About Stephen:

Stephen L. Braveman, M.A., L.M.F.T., D.S.T., is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (#MFC 28926), AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists) Certified Diplomate of Sex Therapy, AASECT Certified Supervisor and Certified CE Provider, Gender Specialist (Member of  The World Professional Association for Transgender Health -  WPATH) and Tantra/Sacred Sexuality Facilitator-Practitioner. Stephen currently serves as the Western Regional Representative for AASECT (American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists) and is the current SSSS (The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality). Western Region 2009 Conference Co-Chair. He is a Past President and current Board of Directors member of MC-CAMFT (Monterey County Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists). He has served on the Board of TASK (Take A Stand For Kids), is an awarded member of Male Survivor for his leadership in treating  Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Assault, for which he  co-chaired the first National Retreat for Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse. Stephen is the author of "Innovative Methods of Treating Patients with Sexual Trauma" in "Innovations in Clinical Practice: Focus on Sexual Health, 2007" and "CPR for Your Sex Life: How to Breathe Life Into a Dead, Dying or Dull Sex Life" (Co-Author: Mildred Brown, Ph.D.).

Stephen has a full-time Private Practice in Monterey, California. He has over 32 years of experience treating a wide variety of psychological and sexual disorders and issues. People seeking professional sex therapy in Monterey, California, professional transgender care in Monterey, California, professional sex therapy in Santa Cruz , California or professional transgender care in Santa Cruz, California have been able to turn to Stephen for these services since 1992. Stephen currently specializes in treating sexual disorders (while working just as much with women, is best known for his innovative methods and projects working with male survivors of sexual abuse and/or rape - see extensive articles and links on this site), working with gender and transgender issues (see the article  "What IS A GENDER SPECIALIST" on this site), bringing Sacred Sexuality/Tantra into the clinical hour and supervision. He is also a Consultant for the Human Rights Campaign's "Coming Out - Transgendered" brochure. Stephen supervises both Marriage and Family Interns and Sex Therapy Interns in Private Practice (currently, Carmen Martin, Registered MFT Intern) and Nickolas McDaniel, MFT Intern (also at the Monterey Rape Crisis Center) and others for AASECT Certification via their own private practice or agency.  He is a regular contributing author for the IFriends Love and Health website. Stephen's work has also appeared in many professional publications; such as Rolling Stone Magazine, US News Magazine, Men's Health Magazine, Treating Abuse Today, The Monterey County Herald, The Monterey County Coast Weekly, The California Therapist, the AASECT Contemporary Sexuality and a multitude of newsletters for various organizations. 

Stephen has taught Graduate Psychology classes (such as the Assessment and Treatment of Sexual Disorders, Abnormal Psychology and Research Methods) at both Chapman University and City University, and Undergraduate Psychology classes (such as Human Sexuality and Psychology of Human Relations) at both Hartnell College and Vista College. 

Stephen is a frequent workshop and conference presenter. He has provided in-service trainings, lectures and workshops for groups and associations such as AASECT Annual Conferences, SSSS Annual Conferences, The California Dreamin' Annual Transgender Conferences, The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, the Santa Cruz Family Services Agency, the Women's Crisis Center of Salinas, The Esalen Institute, The Monterey County Rape Crisis Center, PFLAG, Catholic Charities, The Beacon House, TASK (Take A Stand For Kids), the Monterey Medical Association and at many schools and university. He is frequently seen on TV (e.g. KSBW, KION) and heard on radio (e.g. Playboy Radio) and internet pod casts, as a spokesman for various projects and an expert on sexual issues. 

You will learn much more about Stephen and his work by viewing all the pages on this site and by searching for him by name on Google.

About Stephen's Interns:

Carmen Martin, M.A. — Marriage and Family Therapist Intern  (#IMF 58711), Sex Therapy Intern  Carmen is earning hours toward licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Sex Therapist. She is currently Stephen's main Private Practice Intern. She is a member of AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists) and CAMFT (California Association of Marriage Family Therapists). She has served as a Certified Sexual Assault Counselor and Advocate at the Monterey County Rape Crisis Center. She serves on the Board of Directors of LGBT Diversity Centers of Monterey County. Carmen is also employed at the YWCA Counseling Center in Monterey (since February 2008), doing psychotherapy and counseling with couples, men, women, adolescents, and children. She has worked extensively with issues pertaining to domestic violence and emotional abuse with people of all ages. Carmen has been trained in Effective Communication and Relationship Building Skills by Selwa Said. She is also a certified hypnotherapist. She brings broad life experience and cultural awareness into her work, as she lived and worked for many years in Europe. Carmen is available for individual and couple's therapy in Stephen's office. She also runs a women's support group and co-facilitates various groups and workshops with Stephen.

Nickolas McDaniel, M.A. — Marriage and Family Therapist Intern (#IMF 62382), Sex Therapy Intern, Gender Specialist Intern Nickolas is a Marriage and Family Intern, Sex Therapy Intern and Gender Specialist Intern under Stephen's supervision at the Monterey County Rape Crisis Center where he co-facilitates Men’s Group for Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse with Stephen, and sees men on an individual basis. Nickolas also co-leads  the Monterey TS Support Groups, the Male Sexuality Groups and other workshops with Stephen. He is an active member of AASECT (American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists), a member of CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) and has served on the SSSS-WR (Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality - Western Region) 2009 Conference Committee along with Stephen and others. Nickolas is a dynamic, inspirational and charismatic speaker. Since 2003 he has spoken in an educational capacity on various challenges, concerns and issues related to gender variance, particularly those concerning the female to male transsexual experience. Nickolas has captivated audiences of medical and mental health professionals, veterans, special interest groups, and conferences as well as college, high school, and middle school students. In addition, he has appeared in numerous documeas ntaries and publications. Audiences report his story to be educational and deeply moving. Nickolas is available to present and conduct workshops per request on topics such as motivation, gender, transgenderism and transsexualism. Nickolas appears in the film, Boyhood Shadows, I Swore I'd Never Tell, as conceived and spearheaded by Stephen and the men in the Monterey County Rape Crisis Center's Men's Groups.