Payton Freund

I’ve always known I wanted a career centered on helping people, but my true path clicked when I began working in violence prevention. Coming from a background where topics like sexuality and pleasure were rarely discussed, I saw firsthand how powerful it is to have a safe, open space to talk about sexual well-being without shame. That realization changed everything for me! I pivoted from my original plans and decided to dedicate my work to sex therapy and empowerment. Now, with my Master’s from UNLV and experience ranging from crisis advocacy to residential treatment, I use tools like Attachment-based therapy and DBT to help people navigate their relationships and their pasts. I’m a big believer that growth happens when we’re brave enough to show up exactly as we are, and I’m here to walk through that process with you, keeping things open, honest, and completely judgment-free. Do you find yourself wanting closeness with others but feel yourself either pulling away or staying and waiting for the other shoe to drop? Maybe you feel unsafe, struggle to trust, or like you have your guard up in relationships. You might question your worth, worry about being “too much,” or feel like you have to earn every ounce of care you receive. This leaves you feeling lonely even when you’re not alone and frustrated at why intimacy seems easier for everyone else. You’ve likely picked up protective strategies that we can explore and discover how they have helped you survive and how they may be keeping you stuck.