Counseling and Therapy FAQ

Gloria G. Brame,PhD,ACS

gloriabramephd@aol.com

Sensitive, non-judgmental, and confidential counseling on sex and relationships.

 

Q&A With Gloria


Hours and Rates
My Counseling Philosophy
Surveys and Articles


My Credentials
My Policies
BDSM/Fetish Sex:
Overview and Survey
Make an Appointment
Inside the Mind of Gloria
Dr. Brame's Blog
Message Boards
peer support for BDSMers and fetishists

Read about my long-distance practice in the
Washington Post 06/24/04

 

Counseling Philosophy

From all that I've learned, I believe that personal happiness cannot come until an individual is at peace with his or her sexual identity. In my practice, I help clients to accept their own sexual truths and teach them to make the best possible life choices for themselves based on what they learn about themselves.

Whether you need help building relationship skills, overcoming inhibitions, dealing with a sexless marriage; are coping with impotence, premature ejaculation, inability to orgasm, obsessions/addictions, medical issues or STDS; or have questions or concerns about BDSM, fetishism, bisexuality, or other unusual sexual flavors, I will work with you to make positive changes.

My approach is holistic and individualistic. I look at the whole person, not just his problems. I encourage change and personal growth by giving clients a safe space to confide their deepest secrets without fear of judgment. I do not believe in the remote, clinical model of therapy, where you come to be analyzed under a microscope. I am an advocate for my clients' personal goals. I do not waste a client's time with silence; I offer advice, insights, and share my own experiences when relevant. I view the therapy process as an opportunity for a client to reveal him or herself completely to someone who has both the skill and the commitment to identify problem areas, ask the hard questions, get to underlying truths, and to provide support and comfort when clients feel vulnerable.

As a sex expert (Ph.D. in Human Sexuality, M.P.H. in Human Sexuality), an author ("Different Loving","Come Hither", others), a sex-and-relationships expert (Cosmo, Maxim, GQ, Redbook, dozens of others), I have accumulated thousands of insights into what makes people tick sexually. For the past dozen years, I've worked with hundreds of individuals on sex and relationships, first as a peer counselor and, since 2000, as a clinical sexologist (member, American College of Sexologists). As a journalist and author specializing in sex and relationships, I've also fielded thousands of sex questions over the years.

When people seriously commit to pursue therapy with me, I make an equally serious commitment to them. Their emotional health and well-being become my chief concerns. I bring a rare level of expertise and personal caring to the process. Clients should see positive changes in their lives within the first few months of therapy.

My practice is restricted to adults, age 18 and over. Couples welcome.

Areas of expertise:
  • Relationship skills and intimacy problems
  • Self-esteem and body image
  • Couples counseling
  • Overcoming guilt and inhibitions
  • Sexual abuse
  • Addictive or compulsive behaviors
  • Sexual dysfunction, inorgasmia, performance problems, menopause, reproductive health, sexual disorders
  • Special challenges: disabilities and aging

COUNSELING ON BDSM ISSUES

As both a licensed clinical sexologist and a long-time kinky person, I'm uniquely qualified to work with other kinky people on the ins and outs of D&S relationships and SM/fetish fantasies. My Ph.D. study, Demographic BDSM/Fetish Survey, is the largest of its kind and, along with my extensive writings on kinky sex, have made me a leading international authority on BDSM and fetish sex.

BDSM related issues

  • All fetishes and kinks
  • Extreme fantasies
  • Guilt, anxiety or depression
  • Obsessions, addictions, and other self-destructive behaviors
  • Relationship counseling
  • Coping with rejection or non-kinky partners


HOURS AND RATES

Office Hours

Monday to Friday, 12 pm to 8 pm (eastern time)
Saturdays 9 am to 1 pm (eastern time)
by advance appointment only

Clinical sex therapy only.

Rates--2005*

$130 for 60 minutes
$100 for 45 minutes
$75 for 30 minutes

Sessions must be paid for in full either before or at time of therapy.

New clients must pre-pay to confirm the first session. No exceptions

* revised 2/05

Payment Methods

I accept the following credit cards by phone: Visa, MasterCard, and American Express

Cash and personal checks accepted from in-office clients only.

Western Union accepted from international clients only.


Military, students, seniors, and others on low/fixed income, please ask for my reduced rates.

Policies

Cancellations: Requests to reschedule or cancel must be received at least 12 hours in advance of your next appointment or full payment for the session is expected.

