ABOUT
If you’re tired of feeling stuck and want to feel more connected in your intimate relationships, you’ve come to the right place. Therapy can help.
When things start to feel “off” in our relationships and sex lives, so many other aspects of our experience—especially mental and emotional health—can feel the impact. Stress, anxiety, conflict, and avoidance start to trickle in and exacerbate the original issue, and things begin to feel more out of control and warped than ever before. We might miscommunicate, start to keep score, and act in ways we’re not proud of minutes, hours, or days later. Or, make assumptions about our partner’s intentions… and hold back on asking directly for what we need. Everything starts to feel more vulnerable, exhausting, and not worth the risk of more pain and confusion. Enjoyable, pleasurable sex? It’s not happening.
You might be thinking: What happened to us? Where do we go from here?
Relationships can be wonderful sources of security and joy and a frustrating struggle. You are not broken, and you are certainly not alone.
Your relationship doesn’t have to feel that way, either.
As a relationship and sex therapist, I’m experienced in guiding difficult conversations and helping to make them a little easier. Talking about sexual struggles can feel difficult or awkward for most people; I understand this and I’ll thoughtfully help you get started. I want to help you clarify what you need and become more present and intentional in your relationships.
With a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, I’ve completed graduate education and clinical training—including advanced training in sex therapy and experience helping individuals and couples address sexual concerns—so that I can support my clients in making desired change and progress in their lives.
Areas of Clinical Focus
Not sure if your concerns fit on this list? I’m happy to answer any questions you may have. Contact me to schedule a free phone consultation.
Relationships
Sex Therapy & Sexual Health
Life Transitions
Premarital Counseling
In my experience working with clients on their relationships, here are some things I’ve heard time and time again:
About Christine Aiello, LMFT
ABOUT CHRISTINE
I'm a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Certified Sex Therapist. My goal is to instill hope and remind you of your strengths while helping you to make progress, session by session.
My style as a therapist is warm, thoughtful, and emotionally focused. I view our work together as a collaboration that’s built on a good fit, mutual respect, and curiosity about the therapy process. My hope is that our relationship creates space and safety for you to take a good and honest look at what’s working (and what’s not) in your life and in your relationships. Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all; I tailor my approach and guidance based on your needs and goals. You’re the expert on your own experience and needs and I want to hear your feedback. As we talk about realistic goals and your treatment plan, I’ll provide information and resources as supplements to our work when relevant.
Ongoing education and clinical training is important in my work. I’m always learning and seeking out continued training in relationship and sex therapy so that I can bring evidence-based treatment approaches and up-to-date information to my work. I am also a Certified Facilitator of Prepare/Enrich, a premarital counseling program that I incorporate into premarital work with couples.
I welcome all people, genders, and relationship styles, and am committed to providing culturally competent, affirming treatment and care, especially to individuals identifying with BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, kink, and poly communities.
I’m licensed to provide therapy to residents of Illinois and Michigan, and I’m currently offering all sessions virtually through a HIPAA-compliant video service. If you'd like to learn more about my approach and see if we'd be a good fit, reach out through my contact form and we’ll schedule a free phone consultation.
Education
University of Michigan | Sexual Health Certificate Program, Sex Therapy
Northwestern University | Master of Science (M.S.) in Marriage and Family Therapy
University of Michigan | Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Neuroscience
Clinical Training + Specialized Experience
I completed my clinical training and internship at Northwestern University, where I provided therapy to individuals, couples, and families at The Family Institute in Evanston and Northbrook, Illinois. Prior to opening my private practice, I worked in a group private practice in downtown Chicago providing relationship and sex therapy to individuals and couples. I’m an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and completed the University of Michigan’s Sexual Health Certificate Program, where I received advanced post-graduate training in sex therapy. I’m passionate about this work and helping my clients to improve their intimate and sexual relationships with more confidence and ease.
A Little More About Me
This is the part where I tell you about how I love to bake and spend time in my garden… it’s true! Before attending graduate school to become a therapist, I worked in various medical settings, followed by a few years baking pastries for local bakeries. While mixing cookie dough and arranging pastry displays, I found myself thinking and conversing a lot about relationships and sexual health with co-workers and friends. I decided it was time to learn to help people with their relationships—professionally—in the best way I know how: listening and supporting. Cookies still help, though. You might also find me smiling at dogs, slowly trying to learn French, and nodding emphatically while listening to Glennon Doyle’s podcast, We Can Do Hard Things.