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Karen Washington

Karen Washington is a graduate of the Adler School of Professional Psychology and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She specializes in sex therapy, with a foundation in communication and self esteem. Karen works with couples and individuals through discrepancy, dysfunction and disorder to achieve their desired sex life. She has conducted research on communication, dating dynamics, and infertility counseling. Karen firmly believes in presenting education and information through the lens of humor, especially when it comes to sex.
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Articles by Karen Washington

The 8 Best Sex Positions for Exhausted Parents The 8 Best Sex Positions for Exhausted Parents The 8 Best Sex Positions for Exhausted Parents The 8 Best Sex Positions for Exhausted Parents


Treat sex as special time between you and your partner. Plan for it. Anticipate. Make it happen. Here are 8 positions to make it more fun.

Is This High Libido or a Serious Sex Addiction? Is This High Libido or a Serious Sex Addiction? Is This High Libido or a Serious Sex Addiction? Is This High Libido or a Serious Sex Addiction?


Is there a difference between a high libido and a sex addiction? Should personal opinion be the final determining factor? Click here to...

How Taking Control of Your Sex Life Will Lead to Better Sex How Taking Control of Your Sex Life Will Lead to Better Sex How Taking Control of Your Sex Life Will Lead to Better Sex How Taking Control of Your Sex Life Will Lead to Better Sex


You can't always count on your partner to know what turns you on, but it's never too late to take charge of your own sexual satisfaction....

6 Signs You've Just Had Great Sex 6 Signs You've Just Had Great Sex 6 Signs You've Just Had Great Sex 6 Signs You've Just Had Great Sex


Great sex takes passion, creativity, and a sense of humor. Here are 6 signs you're getting it right.

Q&A by Karen Washington

I'm too anxious to enjoy sex. Can you help? I'm too anxious to enjoy sex. Can you help? I'm too anxious to enjoy sex. Can you help? I'm too anxious to enjoy sex. Can you help?


You sound like a lot of people I see in my practice. I say that to say, what you are going through is relatively normal. Especially if you...

My orgasm keeps getting stuck during sex. How do I stop this from happening? My orgasm keeps getting stuck during sex. How do I stop this from happening? My orgasm keeps getting stuck during sex. How do I stop this from happening? My orgasm keeps getting stuck during sex. How do I stop this from happening?


That does sound quite frustrating, although not uncommon. I actually hear this more frequently from people than you might think, and it...

My girlfriend doesn't believe I am just not that interested in sex. Help me! My girlfriend doesn't believe I am just not that interested in sex. Help me! My girlfriend doesn't believe I am just not that interested in sex. Help me! My girlfriend doesn't believe I am just not that interested in sex. Help me!


Repeat after me: you are not broken! More often than one might think, I see males in my office that just don’t have the “sex...

I'm freaked out by his costume requests! What do I do? I'm freaked out by his costume requests! What do I do? I'm freaked out by his costume requests! What do I do? I'm freaked out by his costume requests! What do I do?


I want to start by asking you, if this is new and you are totally freaked out, is it enough to just end the relationship? Or is this a guy...

I'm sick of being the only one to initiate. What can I do? I'm sick of being the only one to initiate. What can I do? I'm sick of being the only one to initiate. What can I do? I'm sick of being the only one to initiate. What can I do?


It sounds like, based upon the little you shared, that your partner and you have very different levels of sexual desire on a day-to-day...

My partner's nagging about orgasm prevents me from enjoying sex. What can I do? My partner's nagging about orgasm prevents me from enjoying sex. What can I do? My partner's nagging about orgasm prevents me from enjoying sex. What can I do? My partner's nagging about orgasm prevents me from enjoying sex. What can I do?


Have you ever asked him exactly what it is he is looking for to qualify that you are enjoying yourself? Is there some specific response,...

How do I know I've had an orgasm? How do I know I've had an orgasm? How do I know I've had an orgasm? How do I know I've had an orgasm?


