Experience
Founder & Director, Philadelphia, PA
The Center For Growth / Sex Therapy in Philadelphia
Jun 2005 – Present
- The Center for Growth is a group of mental health therapists dedicated to helping people change and become their best self.
- The organization initially formed as an online program as a result of a school project.
- In 2005, the organization shifted from being run out of my living room and we rented office space to begin offering counseling services face-to-face.
- By 2007, we had outgrown our two roomed office and we moved one block away to a space that had a suite of 6 offices and a waiting room!
- In 2017 we open our second location.
- In 2020 we crossed state lines and opened an office in Virginia and New Jersey.
- In 2022 we opened an office in Santa Fe NM.
- We now are a team of 30+ therapists.
- Core to our humble beginnings we continue to provide educational free self help information online as well as engage in community development.
- One area that makes our organization unique is our dedication to low-cost groups (fee is $10).
- Currently we have ongoing groups for: Grief, Herpes, Sex Addiction, Anxiety, Depression, survivors of addicts, survivors of narcissists, and mindfulness.
- In addition to overseeing the management of the company, I provide individual, couples, family therapy, groups and supervision.
- My exact area of clinical interest is ever changing and is highly influenced by the needs of my current clients, my staff as well as my family.
- The exciting part about my role is that it has taken me down so many paths that have been critical to my overall success: HTML Coding, Carpentry, Payroll, Benefits Specialist, Excel, Quality Assurance, Accounting, Marketing, Speaking Skills, and Mentoring.
Founder & Director, Philadelphia, PA
How To Have Good Sex Inc.
Sept 1997-2020
- HTHGS is primarily a web based organization dedicated to teaching human sexuality education.
- Responsible for answering sex based questions, developing the curriculum from which to teach the human sexuality teleconference and chat courses.
- Design and produce the monthly sex tips.
- Additionally, we do bachelorette parties.
Philadelphia International Women’s Project, Philadelphia, PA
2017- June 2019
- Monthly Sex Therapy Group for West African Women who have experienced Female Genital Cutting (Aug 2017-June 2019)
- Monthly Sex Therapy Group for Sudanese Women who have experienced Female Genital Cutting (Nov 2017 – June 2019)
Therapist, Philadelphia PA
Life Counseling
Feb 2002-May 2005
- Provided individual, couple and family therapy.
- Focus was on anxiety, depression, men’s issues, compulsive behaviors, sexual health and pain management.
- Supervisor for two MSW interns.
Therapist, Philadelphia PA
Life Counseling
Feb 2002-May 2005
- Provided individual, couple and family therapy. Focus was on anxiety, depression, men’s issues, compulsive behaviors, sexual health and pain management. Supervisor for two MSW interns.
Teaching Assistant, Philadelphia, PA
University of Pennsylvania
Jan 1999-May 1999 & Jan 2000-May 2000
- to the course ‘Basic Concepts in Human Sexuality’.
- Responsible for designing and implementing lesson plans, grading and running my own section of the course.
Therapist, Philadelphia, PA
Penn Council For Relationships
Sept 1996-Jul 1999
- provided individual, couple and family therapy. Specialization is in marriage counseling and sex therapy.
Clinical Specialist 2, Portland, OR
Protocall Services/Metro Crisis Line
Oct 1995-Jul 1996
- trained, supervised and acted as a resource to Metro Crisis Line volunteers.
- Conducted telephone intakes / assessments, crisis response, and dispatched the local law and/or medical personnel as necessary, triaged services for companies nationwide.
- Protocall provided direct services to over 50 million people, including persons with a chronic mental illness, substance abuse problem and those with current homicidal and suicidal ideations.
Child Abuse Intake Specialist, Portland, OR
CARES NW (Child Abuse Response and Evaluation Services) Program
May 1995-Oct 1995
- evaluated and determined eligibility of incoming callers wishing to schedule a CARES appointment and/or provided the client(s) with appropriate referrals to community services.
School Social Worker Intern
Collingswood Board of Education
Sept 1994-May 1995
Drug & Alcohol Counselor Intern
Eagleville Hospital
May 1995-Aug 1995
Emergency Shelter Social Worker Intern
Child Inc.
