Meghan Jerry, LMFT, CST

Unfortunately, anyone can call themselves a sex therapist, so what sets an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist apart? The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) is a professional organization focused on promoting the understanding of human sexuality through the highest standards of training and ethical practice. An AASECT Certified Sex Therapist is someone who has completed a rigorous training and application process. I am passionate about the fields of mental health and sex therapy. It was important to me to give my clients the best care possible by completing this intensive training and joining this esteemed organization. The criteria to become an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist includes, but is not limited to the following: Active membership in AASECT Agreement to be bound by the AASECT Code of Conduct Advanced clinical degree in psychotherapy training from an accredited college/university PLUS a minimum of 2 years post-degree clinical experience Holding a clinical license in your state of practice Minimum of 90 clock hours of sexuality education from an accredited institution All candidates must have knowledge of the following as they relate to sexual health and pleasure: A. Ethics and ethical behavior. B. Developmental sexuality from a bio-psycho-social perspective across the life course. C. Socio-cultural, familial factors (e.g., ethnicity, culture, religion, spirituality, socioeconomic status, family values), in relation to sexual values and behaviors. D. Issues related to sexual orientation and/or gender identity: heterosexuality; issues and themes impacting lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual people; gender identity and expression. E. Intimacy skills (e.g., social, emotional, sexual), intimate relationships, interpersonal relationships and family dynamics. F. Diversities in sexual expression and lifestyles, including, but not limited to polyamory, swinging, BDSM and tantra. G. Sexual and reproductive anatomy/physiology.* H. Health/medical factors that may influence sexuality, including, but not limited to, illness, disability, drugs, mental health, conception, pregnancy, childbirth & pregnancy termination, contraception, fertility, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infection, other infections, sexual trauma, injury and safer sex practices.* I. Range of sexual functioning and behavior, from optimal to problematic, including, but not limited to, common issues such as: desire discrepancy, lack of desire, difficulty achieving or maintaining arousal, sexual pain, penetration problems and difficulty with orgasm. J. Sexual exploitation, including sexual abuse, sexual harassment and sexual assault. K. Cyber sexuality and social media.* L. Substance use/abuse and sexuality.* M. Pleasure enhancement skills. N. Learning theory and its application. O. Professional communication and personal reflection skills. P. History of the discipline of sex research, theory, education, counseling and therapy. Q. Principles of sexuality research and research methods. *Please note: Sections G,H,K,L are time sensitive and should have reasonable up to date information and training. Minimum of 60 clock hours of training in sex therapy Minimum of 14 clock hours of an AASECT sponsored or approved SAR (Sexuality Attitude Reassessment), which is a structured group experience consisting of a process-oriented exploration of the applicant's own feelings, attitudes, values, and beliefs regarding human sexuality and sexual behavior Minimum of 300 hours of AASECT supervised clinical treatment provided to clients who present with sexual concerns Minimum of 50 hours of supervision with an AASECT Certified Supervisor of Sex Therapy Submitting an application for approval which consists of: A. Completed formal AASECT Sex Therapist Certification Application, signed and dated. B. Copy of official transcript. Transcript may be scanned into the application and does not need to be sealed envelope (Item III). C. Copy of license, certification, or proof of membership in one (1) of the approved disciplines or professional organizations (Item IV). D. Official transcripts, attendance certificates, syllabi, etc., documenting ninety (90) hours of education in the designated Core Knowledge areas of human sexuality (Item V). E. Official transcripts, attendance certificates, syllabi and other credible evidence documenting sixty (60) hours of training in sex therapy that includes the designated areas of focus (Item VI). F. Official documentation of participation in a structured group experience focusing on sexual attitudes and values e.g., a SAR (Item VII). G. Endorsement form letter(s) from supervisor(s) certifying a minimum of three hundred (300) hours of clinical experience providing services as the sole or primary therapist for patients/clients with diagnosed ‘Psychosexual Disorders’ as determined by the current DSM. H. Endorsements must be received from the following persons on the appropriate forms: 1. An AASECT Certified Supervisor of Sex Therapy attesting to the applicant's supervised clinical work. A letter of endorsement from the Primary Supervisor should accompany the Endorsement form included in the application. 2. Two professional colleagues who can comment on the applicant's professional responsibilities, professional ethics and overall ability as a sex therapist. I. Updated and complete curriculum vitae (CV).

