Meet the Team

At the Center for Relationship & Intimacy Well-Being (CRIWB), our team consists of compassionate, highly skilled therapists dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and partners create fulfilling, connected, and authentic lives. We take a holistic, integrative approach, recognizing that true healing happens when we address the whole person—body, heart, mind, and spirit.

We specialize in sex therapy, mental health, somatic healing, spirituality, relational dynamics, and trauma recovery, providing a safe and affirming space for all identities and relationship structures.

Jacqueline Mendez

Jacqueline Mendez

LMFT, CST, CSTS
Founder | Clinical Director
Vanesa Akbarpour

Vanesa Akbarpour

AMFT, Clinician & Coach
dog

Maxwell

Therapy Dog

Our Expertise

Our team remains committed to ongoing professional development and specialized training to provide the highest level of care.

  • Through The Menopause Society, we stay informed on the latest research and treatment approaches for perimenopause and menopause, ensuring our clients receive up-to-date, evidence-based support.
  • As members of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT), we uphold the highest ethical and clinical standards in sex therapy, education, and counseling.
  • Our training with the International Pelvic Pain Society (IPPS) strengthens our expertise in interdisciplinary approaches to pelvic health and healing, addressing the complex connections between pain, trauma, and intimacy.
  • We also integrate cutting-edge research from the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH) to support women’s sexual well-being across the lifespan.
  • Additionally, as part of the 4-D Network, we incorporate a holistic framework that nurtures body, heart, mind, and spirit, helping clients achieve deeper healing, integration, and relational connection.

Our Training

Our therapists have received specialized training in:

Sex Therapy & Sexual Health

AASECT-Certified and trauma-informed approaches to support sexual well-being, including desire discrepancies, arousal concerns, sexual issues, and sexual exploration.

Somatic & Embodied Healing

Integrating body-based practices such as breathwork, mindfulness, movement, and nervous system regulation for deeper emotional and relational healing.

Relational & Couples Therapy

Evidence-based techniques such as IMAGO, Gottman Method, and Attachment-Based Therapy to strengthen communication, trust, and intimacy.

Diverse Relationship Dynamics

Supporting individuals and partners in ethical non-monogamy (ENM), polyamory, open relationships, conscious monogamy, and relationship anarchy with a nonjudgmental and affirming approach.

Mental Health & Trauma Recovery

Addressing anxiety, depression, PTSD, intergenerational trauma, and sexual trauma through an integrative, healing-centered framework.

Spiritual & Existential Exploration

Navigating religious conflicts, spiritual awakenings, and meaning-making for those questioning or redefining their beliefs

LGBTQIA2SP+ & BIPOC Affirmative Therapy

Culturally attuned, social justice-oriented therapy that honors the lived experiences of queer, trans, nonbinary, gender-expansive, and BIPOC communities.

Sex-Positive & Pleasure-Centered Approaches

Encouraging a shame-free, empowered relationship with pleasure, intimacy, and eroticism as essential parts of well-being.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

A powerful, evidence-based therapy that helps individuals process trauma, rewire negative beliefs, and restore emotional balance through guided bilateral stimulation.

Psychedelic Integration & Consciousness Expansion (Coming Soon)

Supporting individuals in meaning-making and healing from psychedelic experiences in a therapeutic setting.

The 4-D Wheel Approach

A holistic and somatic framework developed by Gina Ogden, this approach helps individuals and couples explore their stories by integrating body, heart, mind, and spirit. It is especially beneficial for those healing intergenerational trauma and those seeking deeper awareness and transformation beyond talk therapy and dichotomies.

Our Commitment to You

We believe that pleasure, intimacy, and connection are sources of healing and transformation. Our work is not just about symptom relief—it’s about helping you cultivate greater freedom, presence, and authenticity in your relationships and your life.

Ready to Connect?

We would love to support you on your journey. Reach out today to schedule a consultation and find the therapist who’s the best fit for you.