and Gestalt therapy and has been counselling individuals since 2018. He recognises the importance of understanding an individuals’ unique experiences and perspectives and is dedicated to helping his clients achieve greater self-awareness and personal growth. He honed his skills in experiential and humanistic approaches to therapy and has completed further training in counselling Young People, Trauma Therapy and specialises in working with disabilities.
To develop his practice Stephen is currently studying Psychosexual and Relationship therapy with the Contemporary Institute of Clinical Sexology (CICS) with ongoing extensive training in psychosexual therapy, including specialised courses in anatomy, physiology, and the psychology of sexual response.
Stephen believes in the power of the therapeutic relationship, fostering a collaborative and empathetic environment where his clients feel heard, valued and able to addresses both their emotional and physical aspects of sexual health. He recognises the importance of meeting individuals where they are, through open communication and a clear focus on a holistic approach to sexual health, he is committed to helping his clients achieve a fulfilling and healthy sexual life, free from shame and stigma.
Ruth has been supporting people of all identities to overcome their sexual difficulties and access the intimate relationships they desire for over 10 years, in her career facilitating sex and relationships workshops. Ruth she has learnt just how normal sexual problems are as well as how common it is for those suffering to feel abnormal, isolated and to remain silent. Ruth honours the courage it takes to seek sex therapy to discuss such personal and sensitive topics. She prioritises providing a warm, friendly and non-judgemental environment and is committed to the transformative potential that breaking the silence has to improve the quality of people’s lives.
Ruth is enthusiastic to work with clients of diverse identities, preferences & experiences. She will be validating, curious & non-judgemental, no matter how ‘weird’, ‘embarrassing’, ‘shameful’ or ‘immoral’ your presenting problem might feel. Whether you are kinky or not, LGBTQ+/queer or not, non-monogamous or not, neurodiverse or not, sex-positive or not, religious or not; whoever you are and whatever difficulty you’re navigating, you will be warmly welcomed.
I am a dedicated healthcare professional with nearly 14 years of experience as a Mental Health Nurse, providing compassionate and effective care to individuals facing mental health challenges. My extensive background in mental health care has equipped me with a deep understanding of the complexities of human emotions and relationships.
As a Nigerian Muslim woman, I bring a culturally sensitive approach to my practice, striving to support clients from diverse backgrounds with empathy and respect. I am particularly passionate about expanding my expertise into psychosexual and relationship therapy to better address the holistic needs of individuals and couples navigating intimate and relational challenges.
I am committed to ongoing professional development and am eager to contribute my skills and experience to a trainee placement, where I can further my understanding and make a positive impact on the lives of clients.
Angela is a GP, British Menopause Society trained Advanced Menopause Specialist and Clinical Sexologist. She is now a Fellow of the European Committee of Sexual Medicine, a member of the Institute of Psychosexual Medicine and the National Association for Premenstrual Syndromes and an active committee member of the British Society for Sexual Medicine.
She has a background in Palliative Medicine and spent over ten years working in a hospice, involved in both inpatient and community care of the dying and those living with life-limiting illnesses. This gave her plenty of chance to practice her skills in having difficult conversations, and to learn the value of a holistic, bio-psycho-social approach to problems.
Tor (she/they) is a trainee psychosexual therapist with three decades' experience working with LGBTQ+ people. She is passionate about supporting people of all sexual orientations to find the relationship style and sex lives they want. She wants to enable people to address the fears, trauma and shame that stand in their way, all in their own time and in a safe space.
Tor has a particular interest in LGBTQ+ issues, gender diversity, kink, BDSM, consensual non-monogamy, sex work, trauma, neurodivergence, disability and alternative routes to parenthood. Tor has a combination of professional and lived experience in these matters and recognises the barriers to therapy some communities experience.
Tor is warm, friendly and non-judgemental. She can provide sessions in English and in British Sign Language.