Sept 1993-Jun 1994
Crisis Intervention Counselor
Portland Women’s Crisis Line (PWCL)
Sept 1992-Aug 1995
Volunteer Facilitator of a Support Group for Survivors of Rape
PWCL
Jan 1993-Apr 1993
Founded a Women’s Consciousness Raising Support Group
Lewis & Clark College
Sept 1992-Jun 1993
Revitalized the Group Student’s United for Sexual Awareness
Lewis & Clark College
Jan 1993-Jun 1993
Researcher on the abuse of prostitutes
Council For Prostitution Alternatives
Jun 1992-Aug 1992
Presentations, Appearances, & Publications
COURT CERTIFIED EXPERT IN MENTAL HEALTH by the Honorable Judge Kelly Wall, Montgomery County
- Testified on July 19, 2019: What is an Anti Social Personality Disorder and how that might be impacting a child who is presenting with an Adjustment Disorder.
The Center For Growth, Inc., Philadelphia PA (Aug/05 – Present)
- Yearly workshops on sex and pregnancy.
- Valentines Day 3 hour workshop on rekindling the passion.
ROAR, New Jersey (Nov / 2025)
- 45 Min Podcast on The Best Sex Advice You Didn’t Know You Needed
Center City Pediatrics, Philadelphia PA (Dec /2022)
- 1 hour lecture on Teens & Cutting, Co-presented with Tonya McDaniels, LCSW, and Jordan Pearce, MA, NCC, LAC
Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia PA (Sept / 2022)
- Requested by Heather Cianci, PT, MS, GCS the outpatient neurological team leader at the Dan Aaron Parkinson’s Rehabilitation Center (Penn Therapy & Fitness) to present to her team of neurologists, social workers, and physical therapists
- 1 hour lecture on The Treatment of Functional Neurological Disorders. Co-presented with Tonya McDaniels LCSW, and Rebekah Coval, MS
How To Have Good Sex, Inc., Philadelphia PA (Jan/99 – 2021)
- Monthly 3 hour workshops on intimacy and communication issues.
- Bachelorette parties: How to be the best lover your partner ever had, and receive the pleasure you’ve only dreamed about (as requested).
Edney Funeral Home, Sharon Hill PA (June / 2019)
- 3 hour Self Care Sundays, a workshop to help grieving people. (June / 2019)
Philadelphia International Women’s Project, Philadelphia PA
- Female Genital Cutting Sexuality Conference
- Keynote Lecturer: Female Genital Cutting & Sex Therapy Support Group Lecture at the Female Genital Cutting and Sexuality Conference in Philadelphia (July / 18)
- Therapy for Sexual Dysfunction Lecture, a 45 min lecture at the Female Genital Cutting & Sexuality Conference in Philadelphia (July / 17)
Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia PA
- 2 hour lecture for OB /GYN Residents on Sex Therapy (May/18)
- Co-presented with Dr. Peter Gearhart a one hour lecture for OB/GYN residents on female sexuality. (Nov / 08)
- 1 hour grand rounds lecture for OB/GYN physicians, midwives and nurses on sexual function / dysfunction. (Feb/03)
Philadelphia Good Day, Fox29, Philadelphia PA (March / 2016)
- Premarital questions to ask
RevBeverlyDale, Philadelphia, PA (Nov/11)
- Expert therapist on 3 person panel called Meditations on the Gift of Sexuality – specifically – The Gift of Sexual Pleasure
Lutheran Children and Family Service, Philadelphia, PA (Jan/11)
- Sex addiction in adolescents: signs & symptoms.
ABC Channel 6, Action News at 11pm with Action News Reporter Katherine Scott, Philadelphia, PA (April/10)
- Internet pornography in the workplace.
Philadelphia Psychiatric Society, Philadelphia PA (April/10)
- The New Sexuality: Sexting to Hooking Up, one hour lecture for the Psychiatric Society Women’s Brunch.
Drexel University, hosted by Commuter Organization (DCOM),Philadelphia, PA (Feb/09-Feb/10)
- Valentines Day / Sex Therapy Workshop, 1.5 hour workshop. (Feb /09)
- Post-Valentines Day Workshop, 1 hour workshop (Feb/10).
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (Oct/09)
- Co-presented with Dr. Peter Gearhart a one hour lecture “Female Sexuality” for OB/GYN resident physicians.
Robboy, Alex. “Book Review.” Review of “He’s Just Not Up for It Anymore:
- Why Men Stop Having Sex and What You Can Do About It”, by Bob Berkowitz and Susan Yager-Berkowitz. Contemporary Sexuality, v42, #12 pg 8 December, 2008.
The Ralston Center The Ralston Center, Philadelphia, PA (Nov/08)
- Sexual Health & Aging, a three hour workshop.
A Day for Mom & Me, hosted by PNC Bank, Philadelphia, PA (May/08)
- Managing your stress: how can you juggle your life with balance? what can we do to slow things down internally? her, we uncover the answers.
