Amy Bouvin, LCSW, CST

(pronouns: she , her, hers)

I specialize in sexual dysfunction and sexual therapy, and can work with individuals, couples (or other relationship structures) and adolescents experiencing things including but not limited to sexual challenges, gender identity issues, LGBTQ connected difficulties and sexual/self-identity discovery and exploration. 

I am passionate about social justice and believe in the innate potential of all people to realize themselves at their best. For over 9 years I worked in social services and direct care with youth and families experiencing multiple life stressors fueled by systemic racism and oppression. I learned (and continue to learn) so much about myself as a white cis-female and the ways in which I hold and perpetuate racist ideas, hetero-normative biases, gender expectations, class assumptions, body and morality fusions, and the list goes on and on. Every day I commit myself to bringing my attention and awareness to these elements of my socialization in order to counter them and attempt to live in alignment with my values of equity and human rights, celebrating and affirming diversity of all kinds. In 2017 I followed a path (paved for me by a combination of privilege, education and passion) into starting private practice. It has been through this space I have been able to deepen and explore my interest in healthy secure attachment, intimacy and sexuality- the building blocks of our most basic human needs- love and connection.

As a fellow traveler, I have been on my own path of self discovery and self development and continue to grow and be challenged in both unique and similar ways to those I work with. Every relationship and interaction we have is an opportunity to learn about ourselves. I feel immense gratitude for the privilege to work so intimately with folks and to be a part of their journeys, for however long or short our paths intersect. I am inspired everyday by the humans around me, our potential for resiliency and our deep capacity for love. It’s as a result of socialization and norms, entrenched oppression and false information that we have barriers and blockages to experiencing that love, and that’s what I strive to uncover with those that I work with. We are so used to exercising our muscles of self judgment, anxiety, fear and shame, we could all use some support in exercising our muscles for self-compassion, self-love, self-kindness, acceptance, willingness and openness towards the full range of human emotion and experience.