The first thing I can say is that if you are not sure that you have experienced an orgasm, you probably haven't. An orgasm is [usually]...

Where can I find casual sex partners? Where can I find casual sex partners? Where can I find casual sex partners? Where can I find casual sex partners?


Initially – wow. That is a lot to take on and cope with. Good for you for getting to a point where you would like to focus on yourself and...

I want to live out my fantasies! What do I do? I want to live out my fantasies! What do I do? I want to live out my fantasies! What do I do? I want to live out my fantasies! What do I do?


Whoa! So, grabbing random people off the street so you can suck dick or get penetrated might not be the best way to go – safety and all......

I'm scared my spouse is losing interest in me because of our alternative sex life. I'm scared my spouse is losing interest in me because of our alternative sex life. I'm scared my spouse is losing interest in me because of our alternative sex life. I'm scared my spouse is losing interest in me because of our alternative sex life.


Of course you are not doomed! Or, at least, you don’t have to be. It sounds like there might be some miscommunication about each of your...

I'm a woman who experiences pain during sex. Is there anything I can do about it? I'm a woman who experiences pain during sex. Is there anything I can do about it? I'm a woman who experiences pain during sex. Is there anything I can do about it? I'm a woman who experiences pain during sex. Is there anything I can do about it?


Well, that sucks for starters. Pain during sex can come from a number of places, so I have several recommendations that will provide a...

My partner is a little too vanilla. How do I introduce new flavors? My partner is a little too vanilla. How do I introduce new flavors? My partner is a little too vanilla. How do I introduce new flavors? My partner is a little too vanilla. How do I introduce new flavors?


This seems like a loaded question, meaning that there may be more going on than I can address here in a one-off. I will do my best. I have...

I miss enjoying sex, but I'm just not interested anymore. What can I do? I miss enjoying sex, but I'm just not interested anymore. What can I do? I miss enjoying sex, but I'm just not interested anymore. What can I do? I miss enjoying sex, but I'm just not interested anymore. What can I do?


There’s a lot to unpack in that question. I’d venture to guess that you, like a lot of my clients, are experiencing a lot of stress in life...

I've been married for 35 years and we've lost the passion in the relationship. How can we get it back? I've been married for 35 years and we've lost the passion in the relationship. How can we get it back? I've been married for 35 years and we've lost the passion in the relationship. How can we get it back? I've been married for 35 years and we've lost the passion in the relationship. How can we get it back?


Wow! Congratulations on your marriage. Obviously, something has been working within that time. But, I hear ya. Many people struggle with...


When you say sex with your current partner isn’t like what you remember, I am not sure what you mean. Based on your follow-up question...


I hear you. Many people tell me the same thing; they go go go all day and just do not have anything left when it's all over. By the time...


That is very distressing on several levels and is probably not helping you. There are a variety of options available to you – but first, a...


What exactly do you think you need help with? Based on what you are asking me, I am lacking information to formulate a specific response....


I am really sorry to hear that you’re experiencing this. I can imagine it is frustrating. When it comes to performance anxiety or erectile...


First off, have you talked to him about his porn consumption and your concerns? From the sounds of it, I am guessing not. Porn, in my...


It sounds a little bit like your husband has a Madonna/Whore complex. He views you as his Madonna, or a woman that is more “pure” in his...

I had an allergic reaction because of a sex toy. What can I do? I had an allergic reaction because of a sex toy. What can I do? I had an allergic reaction because of a sex toy. What can I do? I had an allergic reaction because of a sex toy. What can I do?


First thing, I just want to say that sucks. However, you are in luck. There are several alternatives to toys that have rubber in their...


Ouch. I have heard about this. As long as you’re OK with why he isn’t going down, I won’t go there. However, I absolutely understand why...


Honestly, I see this in my office more frequently than you might think. Partners are rarely on the same page with each other all of the...


