Meet Carla
Carla Rosinski, MA, mental health counselor and sex therapist
Salem, MA
Carla is a licensed mental health counselor and sex therapist. She was certified at various organizations for therapy and counseling, including Commonwealth of Massachusetts Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), NCSF Kink Aware Professional (KAP), National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF), and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).
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She works with clients to identify and dismantle obstacles to wellbeing, heal from shame, and gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships.
Hello Carla, tell us about yourself
Hi! My name is Carla Rosinski. I’m a licensed mental health clinician, certified sex therapist, and consultant located north of Boston in Salem Massachusetts. I have 20 years of experience working in community mental health and wellness, the past decade of which I’ve spent building and running a thriving private practice. I work with people of all genders, sexualities and relationship structures seeking to embrace greater joy, mindfulness and authenticity in their lives.
The guiding principles of my work and world view are sex positivity and liberation health. This includes understanding and exposing the cultural, institutional and systemic oppressions that contribute to our suffering and inform the way we understand our experiences of sexuality and gender. I work with clients to identify and dismantle obstacles to wellbeing, heal from shame, and gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships. I believe that pleasure, joy and connection are vital elements in our path to true fulfillment and self-actualization.
In addition to my clinical work, I am an educator, activist, and clinical supervisor. Over the past few years I have been working towards my PhD in counseling psychology with an emphasis on transformative leadership, justice and equity. This new endeavor as a critical researcher has given me opportunities to share my ideas and research at academic conferences, guest lecture at universities, and to teach human sexuality courses for graduate programs and sex therapy certification. The courses I teach often focus on topics of sex positivity, queer and trans affirming health care, and developing a critical consciousness. I enjoy supporting the clinical development of new therapists and enriching the practice of more seasoned clinicians.
Why did you choose to be a sex therapist?
Sexuality is fundamental part of the human experience, and yet almost everything we learn in our sex negative culture is false. I became a sex therapist to help others “unlearn” these messages and embrace joy and pleasure in their lives!
Feelings of insecurity regarding the question of “am I normal?” are often the manifestations resulting from exposure to the systems of oppression that organize our society. These feelings can be even more pronounced as it relates to our experiences of sexuality and gender. A big part of my job is supporting clients in identifying and healing from harmful cultural scripts and myths that may be preventing a deeper understanding and connection in their relational and sexual lives.
The complexities of sexuality and gender have always been embedded in my personal and professional life. My professional trajectory was deeply influenced by the HIV epidemic during the early nineties when I was a high school student. My career began in LGBTQ+ activism, reproductive justice and sex education. As my career and training evolved into therapeutic counseling and therapy, sexuality and gender remained at the heart of the work I do.
The journey of embracing authenticity and re/claiming pleasure is one of the most important parts of our wellbeing and I am excited that you are here!
What are the most memorable moments of your work experience?
It is always a memorable and humbling experience to be invited into someone’s personal and private thoughts. As a therapist, I have the privilege of sitting with individuals and bearing witness to their joy, pain and vulnerabilities on a regular basis.
Our relationship to our bodies and our ability to experience pleasure can have far reaching impact in our lives--- especially on our ability to form lasting connections. It is always memorable to share those special moments with clients when they become aware of more expansive possibilities and enter into a more beautiful, vibrant, meaningful world, with a deeper understanding of themselves and their partner/s.
Do you have any advice to us women?
Whether you are here to expand your understanding of sexuality or deepen your relationship with pleasure and connecting, it can take a lot of courage to be on or to begin a journey of sexual liberation or maintain a growth mindset. I am excited you are here, and this is exactly the kind of work that I enjoy most! Choosing a path of healing and/or growth can be challenging, but it can also be exciting, fulfilling, and powerful!
Carla co-builds xxTALK and facilitates talkshop.
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