Jess Laird, Sex & Relationship Psychotherapist
Woodstock, Illinois
VerifiedTelehealth Available
My Approach to Therapy
Very few of us were given the tools and affirmation needed to navigate sex, identity, and relationships, despite these things being a fundamental part of our humanity. I am a sex and relationship therapist passionate about reducing sexual shame, fostering a lens of curiosity and self-acceptance in sexuality, building a sense of playfulness and confidence, developing a personal acumen of sexual values, and unlearning messages of sex-negative cultures. I approach therapy from a relational, psychodynamic perspective, which means seeking to understand patterns that shape emotions, thoughts, and behavior and how these things have been influenced by our history, culture, and experiences.
I am a queer and trans-identified therapist licensed in Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio, and California and I'm trained by the Sexual Health Alliance. I am LGBTQ+ affirming, sex work-positive, body-positive, kink-positive, neurodivergent-positive, and non-monogamy and polyamory-positive.
My Practice & Services
I practice both in person (Woodstock, IL) and via telehealth. I offer telehealth to residents throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Iowa, Delaware, and California and am not limited to the zip code, city, or area listed in my profile.
For more details about me and my practice, please see my website: jesslairdtherapy.com
Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With
- Kink, fetish
- Non-monogamy, polyamory, open or non-traditional relationships, CNM, ENM, swinging
- Gender identity, transgender identity, navigating transitioning
- Sexual identity, sexuality
- LGBTQ+ identity
- Sexual shame
- Sexual difficulties or dysfunctions (erectile dysfunction, pain during sex, vaginismus, premature ejaculation, low libido, orgasm difficulty, etc.)
- Desire discrepancy in relationships (ie, one partner wants sex more than another)
- Affairs, infidelity
- Out of control or compulsive sexual behavior
- Performance anxiety during sex
- Intimacy issues in relationships
- Sex & dating
- Self-acceptance
- Increasing pleasure during sex
- Improving sexual function
- "Purity Culture" recovery
- Sexual values
- Communication, conflict in relationships
- Sex work (affirming)
- Lack of desire, low libido
- Mismatched desires or fetishes in relationships
- Fear or anxiety regarding sex, intimacy, or relationships
- "Am I normal?", "Is this normal?" concerns regarding sex
Expertise & Specialties
Age Groups I Work With
AdultsElders
Groups I Work With
I work with the LGBTQ+ community, the kink and BDSM community, those in polyamorous, non-monogamous, non-traditional relationship structures, the ex-vangelical Christian community, sex workers, sex industry professionals, and fellow sex therapists and educators. I also work with anyone inside or outside of those populations who is seeking to explore their gender, sexuality, or address specific issues they are experiencing related to sex or intimacy.
Therapy Services & Specialties
Concerns & Challenges Addressed
Gender DysphoriaIdentity IssuesInfidelity / Affair RecoveryLGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) IssuesMen's IssuesPolyamory / Nonmonogamous RelationshipsRelationships and MarriageSexuality / Sex Therapy
Therapeutic Approaches & Evidence-Based Methods
Bowen Family TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotion Focused TherapyEmotionally Focused Couples TherapyEmotionally Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems (IFS)Motivational Interviewing Nonviolent Communication (NVC)
Industries & Communities
LGBTQ+