I see partners that experience this often, especially over time. It is completely natural to a certain extent that sex will wax and wane...


I can say that no one is ever comfortable with dirty talk in the beginning. If there are people who are okay with dirty talk from the jump,...


First, I commend you and your sex drive. Second, I want to applaud that you recognize the changes that you are experiencing and that you...


Given the information you have provided, I would first need to ask you what is missing or what part of your sex life isn’t being met...


I want to say two brief statements here before I give you a more in-depth answer to your question. There is a time and a place for...


Congratulations on your pregnancy! As it seems you've learned, sex while pregnant requires a little extra creativity, but there are a...


There are a few ways to approach this issue. Firstly, I am glad to hear you are willing to be vocal and open about your wants and needs....


First, I would like to start by saying congratulations, and good for you! (Only sort of kidding). Now down to the nitty gritty. There...


I'm assuming that sex is not the only reason you are in this relationship. Otherwise, I doubt you would even bother writing for advice or...


Experimenting with sex toys can be a wonderful way to spice things up in the bedroom. Perhaps you've never used toys together, but have...


I want you to think back very carefully, and try to remember which one of you brought up the threesome. Was it you or your partner? The way...

My partner doesn't want me to masturbate. What should I do? My partner doesn't want me to masturbate. What should I do? My partner doesn't want me to masturbate. What should I do? My partner doesn't want me to masturbate. What should I do?


It sounds like you're in a difficult situation, and one where there is no clear right or wrong answer. What do you know about the history...


For eternity men have quested for the holy grail of the internal G-spot. I encourage you to join the ranks. There are a multitude of...


Wow. That seems like quite a predicament to be in. I get having sex with a willing partner, although I’m curious about your thought...


The first thing I want to know is how is the communication in your relationship? Have you felt, up to now, that the two of you can discuss...


It sounds like there is an awful lot going on in your relationship. Let’s divide and conquer, shall we? First, I would like to ask you...


I hear this complaint frequently from new parents. There are a few things going on here. For the first few months after the birth of the...

Can rebound sex help me get over my ex? Can rebound sex help me get over my ex? Can rebound sex help me get over my ex? Can rebound sex help me get over my ex?


First, this answer depends substantially on what the nature of your relationship and break-up was like. Did you really love this man? Did...


You should be nervous. Constructive criticism is still criticism, and this particular topic is supremely sensitive and tied heavily to ego....

My husband and I have stopped having sex, but want to stay together for the kids. Can we make this work? My husband and I have stopped having sex, but want to stay together for the kids. Can we make this work? My husband and I have stopped having sex, but want to stay together for the kids. Can we make this work? My husband and I have stopped having sex, but want to stay together for the kids. Can we make this work?


I want to commend you and your husband for at least knowing that you want to continue co-raising your children, and being aware of their...

My boyfriend tries to have sex with me while he's sleeping and says he does't remember it the next day. Is this normal, or is he lying? My boyfriend tries to have sex with me while he's sleeping and says he does't remember it the next day. Is this normal, or is he lying? My boyfriend tries to have sex with me while he's sleeping and says he does't remember it the next day. Is this normal, or is he lying? My boyfriend tries to have sex with me while he's sleeping and says he does't remember it the next day. Is this normal, or is he lying?


First, I would like to take away the word "normal." Normal is really someone else’s standards of living imposed upon your life, and doesn’t...

I am uncomfortable revealing my sexual history to new partners. What can I do? I am uncomfortable revealing my sexual history to new partners. What can I do? I am uncomfortable revealing my sexual history to new partners. What can I do? I am uncomfortable revealing my sexual history to new partners. What can I do?


I would have to say that the majority of what goes into this decision is your comfort level, as well as what is relevant. Personally, I am...


I want to first say that I appreciate the consideration you are this decision. I hear too many times over about girls who make this choice...


This isn’t nearly as incongruent as you may think. First, in true BDSM relationships, the submissive is the person with the power. All it...