With a background in both neuroscience and psychology, Lucy brings an integrated understanding of the brain-body connection to her therapeutic practice. She has experience working within mental health services for young people and has more recently supported a therapeutic team specialising in Compulsive Sexual Behaviour.
Lucy takes a person-centred and pluralistic approach, recognising that no single method suits every individual. She works through a biopsychosocial lens and is deeply attuned to how clients’ lived experiences, including the influences of culture, race, disability, gender, and relationship and sexual diversity, shape their engagement in therapy.
Her professional interests include kink-affirmative therapy, neurodiversity, and the psychosexual effects of perimenopause and menopause on desire and arousal. She is also particularly curious about how the intersections of identity may impact clients’ experiences and wellbeing.
Lucy is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and affirming therapeutic environment. Her work is relational, client-led, and grounded in empathy, collaboration, and mutual respect.
Sam has a varied background in therapeutic settings that includes mental health work, disability, sex coaching, and working within the field of Problematic Sexual Behaviours.
He is Roma/British and has an extensive understanding of differing world views, culture, and diversity through a lifetime of living nomadically across multiple continents, with a particular focus on Africa.
Sam is passionate about supporting people within any aspect of sex and relationships. He is approachable, non-judgemental and offers a space to all people to discuss absolutely anything.
Sam has a particular professional interest in minority groups, race and cultural diversity, LGBTQ+, kink and BDSM, fetish, Compulsive Sexual Behaviour, learning disability and physical disability.
Kathy Butler is a trainee Psychosexual and Relationship Therapist, who is passionate about supporting people with navigating intimacy, identity and sexual wellbeing. She has been a qualified Primary School Teacher since 2016 and in that time she has led successful initiatives in personal development, sex education and transgender inclusion. Kathy has drawn many parallels between teaching and her therapeutic practice and she believes that knowledge is power.
Kathy offers a sex and kink positive therapeutic space and her clients are able to explore their thoughts and experiences without judgement. She is able to support clients with a range of psychosexual issues, including sexual function problems, relationship issues, sexuality, gender, kink/fetish and ethical non-monogamy. Kathy’s warm and caring manner makes clients feel listened to, validated, and supported, no matter what they bring to therapy.
Eshana is the Sexual Health Lead for a young person's charity and is currently training towards a Diploma in Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy.
For Eshana, connection, intimacy and sexuality have always been at the heart of her work. Over the years, she’s worked as a Psychosexual Coach, taught relationships and sex education in schools, delivered consent workshops at Cambridge University, managed a sexual health drop-in for young people, and created a facilitator training programme focused on nervous system regulation. This wide range of experience means she can offer a safe, grounded, and compassionate space for people to explore what really matters to them.
She supports people with many different challenges, including low desire or arousal, pain with sex, orgasm difficulties, erection concerns, premature or delayed ejaculation, questions around sexuality or gender identity, navigating kinks and fetishes, compulsive sexual behaviours, and sexual health worries.
Eshana works slowly, with care and presence, to support clients to get to the emotional root of their sex and intimacy challenges. She blends practical knowledge with mind-body awareness, helping people to feel more at ease in themselves and their relationships.
A long-time queer sex educator, Siân is fascinated by the transformative experiences that help us get unstuck from other people’s stories of how we “should” be and help us reach a deeply felt understanding of what actually feels good. As a trainee psychosexual therapist, Siân supports clients in their search for connection and authenticity – alone or with their partner(s). Her work ispleasure-centred, curious and uses a queer lens to ask what do you really want? She loves to share new ideas and tools as a way of understanding what is happening for you, whilst firmly believing that you are the expert on your experience and get to decide what to do with them.
Stories are a thread that work through all my motivations in the therapeutic work I do. As an onstage storyteller, I talked openly and fluently about sex and mental health and often found myself being approached by people at gigs who wanted to continue the conversation – people who wanted to talk about their sex and relationships struggles and didn’t know where to turn. I loved hearing their stories, and it occurred to me that maybe I could be more than a listening ear and, instead, I could train to be someone who could support people in changing and reframing their stories.
