Optimal Sexual Experiences (OSE) Group Therapy in Seattle

Many couples face sexual challenges at some point, most commonly low desire or a mismatch in desire between partners. These concerns can arise in any stage of a relationship and among partners of all genders and identities. The good news? You don’t have to stay stuck, and you don’t have to face it alone.

At times, in addition to sex and intimacy therapy for couples and individuals, we have offered a research-informed 8-week group therapy program designed specifically to help couples restore intimacy, experience pleasure, and deepen sexual connection. Even when a group is not currently running, the model we use continues to shape how we support couples who are navigating low desire and mismatched libido in one-on-one or couples sessions.

This couples group approach is based on the work of the Optimal Sexual Experiences Research Team at the University of Ottawa, with whom we collaborate as part of their international study. It’s especially helpful for couples navigating:

• Low or absent sexual desire (for one or both partners)
• Differences in sexual frequency or initiation
• Loss of intimacy, closeness, or sexual confidence

Past groups have been conducted online via Zoom and open to couples throughout Washington State, with both partners attending together from the same physical space.

What is this couples sex therapy group based on?

This group model draws on the Optimal Sexual Experiences framework, which focuses less on “fixing” desire and more on helping couples create meaningful, satisfying sexual experiences that fit their bodies, values, and relationship. Rather than measuring success only by frequency, the work emphasizes curiosity, communication, flexibility, and shared pleasure.

Couples explore patterns that keep them feeling stuck, learn new ways to talk about sex without shame or blame, and practice exercises designed to build comfort, connection, and erotic safety over time.

Who is this group designed to help?

The group is meant for couples who want to stay together, care about each other, and are open to trying something different with support from trained therapists. It can be especially supportive if you and your partner are:

• Feeling discouraged about how often sex happens (or doesn’t happen)
• Struggling with repeated rejection or avoidance around touch
• Unsure how to talk about sex without arguments or withdrawal
• Healing from past sexual experiences that affect your current connection

If this sounds familiar but a group is not currently available, we can still draw from this same model in couples therapy or sex and intimacy therapy tailored just to you.

What does the 8-week couples group include?

When running, this therapy group typically includes:

• Eight weekly sessions, 2 hours each
• Telehealth meetings via a secure Zoom platform
• Guidance from two experienced sex and relationship therapists
• Structured “home play” exercises between sessions to support connection

Groups are kept intentionally small to allow for focused discussion and a supportive, confidential environment. In the past, the investment has been $175 per 2-hour session per couple (about half the cost of weekly private sex therapy), and has included guided exercises plus 2 hours of home play each week for you and your partner.

If you’re interested in this kind of group format, you’re welcome to reach out and ask whether a future cohort may be planned, or to explore how these tools can be integrated into individual or couples work instead.

Who leads this couples sex therapy group?

Justin Pere is a Certified Sex Therapist (CST) and Certified Gottman Therapist (CGT), and the founder of Clarity Counseling Seattle. He brings over 20 years of experience working with couples, individuals, and polycules around intimacy, pleasure, and sexual connection. Justin currently serves on the Board of the Northwest Institute on Intimacy and previously served on the board of the Seattle Counselors Association. The Gottman Institute has consulted with him on sex and sexuality topics, and he is a research collaborator and Advanced Practitioner with the Optimal Sexual Experiences Research Team at the University of Ottawa.

If you’d like to explore more of Clarity Counseling Seattle’s Justin's contributions to national conversations about sex therapy, intimacy, and modern relationships, you can visit our Media & Press page. It includes interviews and articles that highlight the broader context behind the work we do with couples and individuals.

Mindy McGovern is a licensed therapist who works with couples, individuals, polycules, and families at her private practice in Seattle. She has advanced training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, and Sex Therapy. Mindy specializes in helping couples strengthen emotional and physical intimacy, and also works with clients navigating blended families, parenting challenges, trauma, anxiety, and relational stress. She has co-facilitated this group as part of Clarity’s commitment to offering inclusive, research-informed, and connection-focused therapy experiences. Mindy is also an Advanced Practitioner with the Optimal Sexual Experiences Research Team.

How can you get support with low desire and intimacy now?

Even when a specific group is not running, the concerns it addresses are very common and very workable in therapy. If your relationship has been affected by desire challenges, misaligned intimacy needs, or distance in your sex life, support is available.

You can explore this work through:

• Sex and Intimacy Therapy for individuals and couples
• Couples Therapy focused on communication, closeness, and repair
• Online therapy across Washington if you prefer to meet from home

If you’re interested in being notified about a possible future group using this model, or want to begin with individual or couples sessions now, we’d be glad to talk with you.

To ask about future groups or get support now, please contact us.