317: Sex Therapy in the Digital Age with Vanessa Cushing

Aug 25, 2025

Vanessa Cushing, MS, LPC, NCC — a trauma-informed sex therapist and founder of Sex Therapy Pro — discusses building a closed, vetted AI platform for sexual wellness. She explains why tailored AI can increase access, the importance of trauma-informed safeguards, and how the tool complements clinical care. The conversation centers on inclusivity, safety limits, and making shame-free sexual health resources more reachable.

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INSIGHT

Accessibility Gap In Sexual Health

Vanessa noticed a major accessibility and information gap in sexual health resources and training.
She created Sex Therapy Pro as a closed, vetted AI to centralize accurate sexual health resources.

ADVICE

Use A Closed, Vetted AI

Build the AI from vetted clinical resources rather than open internet scraping.
Use a closed AI so the answers reflect only trusted, curated material.

INSIGHT

Medical Training Leaves Sexual Health Gaps

Many medical professionals lack sufficient sexual health training, causing misdiagnosis and misinformation.
A digital hub can direct people to specialized providers like pelvic floor therapists for conditions like vaginismus.

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In this episode of the Better Sex Podcast, host Jessa Zimmerman speaks with ASSECT certified sex therapist Vanessa Cushing about her new innovative project, Sex Therapy Pro—an online closed AI resource and soon-to-be app. They discuss the challenges and accessibility gaps in sexual health information, Vanessa's journey through the creation of this custom AI, and how it aims to provide vetted, accurate information to individuals and other clinicians. They also cover the importance of trauma-informed care, the limitations of AI in handling mental health, and the ultimate goal of encouraging people to seek professional help while reducing shame around sexual health concerns.

00:00 Introduction to Better Sex Podcast

00:46 Guest Introduction: Vanessa Cushing

01:56 The Birth of Sex Therapy Pro

03:23 Challenges and Solutions in Sex Therapy

04:22 AI in Sex Therapy: Benefits and Concerns

06:48 Accessibility and Inclusivity in Sexual Health

11:05 Trauma-Informed AI and Its Limitations

14:25 Future of AI in Therapy

21:05 Conclusion and App Launch Details

Take my sexual health quiz at https://www.sexhealthquiz.com

Bio:

Vanessa Cushing, MS, LPC, NCC is a sex therapist certified by University of Michigan, trauma-informed clinician, and the founder of Sex Therapy Pro a digital platform offering AI-guided, shame-free support for sexual wellness and intimacy.

She holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Virginia, an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University, and completed her sex therapy certification through the University of Michigan.

Vanessa specializes in helping individuals and couples navigate sexual pain, desire discrepancies, trauma recovery, and communication breakdowns and now brings that expertise to a scalable, tech-powered format aimed at making healing more accessible than ever.

Want to learn more about my sponsored charity? Charity: Water is committed to providing clean water to every human on the planet, 100% of your contribution will be used directly for water projects around the globe. You can learn more at https://www.bettersexpodcast.com/water.

More info and resources:

Secret Podcast for the Higher Desire Partner: https://www.intimacywithease.com/hdppodcast

Secret Podcast for the Lower Desire Partner: https://www.intimacywithease.com/ldppodcast

How Big a Problem is Your Sex Life? Quiz – https://www.sexlifequiz.com

The Course – https://www.intimacywithease.com

The Book – https://www.sexwithoutstress.com

Podcast Website – https://www.intimacywithease.com

Access the Free webinar: Intimacy Made Easy: 3 Secrets to Bridging Libido Differences: https://intimacywithease.com/masterclass