Sex therapist offering teletherapy in CALIFORNIA

Couples Therapy & Sex Therapy for Those Ready to Rebuild, Reconnect, and Reclaim Intimacy

A compassionate space for couples ready to deepen emotional and sexual connection, repair trust, and grow together, with guidance that honors your values, identities, and shared journey.

Dr. Adrian Scharfetter, PhD, LMFT, CST-S
License # 113824

intimacy issues

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mixed libido

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communication issues

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sexual health

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Desire Mismatch

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Decreased sexual function

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BDSM and kink affirming

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intimacy issues ◇ mixed libido ◇ communication issues ◇ sexual health ◇ Desire Mismatch ◇ Decreased sexual function ◇ BDSM and kink affirming ◇

I am very glad you are here!

I specialize in helping individuals & couples reconnect, with themselves, with each other, and with the deeper meaning of their relationship.

Whether you're feeling stuck, disconnected, or at a crossroads, couples therapy can be a space for repair, reconnection, and renewal.

I honor the unique story you bring, both as a couple and as individuals, and support you in navigating challenges with care, clarity, and collaboration.

I work with all types of clients, including:

✓ Individuals seeking clarity and meaning around their
sexual health and needs
✓ Monogamous and non-monogamous partnerships
✓ LGBTQIA+ and queer couples navigating relationships
✓ Long-term and newly committed relationships
✓ Couples exploring kink, polyamory, or open relationships
✓ Partners navigating parenting, neurodiversity, or life transitions

Common Challenges Include:

  • Communication breakdowns and conflict cycles

  • Mismatched desire and sexual disconnection

  • Infidelity, betrayal trauma, and ruptured trust

  • Performance anxiety, shame, or body-based barriers

  • Negotiating non-monogamy or new relationship agreements

  • Emotional distance, resentment, or loss of passion

  • Rebuilding intimacy after a rupture

MY services:

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A young couple laughing and relaxing on a couch with laptops in front of them.
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  • Dr. Adrian Scharfetter offers depth-oriented, integrative psychotherapy for individuals and couples. Sessions often weave together sex therapy, relationship counseling, Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness, and attachment-based work. For some clients and situations, I also offer ketamine-assisted therapy and retreat-style intensives to deepen healing and transformation.

  • My approach blends clinical expertise with soulful depth work, helping clients explore not only behavior and communication but also the unconscious patterns, archetypes, and inner parts shaping intimacy and self-expression. Therapy is not just symptom management; it’s a process of growth, integration, and meaning-making.

  • Yes. Dr. Adrian Scharfetter specializes in AASECT-certified sex therapy, addressing concerns such as desire differences, communication challenges, sexual shame, arousal difficulties, performance anxiety, and healing after betrayal or disconnection. All sessions are inclusive, honoring a wide range of sexual orientations, gender identities, and relationship structures.

  • Couples therapy focuses on repair, communication, and reconnection. Using approaches like PACT, EFT, and IFS, we help partners move from reactive cycles into secure, attuned connection. Whether you’re recovering from conflict, betrayal, or emotional distance, couples therapy provides a structured space to rebuild trust and intimacy. We talk and figure it out together in a warm and compassionate place.

  • As of January 2020, Athenian Counseling is no longer in-network with insurance providers. However, I can provide a superbill for potential reimbursement from your insurance company. Many clients also choose to pay privately for greater confidentiality and flexibility in treatment.

  • Fees vary based on session type and length.

    • Individual therapy: $200–$250 per 50-minute session

    • Couples therapy: $250–$300 per 50-minute session

    • Intensives: $700 (3 hours) or $1,300 (6 hours). I do have two day offerings as well. Reach out to inquire more.

    Sliding scale or package options may be available depending on need and scheduling.

  • That’s more common than you might think. Many clients come to me after therapy that felt too surface-level or didn’t address underlying patterns. My work invites curiosity, emotional depth, and integration, focusing on lasting change rather than quick fixes.

  • You can schedule an appointment directly through our online booking page, or contact us via email or phone for availability. We’ll set up a brief consultation to determine if my therapeutic style and offerings is the right fit for your needs.

Other Services I offer:

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Ketamine-Assisted Therapy
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Psychedelic Therapy Integration
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Supervision & Consultation

my APPROACH

My work is rooted in respect, connection, and sustainable growth. We draw from:

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT): to shift negative interaction patterns

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS): to explore the “parts” each partner brings

  • Sex Therapy: to reignite erotic connection, pleasure, and safety

  • Nonviolent Communication (NVC): to foster understanding and empathy

  • Psychoeducation: to build shared language, insight, and skills

I help you move from stuckness to clarity, from defensiveness to empathy, from disconnect to deeper connection.

Book a Consulation

Why Choose me for couples work or Individual work?


✓ AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) & Marriage and Family Therapist with an excellent record for helping individuals like yourself, and highly skilled at my work
✓ Over a decade of experience in working with clients, offering empathetic and warm understanding and connection
✓ Specialized training in LGBTQ, non-monogamous, and kink-affirming care
✓ Options for 3-hour, 6-hour, and multi-day Couples Intensives
✓ Integrative care blending relational, emotional, and somatic frameworks
✓ Optional Ketamine - Assisted Therapy (KAP) for couples or individuals seeking deeper healing

THE PROCESS:

Your Relationship Deserves This Care

You don’t have to keep circling the same arguments or living with distance. Whether you're repairing, redefining, or reigniting your connection, couples therapy can be the turning point.

  • Book a consult call by scheduling here

  • We have a brief consult to go over any important questions or concerns

  • From our consult we can set up our first introduction session to start our work together

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Meet your Therapist

I’M DR. ADRIAN SCHARFETTER

If you’re feeling disconnected, from your partner, your sexuality, or even from yourself, you’re not alone. So many of my clients come to therapy feeling stuck in patterns they can’t quite name, carrying shame or frustration around intimacy, communication, or desire. I get it, not just as a therapist, but as someone who deeply believes in the power of safe, connected spaces to heal what's been ignored, dismissed, or misunderstood. My work is all about helping you understand your story, reconnect with your needs, and create relationships, both with others and with yourself, that feel nourishing, authentic, and alive.

Learn more about me