Confidentiality: Your privacy is very important to me. I take every measure possible to ensure that you are protected. I do not share patient information unless you have explicitly authorized me to do so. Confidentiality guaranteed to all clients.

Sorry, but I do not offer free counseling by email.

If you have a sex problem or question, and cannot afford my rates:

  • Visit Kink Aware Professionals, an international resource guide to kink-friendly therapists and physicians.

  • Consult a family services agency or clinic in your local area for low-cost therapy
  • Visit my BDSM message boards which offer free peer support


Make an Appointment

To inquire about an appointment, please email:

GloriaBramePhD@aol.com

Please provide some background on yourself by telling me:

  • Why you are seeking counseling
  • That you've read this FAQ and agree to its terms
  • Anything else you would like me to know about you.

I try to respond to all counseling queries within 48 hours. Please be patient if it takes me a little longer to get back to you.

Email is the fastest way to reach me. You may also call my office (706) 788-3446. My voicemail is private. If I'm not in, please leave your phone number and the best time to reach you. I usually return all calls within 24 hours.

Counseling Options

Phone/internet counseling has proven enormously successful for my clients, with the added benefits of maximum flexibility and privacy. To arrange a telephone or Internet appointment, email me at gloriabramephd@aol.com

My practice is in the metro Athens, GA area. Local area residents and visitors to this area are welcome to schedule in-office sessions (in advance). Personal checks accepted from local clients.Email gloriabramephd@aol.com or call (706) 788-3446 for more information.

If you are in urgent need, I may be able to schedule an emergency appointment outside my regular hours (including weekends). Special rate: $150/hour for emergency appointments.

Email me about intensive therapy for individuals and couples.

Be a Smart Consumer

Don't use your work address for sex-related correspondence. Employers have the legal right to monitor company email.

Comparison shop for therapists. There are a lot of quacks and time-wasters out there. Before committing to a course of therapy, check the therapist's credentials and make sure he or she is comfortable and experienced with the issues you want to work on.


Gloria's Credentials

Dr. Gloria G. Brame is one of the world's foremost experts on SM/fetish sexuality. She has been cited in hundreds of articles, books, and bibliographies; she is quoted regularly in magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Maxim, and Redbook, and she has made hundreds of radio and tv appearances. Although she seldom makes personal appearances, you can always find her on the Internet, at her website, her message boards, and her blog, which is updated daily. Excerpts from Gloria's CV follow:

Education

PhD in Clinical Sexology, Masters of Human Sexuality in Public Health (2000), Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality (IASHS)
M.A. in English (1978) Columbia University, New York
B.A., with honors in English (1977) summa cum laude, York College/CUNY, New York

Teaching Background

Lecturer in Sexuality, Widener University, On-Line, 2005
Instructor, "On the Sexy Edge with Dr. Brame", Netscape Learning Center, 2004
Assistant Professor
,
dual appointment in Sexology and Clinical Sexology, IASHS 2000 -
Associate Professor, Poetry, Hofstra University, 1988- 1991
Lecturer, English, New York University, 1989-1991
Assistant Professor, English and Creative Writing, York College, 1989-1990

Other Related Credentials

Expert/Content provider, iFriends Adult Forums http://ifriends.com
Experts, Sexual Health Network http://sexualhealth.com/
Member
, American College of Sexologists
Lead author, Different Loving: The World of Sexual Dominance and Submission
Author, Come Hither: A Commonsense Guide to Kinky Sex
Author, Domina: The Sextopians (SM erotica)
Author, Where the Boys Are: A Step-By-Step Guide to Finding Mr. Right (dating guide)
Founded: , gloriabrame.com (1996), gloriabrame Message Boards (2000), Inside the Mind of Gloria Brame (2004)
Contributor, various BDSM essays, stories and poetry ("Secret," "Stand Corrected," "Spank Hard," "Hard Bound," "Leather Journal," "Prometheus," others)
Journalist, specializing in sex and relationships (widely published in mainstream magazines)

Sex Expert and Content Developer, "BDSM and Beyond," Thrive On-Line, 1998-2001
Founder, "Variations II/Section 12," BDSM/fetish support group, Compuserve Human Sexuality Forums, 1987-1992
BDSM Peer counselor, (private practice), 1990-1994
Judge, Southeast Mr. Drummer Contest, 1995
Co-presenter (with William Brame), "The World of SM Sexuality," Southeast Regional Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex, 1994


 

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