Sex therapy in portland, or

A Supportive Space for Intimacy, Connection, and Embodied Healing

Incorporating Tibetan 5 Element Tantra

A Supportive Space for Intimacy, Connection, and Embodied Healing

Sex therapy in portland, or

USING TIBETAN 5 ELEMENT TANTRA

Tantra and Intimacy Coaching

explore intimacy, desire, and connection

Tantra and Intimacy Coaching

Sex therapy may be for you if you are:

  • Experiencing challenges with intimacy or desire

  • Feeling disconnected from your body or your partner

  • Navigating shame, anxiety, or fear around sexuality

  • Recovering from trauma that impacts intimacy

  • Wanting to deepen emotional and physical connection

  • Seeking a healthier relationship with pleasure and touch

You do not need to have a specific “problem” to begin—many clients come simply wanting to feel more at ease and connected in their bodies and relationships.

Tantra and Intimacy Coaching

A Holistic Approach to Sex Therapy

My approach to sex therapy is trauma-informed and grounded in creating safety, choice, and respect at every step.

One source I draw from is Tibetan 5 Element Tantra as a supportive framework to help clients explore intimacy through:

  • Greater body awareness

  • Emotional presence

  • Connection to breath and sensation

  • Understanding how energy and emotions move through the body

This approach is not about performance or technique—it is about deepening connection, clarity, and self-understanding.

Tantra and Intimacy Coaching

Embodied intimacy

Deborah Johanson, Therapist in Portland OR providing individual, couples and sex therapy

In 2015 I was introduced to Tantra at a weekend training for therapists in Seattle. It was a completely different approach to relationship from anything I had studied or experienced, and I was touched deeply by the teaching of Tantra as a spiritual approach to sexuality where intimacy becomes an embodied expression of sensuality, pleasure, and profound connection.

The idea of engaging in intentional practices to support intimacy, seeing and treating one’s self and partner as sacred beings, and the experience of that depth of vulnerability was….well, life changing.

Tibetan 5 Element Tantra, an ancient form of energy medicine, is a trauma informed, holistic modality deeply rooted in the 4 pillars of healing. Each pillar - meditation, movement, connection, and pleasure - involves practices designed to effectively dissolve the layers of trauma, ignorance, and shame that cultural conditioning and life experiences can bring. 

These practices are both sexual and non-sexual, resulting in a profound transformation of your body, mind, spirit, and sex…beginning with your relationship with self and extending to your relationship with another.   We approach sexuality with mindfulness and presence and you canl learn tools to harness your sexual energy and use it skillfully.  

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AREAS OF focus

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SEX THERAPY IN PORTLAND, OR

Trauma-informed sex therapy for individuals and couples in Portland and virtually across Oregon.

desire discrepancies


sexual anxiety


needs + boundaries


intimacy issues


sexual shame


sexual trauma


connection


communication issues


rebuilding trust


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Tantra and Intimacy Coaching

What to Expect in Sex Therapy

Tantra and Intimacy Coaching

Sessions are conversational, reflective, and guided exploration. You remain fully clothed, and all work is based on boundaries, emotional safety, and consent..

Together, we may explore:

  • Emotional patterns related to intimacy

  • Beliefs and experiences that shape your relationship with sexuality

  • Tools for communication and connection

  • Ways to feel more grounded and present in your body

The pace is always guided by what feels supportive and appropriate for you.

  • "It felt like a low-pressure, high reward intimacy course"

    “We started seeing Deborah for tantra sessions at a time when we felt like our sex life wasn’t as fulfilling as it should/could be. We weren’t familiar with tantra but came in with open minds and got so much out of the frameworks, practices, and the environment Deborah created in session. The intentional practice in and outside of our sessions helped build connection in our relationship - it felt like a low-pressure, high reward intimacy course. We learned how to have more pleasure-centered sex AND how to communicate more effectively with each other about our wants and needs. We also expanded our views of intimacy and pleasure which has had a lasting impact on our whole relationship.”

  • "Deborah created a space where it was safe enough to be open and playful"

    “My beloved and I were the grateful recipients of Deborah’s time, attention, and training in an introduction to Buddhist Tantric practice. She explained things clearly and guided us deftly, helping us connect to ourselves, the practices, and one another. A few things surprised me. First, how rooted I felt to the source of these ancient and authentic ways of knowing. Next, how much the practices included and enhanced our communication as a couple. And third, how the practices and exchanges with my partner continuously led me back to myself and the root of my desire. Deborah created a space where it was safe enough to be open and playful at all those edges.”

tantra leads to

transformation

Tantra and Intimacy Coaching

EXPERIENCE PLEASURE AND PROFOUND CONNECTION

A woman with dark hair smiling and laughing in a field of orange flowers. Individual therapy in Portland OR for anxiety trauma and emotional well-being

COME HOME TO YOURSELF AND TRANSFORM YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

Tantra and Intimacy Coaching

TRANSFORM YOUR BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, AND SEX

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Begin Sex Therapy in Portland, OR

    I offer sex therapy for individuals and couples in Portland, Lake Oswego, and surrounding areas as well as online therapy for clients throughout Oregon. This work can be helpful whether you attend on your own or with a partner.


Exploring intimacy and sexuality can feel vulnerable. Therapy offers a respectful, safe, compassionate space where you do not have to navigate these questions alone.

If you’re curious about whether sex therapy is right for you, I invite you to reach out and schedule a consultation.