I do not accept insurance and am considered an out-of-network provider. If you have mental health insurance benefits, you may be eligible to submit a claim for reimbursement for out-of-network services. At your request, I can provide you with a statement of services, called a superbill, which you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Policies and coverage vary widely, please contact your insurance company directly to verify your plan coverage. Please check your coverage carefully by asking the following questions: Do I have mental health insurance benefits? Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits? If I have out-of-network benefits, will I be reimbursed the full amount I paid or a portion? Do I have a deductible and has it been met? How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover? What is the coverage amount per therapy session? Is pre-approval required before obtaining out-of-network mental health services in order to be reimbursed? Is there a limit on the number of sessions I may attend? Are there restrictions on which therapist I can see? If applicable: is virtual therapy/telehealth covered? If applicable: is couples/relationship therapy covered?

Please check your coverage carefully by asking the following questions: Do I have mental health insurance benefits? Do I have out-of-network mental health benefits? If I have out-of-network benefits, will I be reimbursed the full amount I paid or a portion? Do I have a deductible and has it been met? How many sessions per year does my health insurance cover? What is the coverage amount per therapy session? Is pre-approval required before obtaining out-of-network mental health services in order to be reimbursed? Is there a limit on the number of sessions I may attend? Are there restrictions on which therapist I can see? If applicable: is virtual therapy/telehealth covered? If applicable: is couples/relationship therapy covered?

There are several ways you can make an appointment with me. Due to the limited amount of time I have between sessions to return messages the fastest way to get in touch with me is via the first two methods below. I will get back to you within 24-48 business hours. Fill out a Contact Form Email me directly at meghan@kindredcounselingcenter.com Call the main office number (215) 622-9628 I look forward to hearing from you!

Every prospective client will have a free 20 minute consultation to see if we’re a good fit to work together. For those with whom we decide to move forward with therapy, I send a link to intake/therapy forms (all forms are digital), and the video link to the telehealth platform (which does not require a login) or detailed instructions to get to the office. Completed intake forms would then be emailed back to me 24 hours in advance so that I have time to read through. You took the time to fill out the forms, I will take the time to read them so that I can be as prepared as possible for our first session. If you are attending sessions in-person, please show up by the appointment time (and you are welcome to refreshments located in the waiting room!). I will bring in-person clients back to my office at the appointed time. Telehealth clients will wait in the virtual waiting room on Doxy.me. I understand how stressful it can be to arrive for your first appointment, especially if you haven’t come to therapy before. During the intake session we will discuss what it means to work confidentially, including any limits to confidentiality. I will answer any questions you have about the paperwork and about therapy. We will take time to talk about and understand what’s been bothering you and work together to figure out your goals. If at the end of the session I will check in to see if it feels like a good fit, if yes, we’ll schedule another session. If not, please tell me and I will get you referrals. The most important thing to me is that you are comfortable with your therapist.

Events can occur outside of our control and we are sometimes faced with emergencies. However, for all other circumstances, cancellations are accepted without charge up to 24 hours prior to your session time. Please notify your therapist directly via phone or email. If you cancel less than 24 hours before your appointment, or you no-show your appointment, you will be charged for the session at full session price. Insurance benefits will not cover late cancel/no-show charges.

Many studies have shown that the relationship between you and your therapist is crucial to the success of the therapy. Your therapist strives to create a safe space in which you feel respected. When choosing a new therapist it can be helpful to speak with them on the phone to see if it's a good fit. The therapist should check in with you at the end of the first session to see if you feel comfortable booking a second appointment. If you have any concerns about our work or relationship, please tell me. I want to hear them! Just like with any relationship, there can be times where there is miscommunication or unintentional hurt feelings. Speaking with your therapist is the best way to clear up such issues. That being said, there are times when your current therapist may not be the best person to help you due to personality clashes or other reasons. If this is the case, it is the therapist's ethical responsibility to help you find someone who can help you. Don't fret, therapists just want clients to receive the best care possible and do not take it personally if it's not a good fit.

The typical therapy session lasts 50 minutes. However, there may be times when the therapist may want to schedule a longer session, especially for relationship or family therapy cases. Please note that longer sessions will be billed accordingly. The duration and frequency of therapy is dependent on what you and your therapist decide is most conducive to effective treatment. As a general rule, therapy can often take between 6 to 12 months, and at times longer treatment may be necessary (the duration of therapy may also be shorter depending on client needs). Usually, sessions are scheduled once per week. However, there may be times where the frequency is increased. Towards the end of your therapy, your therapist may suggest that you come in for “check in sessions” less frequently to track progress or “brush up” on skills. However, you as the client(s) are in control of the therapy at all times.

