Hi, I’m Paula. Your Guide on A Journey to Healing and Self-Discovery

Feel heard, valued, and supported. I provide LGBTQ+ affirming, kink-aware, and trauma-informed sex therapy in Michigan, helping you build confidence, connection, and clarity in your relationships and within yourself. 

You Deserve a Therapist Who Truly Understands You

If you’ve ever felt like therapy wasn’t meant for you—like your identity, desires, or relationship structure made you an outlier—you’re not alone. Many people seeking support for intimacy, identity, or relationship challenges worry they won’t be fully understood.

Maybe you’ve struggled with trust, questioning whether your therapist will judge your lifestyle. Perhaps past experiences have made you feel unheard or dismissed. Or maybe you’re exploring something new—polyamory, kink, your gender identity—and you want a space where you can talk freely, without filtering your thoughts.

Whatever your story, you deserve therapy that offers more than solutions—you deserve a space where you can be vulnerable, explore who you truly are, and feel deeply accepted for it.

Meet Paula Kirsch, LMSW, LCSW, CST

A Therapist Who Sees You for Who You Are

I believe therapy is about more than just solving problems—it’s about creating a space where you feel truly heard, understood, and accepted. Our experiences—especially around intimacy and relationships—can be deeply personal, often complex, and sometimes difficult to talk about. My role is not just to guide you through challenges but to create a space where you can explore yourself fully and with compassion.

For years, I have helped individuals and couples reconnect with themselves and each other. My work is deeply rooted in respect for all identities, relationship styles, and experiences. Therapy should be a place where you feel safe enough to be fully honest, without fear of being judged or misunderstood.

My Therapy Approach:

  • Couples Therapy – I am experienced in offering support for couples of all types from Traditional Monogamous to Poly-Amorous find the connections they desire.

  • Sex Therapy – Intimacy struggles, mismatched desire, sexual anxiety, or healing from past trauma—together, we’ll work through it.

  • Kink & Non-Monogamy Affirming Care – No need to explain the basics. I understand these dynamics and provide a space where you can work through personal and relational challenges.

  • Trauma-Informed Support – Your past does not define you. Healing is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone.

Therapy isn’t about fixing you—it’s about empowering you to live authentically, process past wounds, and embrace the connections you deserve.

Bonus Read: What Sex Therapists Wish You Knew

How Therapy With Me Can Help You

Seeking therapy isn’t about fixing something that’s broken. It’s about creating space for self-exploration, growth, and emotional well-being. Clients come to therapy for many reasons, but some of the most common include:

  • Feeling disconnected from yourself or your partner(s).

  • Struggling with intimacy, desire, or communication in your relationship.

  • Exploring your gender identity, sexual orientation, or relationship style.

  • Healing from shame, stigma, or past trauma related to sexuality or identity.

  • Wanting support from someone who understands kink, non-monogamy, or LGBTQ+ experiences.

Whatever brings you here, therapy can be a transformative step forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I know if therapy is right for me? If you’ve ever felt like you need a space to explore your emotions, relationships, or identity without fear of judgment, therapy can help. Whether you need guidance, healing, or simply a space to talk, you deserve support.

2. Is therapy confidential? Yes. Therapy is a completely private and secure space. Everything you share remains confidential, following strict ethical and legal standards.

3. Do you offer virtual therapy? Yes! I offer virtual sessions for clients throughout Michigan, making therapy more accessible for those in suburban or rural areas.

4. What if I’ve had a bad experience in therapy before? That’s valid. Finding the right therapist is important. If you’ve felt unheard or dismissed in past therapy, I encourage you to reach out. This space is built for respect, validation, and safety.

Take the First Step Towards Better Connections

You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Therapy can help you build confidence, reconnect with yourself and others, and move forward with clarity.

Helping people find clarity, healing, and joy in their emotional and sexual lives isn’t just my profession—it’s my passion. Let’s start this journey together.

Helping Individuals and Couples in Michigan, Connecticut, and New York.

MY PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

MY EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, TRAINING, EXPERIENCE AND LICENSE

  • Masters of Social Work, Wayne State School of Social Work

  • Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW), MI License #6801096808

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), CT License #011811 validation no. 03-011048

  • IBOSP Certified Sex Therapist

  • Certificate in Sex Therapy and Sexuality Education from the University of Michigan’s School of Social Work

  • The Gottman Institute Couples Therapy

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for Trauma)

  • Former Adjunct Faculty at Wayne State School of Social Work, I taught “Social Functioning: Human Sexuality” to Graduate Students

  • Past Board Member for Affirmations LGBT Community Center, Ferndale, MI