NBC 10, News at 11pm with reporter Kristen Welker, Philadelphia, PA (Feb/08)
- Where couples are turning when monogamy becomes monotony
Medical Breakthroughs, reported by Ivanhoe, Los Angeles, CA (Feb/08)
- Love, Lust & Loyalty: Cheating Hearts
Medical Breakthroughs, reported by Ivanhoe, Philadelphia, PA (Feb/08)
- Love, Lust & Loyalty: Virtual Affairs: Real Life Mess? (Feb / 08)
Montel Williams New York City, NY (Jan/08)
- Asked by Montel Williams to help a couple “Bring Sexy Back Into Their Marriage”
Church of the Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith Philadelphia, PA (Jan/08)
- Co-presenting for with Tracy Wood, M.Ed., LMFT & Jennifer Foust, Ph.D., M.S., LPC for three hours to a group of 100 women “S.A.Y. What? Sisterly Expressions and Intimate Conversations”
NBC10, News at 11pm with Investigator Harry Hairston, Philadelphia, PA (Sept/07)
6pm News with Stephanie Stahl on CBS3, Philadelphia, PA (July/07)
- Health: Muscles vs. Brain For Women
Swarthmore College, Sexual Health Counselors, Philadelphia, PA ( Aug/06)
- Co-presenting with Tracy L. Wood M.Ed., LMFT for three hours to the Sexual Health Counselors student group on: Ways to answer students technical questions about the pleasurable aspects of sex, sexuality & intimacy.
Surviving Motherhood on TLC, Philadelphia, PA (Aug/06)
11pm News with Stephanie Stahl on CBS 3, Philadelphia, PA (May/06)
- Health, Secrets of seduction
Your Morning on CN8, New Castle, DE (Sep/03-Aug/05)
- A live television interview: Tips for safer sex (Sept/03).
- A live television interview: Discussed the importance of sex and how bachelorette workshops can help individuals (Jun/03).
- A live television interview: 12 ways to rev up your sex life (Jan/04).
- Taped television interviews: Sex and pregnancy, sex and menopause, and sex and STD’s (March 29, 04)
- A live television interview: (May/05)
- A live television interview: Spicing up your sex life (June/05)
- A live television interview: Getting sexy after sex (Jul/05)
- A live television interview: After the affair (Aug/05)
Love and Romance with Sue McGarvie Toronto, Canada (Jun / 05)
- Taped interview about sexuality
2005 AASECT Annual Conference – What’s New What Works: Pioneering Solutions For Today’s Sexual Issues, Portland OR (May / 05)
- Sex and Pregnancy, Presented with Dr. Gearhart
Temple University, Human Sexuality Education Course, Philadelphia PA (April, 05)
- Guest lecturer: Sexual Function & Dysfunction.
It’s a New Day with Rip Daniels on www.wjzd.com and on the radio 94.5Mississippi (Feb 14, 05)
- A live radio interview: Swinging, is it healthy?
New Hampshire Nursing Association Fall Conference, Concord, NH (Oct 6, 04).
- Cosmetic Surgeries, Enhancements, Diets, Herbal Concoctions, Vanity . . . Is it Healthy? Presented with Dr. Peter Gearhart
- Some of the questions & most of the answers that your patients won’t ask. Presented with Dr. Peter Gearhart
- Closing Plenary Session: Sex & Sexuality in Nursing Practice, How to use the knowledge in your practice. Presented with Dr. Peter Gearhart
Early Mornings with Trevar Chappell on ABC Local Radio, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia (Sept/04).
- A live radio interview: Pornography, is it healthy?
Anderson Copper 360° on CNN, Philadelphia, PA (Jun/04)
- A live television interview: Sex & swinging
Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA (Feb/03)
- 1 hour grand rounds lecture for OB/GYN physicians, midwives and nurses on sexual function / dysfunction.
Robboy, Alex (2002). Lost in translation?
- The hazards of applying socialconstructionism to quantitative research on sexual orientation development. The Journal of Homosexuality. v42, #3, p89–102.
Best Nest, Philadelphia, PA (Dec/00-02)
- Yearly in-service trainings for foster care social workers to learn how to talk to foster care families, biological parents and foster children about sexuality issues.
New York University Medical School, New York, New York (Jan/02)
- 1 hour workshop for NYU medical students on sexually transmitted infections.
Philadelphia Family Pride, Philadelphia, PA (Nov/00)
- 2 hour training geared for gay and lesbian parents on how to talk to their children about sexuality.
Support Group Calendar