Yes, confidentiality is a foundational component of therapy. Your therapist cannot share your information with anyone unless you provide written permission to do so. This is a right that each client, whether in individual, relationship, or family therapy, has the legal right to maintain. However, there are circumstances during which that confidentiality may be broken, such as when you indicate an intent to harm yourself or others. To read more regarding your rights as a client and confidentiality, please visit the Resources page for more information. There are also special issues regarding how confidentiality works within relationship and family therapy that are detailed in our Secrets Policy.

It usually takes time to see the results of therapy. It is not an exact science, and it is normal for many clients to feel worse for a time after beginning therapy. Part of the healing process is that some things become raw and prickly while being excised. It is important to remember that therapy is collaborative, and for it to be effective you need to actively practice the skills learned in therapy in your real life. I also recommend keeping a list throughout the week of important things you’d like to discuss in the next session. If you’ve done all these things you should speak with your therapist about it. Not talking about this might continue to keep you feeling stuck. After discussing your concerns, we might discover that the best course of action is a referral to a new therapist. I would assist you in the process of finding a new therapist if you need it. I will not judge you or take offense for voicing any concerns with me.

Therapy is a collaboration between you and me. You decide your goals, and I guide you through the work to help you create change. The beginning of therapy is an assessment phase, because it takes time for me to create a full picture of what you’re coming in for, and from this I will be able to then share my observations. After this phase, we typically meet weekly to work on your goals. We will periodically re-evaluate to make sure we are on, and continue to be on, the best course of treatment. We may collaboratively create homework or I may send additional resources (readings, videos, etc.) with your approval. As we get closer to reaching your goals we will space out sessions (e.g. from weekly to every other week or once per month). When you feel ready to end therapy we will have a session to wrap up our work, celebrating all that you're accomplished. Some clients return periodically for check-in sessions as needed.

You can read more about Relationship/Couple Therapy here.

You can read more about Sex Therapy here.

Systemic therapy recognizes that a person’s life is built up of numerous interconnected contexts. There are many things that influence individuals, families, and relationships. Systemic therapy looks at all of your different settings (work, school, culture, etc.) to provide context for your experiences/movement through life and relationships. Systemics is about all these forces acting upon you, not just your individual will and influence alone. This helps us see how behaviors, messages, thoughts, and feelings get reinforced over and over again by all the different systems you are part of. Instead of focusing on just the individual (you), we can look at how to create change and increase empathy within relationships and families so that change can be more effective and more lasting. We look at how each individual interacts within our relationships and environments. The aim of therapy is to work on these problems by encouraging loved ones to help and empathize with each other. This can help people understand and appreciate each other's needs, build on strengths, and ultimately make useful changes in their lives and relationships.

Therapy is an invaluable investment that can benefit you, and your relationships, for a lifetime. I try to make paying for therapy as convenient as possible. I accept cash, checks, and credit cards* (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AmEx). You may also use your HSA card. I believe that everyone deserves access to quality mental health care, as such I reserve a limited number of reduced fee spots, based on financial need, for clients that cannot afford the cost of therapy. If you are in need of a reduced fee, please contact me. Please note that payment is due in full at the end of each session, regardless of any out-of-network reimbursement. All fees are based on a 50 minute session. For the most up-to-date information please visit the Fees & Insurance page here. * Only credit cards are accepted for virtual therapy/telehealth sessions.

Kindred Counseling Center provides services to a variety of populations. If you are concerned about whether I’m the "right fit" for you, please feel free to contact me.

A therapist’s role is to stay as impartial and objective as possible throughout the therapeutic process. With that being said, there may be times in relationship or family therapy sessions where the therapist may focus on a particular individual or issue in order to achieve movement in the system. If there is ever a time when you feel I "take sides" in a disrespectful or unhelpful way, please feel free to discuss your concerns with me. You have a right to feel safe and respected, and neglecting to share any concerns with me may impede progress. My top priority is for you to feel comfortable in the therapy space. I will not take personally any concerns you bring to my attention.

I advocate for the importance of relationships and interconnectedness starting with a deep loving relationship with ourselves. I bring awareness of the systems that you are part of, including the systems of oppression (gender, race, SES, ableism, sexual orientation, size, etc), your family of origin, your living environment, your workplace environment, your social support system, and more to look at how they negatively (and positively) impact you and may leave you feeling stuck. As we find this awareness, we build self-compassion for how all of these systems impact us.