About Dr. Ashley Sweet | Certified Sex Therapist & Relationship Specialist

Hi, I’m Dr. Ashley Sweet. I know that identity matters—both who we are, how we navigate the world, and how we experience intimacy.

Here is a little bit about who I am and how I got here:

I am a white, college-educated, bisexual/queer woman (she/her) passionate about helping individuals and couples build deep connection, body autonomy, and pleasure. I bring a non-judgmental, feminist, and trauma-informed lens to all of my clinical work.

My Journey & Clinical Background

I have worked directly in sexual and reproductive healthcare since 2008, including 14 years at Planned Parenthood and extensive frontline experience at a community rape crisis center. As a longtime feminist activist, I co-founded a grassroots non-profit art and empowerment space—St. Pete Women’s Collective / Venus—which served the St. Petersburg, Florida community for five years.

Throughout my career, I have facilitated countless community initiatives (including local #MeToo and #TimesUp events), therapeutic processing groups, and women’s empowerment retreats. I am an artist, a dreamer, and a firm believer in the power of connection, somatic healing, and imagination to bring forth a better tomorrow.

Dr. Ashley Sweet Clinical Sexologist Sex Therapist

Credentials, Clinical Experience & Leadership

Education & Specialized Training

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Clinical Sexology – Modern Sex Therapy Institutes (2020–2023)

    • Doctoral Focus: Building reproductive and abortion-affirming mental health networks in all 50 states.

  • Master of Arts (M.A.) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – University of South Florida (2012–2014)

    • CACREP-Accredited Program.

  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Sociology & Women’s and Gender Studies – Stetson University (2004–2008)

Relevant Certifications, Fellowships & Honors

  • AASECT Certified Sex Therapist (CST) – American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (2023–Present)

  • Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist – Certified via The Knowledge Tree / Dr. Becky Beaton-York (2022)

  • Graduate, Omega Women’s Leadership Intensive – Omega Institute for Holistic Studies (2017)

  • Member, Alpha Kappa Delta – National Sociological Honors Society (2005–2008)

Academic & Research Leadership

  • Institutional Review Board (IRB) Reviewer – Modern Sex Therapy Institutes (2022–2024)

    • Evaluated doctoral-level clinical sexology research proposals, methodology, and ethical compliance.

  • National Manager of Affiliate Research – Planned Parenthood Federation of America (2019–2022)

    • Managed clinical research operations, protocols, and safety across a national network of 53 Planned Parenthood affiliates.

  • Director of Research & Associate Director of the Clinical Abortion Training Center, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida (2008–2019)

    • Developed comprehensive clinical training programs, led clinical trials, and co-authored published peer-reviewed research on reproductive care. Provided emotional support and patient education for clients receiving abortion care.

Community Advocacy, Non-Profit & Group Facilitation

  • Founder & CEO – Pro-Choice Therapists (2022–2025)

    • Built the first international directory and educational membership network for abortion-affirming mental health providers.

  • Founder & Board President – St. Pete Women’s Collective / Venus (2017–2022)

    • Established a 501(c)(3) community organization supporting women and gender-diverse creative enrichment, facilitating #MeToo survivor processing circles, empowerment retreats, and nonviolent communication workshops.

  • Clinical Sexual Assault Counselor – Rape Crisis Program, Manatee Glens, Bradenton, FL (2014–2015)

    • Provided specialized individual, family, and group therapy for survivors of sexual violence and severe trauma.

Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications

Professional Licenses & State Telehealth Registrations

  • Maine: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC #CC7671)

  • Massachusetts: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC #10001003)

  • Virginia: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC #0701008856)

  • Florida: Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC #MH15424)

  • Connecticut: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC #9856)

  • Idaho: Telehealth Mental Health Counselor (#9971187)

  • Vermont: Telehealth Mental Health Counselor (#068.0137459TELE)

About me FAQs

  • Absolutely not. I believe that all sex is good sex—as long as it is pleasurable, safe, and consensual between adults. I come from a deeply compassionate, trauma-informed foundation with the firm belief that how you arrived at this point in your life is a unique path to be curious about, never criticized.

    Whether you are navigating guilt, unlearning past conditioning, working through physical discomfort, or exploring non-traditional relationship styles, kink, or fantasies, you will enter a completely non-judgmental, warm, and safe space with me.

  • A good therapeutic match comes down to how you feel when we are together—safe, seen, heard, and supported. I take a truly client-centered approach, meeting you exactly where you are rather than forcing a rigid agenda.

    In our sessions, you can expect a natural, human connection. While we hold deep, tender space for the hard stuff, heavy emotions, and vulnerable conversations, you can also expect laughter, warmth, and lightheartedness. Therapy doesn't have to feel clinical or dry; healing often happens best when we can share genuine moments together.

  • While AI can regurgitate general tips or facts, real intimacy issues cannot be solved in a digital vacuum—they are healed through genuine human connection, somatic awareness, and safety.

    • Clinical Intuition & Somatic Awareness: An algorithm cannot read your non-verbal cues, sense nervous system shifts, or adjust to subtle emotional micro-expressions in the moment as we navigate delicate topics.

    • Two Decades of Specialized Human Experience: With a Doctorate in Clinical Sexology, AASECT certification, and 20 years of hands-on practice, I bring deep clinical discernment, pattern recognition, and trauma-informed nuance that no AI model can replicate.

    • Relational Healing: Sexual concerns are fundamentally relational and physical. Experiencing empathy, warmth, shared humor, and dynamic feedback from a real human expert provides a lived experience of emotional safety—the very foundation needed to heal shame and rebuild authentic connection.

  • Yes. To ensure that every client receives safe, ethical, and highly competent care, I operate within my specific scope of clinical expertise. I do not work with:

    • Pedophilia / Minor-Attracted Persons (MAPs)

    • Abusers or Perpetrators of Violence (including active intimate partner violence or domestic abuse)

    • Bestiality / Zoophilia ("zoo" kinks or fetishes involving animals)

    • Clinical Conditions Requiring Outside Specialization: Certain psychiatric or mental health diagnoses require specialized treatment modalities beyond my scope of practice, including diagnosed personality disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), active substance use disorders, and clinical eating disorders (though I do work with general body image concerns and disordered eating).

    If you are unsure whether your situation falls within my scope of care, please feel free to reach out during a consultation. If I am not the right fit for your needs, I am always happy to help connect you with trusted specialists who are uniquely qualified to support you.