As a neurodivergent trainee therapist, I am excited by the possibilities different types of minds and ways of seeing the world bring to sex and relationships. I am someone who always sees the best in people, and this will be my guiding focus in supporting clients through the issues that they bring to therapy. I also work from a place of cultural humility and curiosity – educating myself on the barriers my clients face in wider society, while at the same time seeing every client for who they are in the room.
April Maria has a background in adult sex education and embodied intimacy work. She is deeply passionate about supporting people in navigating their own sexual health and wellness, relationships, and understanding how our bodies work, particularly in the context of gynaecological conditions, chronic pain, ED, and low sexual interest.
Her work centres on demystifying the complex interplay between our minds, bodies, and relationships, empowering individuals to make informed, confident choices about their intimacy and wellbeing. As a proud pansexual woman, she offers inclusive, affirming spaces. April celebrates LGBTQ+ identities, kink, BDSM, and non-monogamy in all their diversity.
After being diagnosed with endometriosis, April decided to train as a Psychosexual and Relationship Therapist. Her own journey through pain and disconnection sparked a commitment to ensure others have the tools, knowledge, and agency to reconnect with pleasure, their bodies, and even relationships on their own terms.
Fanuel (Fan) is a trainee sex and Relationship Therapist with over a decade of experience as a healthcare practitioner. His extensive background includes working in mental health hospitals, prisons, and trauma hospitals as an anaesthetic practitioner. This diverse experience has provided him with a profound understanding of human vulnerability, resilience, and the critical importance of compassionate care.
Born in Ethiopia and raised in the UK, Fanuel offers a culturally sensitive and attuned approach to his practice. He recognises the significant impact of culture, faith, upbringing, and societal expectations on individuals' experiences of sexuality, relationships, and intimacy. To ensure his services are accessible to a broader community, Fanuel provides therapy in both English and Amharic.
Fanuel's practice welcomes individuals seeking support for a wide array of sexual and relational concerns. These include, but are not limited to, erectile difficulties, low sexual desire, pain during sex, compulsive sexual behaviours, kink-related issues, and challenges with emotional intimacy. He is dedicated to fostering a non-judgmental, shame-free environment where clients feel truly seen and supported as they explore their concerns.
He is committed to providing LGBTQ+ friendly and anti-oppressive therapy, Fanuel honours each person's unique identity, desires, and experiences. With a strong foundation in healthcare and specialised training in clinical sexology and relationship therapy, Fanuel's primary aim is to support clients in building authentic, fulfilling, and secure connections with themselves and others.
Serena is a trainee Psychosexual and Relationship Therapist with a professional background in intimacy coaching, female sexuality, and long-term relational wellbeing. She brings a decade of experience working with individuals and couples, supporting them to deepen connection, improve communication, and navigate challenges around desire and intimacy.
Her therapeutic approach is integrative and draws on pluralistic modalities, incorporating elements of neuroscience, trauma-informed practice, somatic awareness, and tantric philosophy. She is certified in female sexuality and relationship coaching and is currently completing formal clinical training in psychosexual and relationship therapy.
Serena offers a supportive, sex-positive, and inclusive space for clients to explore a wide range of issues including low desire, arousal difficulties, relational disconnection, sexual pain, body image, and the impact of life transitions such as menopause and parenting on intimacy.
As a Mum of 5, she has a particular interest in supporting women in midlife who are reconnecting with their identity, desire, and relational needs after years of caregiving or prioritising others. Her practice is affirming, collaborative, and culturally sensitive, and she is committed to working with clients in a way that honours their unique experiences and values.
Kat holds a Masters degree in Psychology and has professional experience inpsycho-oncology, supporting women with cancer in hospital settings. With a strong interest in perinatal mental health and sexual health, Kat also brings experience working with youth and children, providing compassionate and evidence-based care. Beyond clinical practice, Kat uses art as a medium to spread awareness and spark dialogue around mental health, combining creativity with advocacy to reach diverse communities.
