Sexual Health Concerns Interest Group

The CPS Sexual Health Interest Group comprises clinicians who have specialized and advanced training in sexuality, sexual orientation, sexual functioning, and gender identity. The team supports students’ physical, emotional, and social well-being and agency in making decisions about their sexual health. 

Navigating a relationship with sex and sexuality can be complicated. The CPS Sexual Health Interest Group is here to offer short-term consultation and/or psychotherapy that focuses on the mental, emotional, and relational facets of sexuality, sexual health and/or gender identity.  This team appreciates the uniqueness of our students’ identities, experiences, and backgrounds, and will meet individual needs with respect and compassion.   

Typical topics discussed

The CPS Sexual Health Interest Group provides consultation and/or psychotherapy regarding, among other concerns: 

  • Navigating identity and/or experience (relationship structures and sexual practices) 
  • Vulvar and/or pelvic pain 
  • Difficulty and/or inability to orgasm 
  • Difficulty with arousal and/or desire 
  • Erectile concerns (erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation, etc.) 
  • Reproductive concerns (concerns regarding infertility, egg/embryo retrieval, IVF, pregnancy, contraception, abortion, etc.) 
  • Navigating romantic relationships (concerns with sexual intimacy/pleasure, mismatched libidos, different erotic desires, etc.) 
  • Distressing sexual behavior (concerns re: use of pornography, masturbation, etc.) 

Drop in

If you have a concern similar to these, we invite you to request one of us as your provider for individual counseling at CPS or to attend gender and sexual health drop-in during the academic year. 

Looking for something else? 

If your concerns are more along the lines of sexual and gender identity issues, consider working with CPS providers with a particular interest, experience, or advanced training in these concerns.  

If you are seeking general sexual health information, please schedule a sexual and reproductive health visit or drop-in with Alice! Health Promotion. 

Need STI testing? See if you are eligible for Express Collect.  

Curious about the full breadth of services for Transgender and Gender Expansive students? Visit the Transgender and Gender Expansive Healthcare Services page. 

Need support related experiences of sexual violence? Make an appointment or drop-in with an advocate from Sexual Violence Response or call the 24/7 helpline: 212-854-4357. 

Sexual Health Interest Group Members

Dr. Kori Bennett has been holding space for students with questions and concerns about sex, gender identity, sexual and romantic relationships/orientation, and related topics throughout their career.

Dr. Bennett is the leader of the Transgender and Gender Expansive Team (TGET) at Columbia Health and is a member of CPS’s Sexual and Gender identity (SGI) team and is also a member of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT).

They have presented at professional meetings on the topics of relationship structures and sexual practices, gender-affirming care, the use of humor as a form of trans resilience, and queer experience.   

Dr. Goldman has worked with individuals who are navigating their sexual health, sexuality, gender, and/or relationships for many years. Dr. Goldman completed advanced training in sexual health and received her national certification as a sex therapist (AASECT certified).

She works from an integrated framework, recognizing the multitude of variables that impact an individual’s relationship with sex and sexuality. Dr. Goldman treats concerns around sexual functioning, including pelvic pain, erectile issues, orgasm issues, and libido concerns.  She also enjoys working with students on relationship structures and sexual practices, mismatched erotic preferences, compulsive sexual behaviors, and more. 

Dr. Johnson has extensive experience working with sexual health concerns. He completed advanced training in sexual health and LGBTQ+ issues and has worked closely with medical providers in multiple settings supporting people with emotional and behavioral concerns related to sexual functioning. Dr. Johnson has many years of experience working with men’s issues including erectile dysfunction, premature/delayed ejaculation, performance anxiety, lack of desire, porn usage, relationship structures, and sexual practices.

Dr. Johnson has also worked closely on issues of gay men’s sexual health with colleagues across Columbia Health. He helps people navigate relationships and coping with HIV and other STI diagnoses. Dr. Johnson’s approach to these concerns is open, affirming, and non-judgmental. 

Wardeh (she/her/hers) is a licensed clinical social worker and an AASECT-certified sex therapist. Her areas of interest, among others, include the intersections of body image with sexual pleasure, sexual literacy, medical conditions and sexual functioning, improving sexual literacy, sex-worker affirmative treatment, and healing from infidelity and divorce.

Wardeh’s other areas of experience include psychotherapy, relationship structures and sexual practices, and LGBTQ+ affirmative psychotherapy. She is also experienced working with sensate focus, erectile dysfunction, and compulsive sexual behaviors (including excessive pornography usage and out-of-control sexual behaviors also known as OCSB). 

Last reviewed: 1/15/2025