About

Welcome to my profile page at Find A Therapist! Most of the people I work with call me Marty. I'm looking forward to meeting you and working with you.

I am a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a masters degree in psychology and a doctorate in sexology. I have worked extensively in County Behavioral Health systems both as a therapist and a supervisor, and in private practice as well. I have also worked in a hospital setting at the Johns Hopkins Medical School and in grade schools, middle schools and high schools as well as institutional settings including jails and juvenile halls. It's been my privilege to work with children, adolescents, young people, adults and older adults as singles, couples,and polycules in traditional and intentional families. In all, I have more than 30 years experience with individual, family and group therapy and in supervising other licensed professionals and interns.

I have published extensively about working with sexual issues. I have a special interest in working with people who struggle with concerns related to polyamory, gender expression, less common sexual interests including BDSM/Kink, LGBTQIA concerns and disorders of sex development (DSD or intersex). I also have experience working with patients who have medically related mental health concerns, including post-surgical patients whose functioning is compromised and those with head trauma, brain injury or other debilitating accidents that impair or alter sexual function. Sometimes such arousal patterns and practices, or differences in physical development or functioning can give rise to difficulty in relationships including marriage/partnering, family dynamics, and parenting.

And, of course, it's common for sexual concerns to be a part of the work in therapy with trauma, abuse, anxiety and depression and obsessive or compulsive behaviors.

My approach to working with people in therapy is to meet them where they are, help them formulate goals, and marshal the tools to help them meet their objectives. There are many theoretical orientations and philosophies, techniques, and treatment aids every therapist learns about in school and masters on the job. The best ones are the ones that work for you. My job as a therapist is to offer you tools and support you on your journey.