It’s time to live a turned on life.

Relationship AND Sex Therapy IN CHICAGO

We’re a Chicago-based practice that specializes in relationship and sex therapy.

At Avid Intimacy, we help people live authentically, fostering growth through actionable work that really makes a difference. Together, we’ll support you through what formerly felt impossible – redesigning your connection to yourself, your sexuality, and partner(s).

WE’RE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO:

  • Might be feeling stuck but aren’t willing to settle.

  • Are yearning to recover lost emotional and physical intimacy.

  • Want to be able to show up more fully in their relationships.

  • Are ready to create a relational and sexual life that’s aligned with they really are.

  • Whether you’ve already gone against the grain or are timidly flirting with the idea of self-discovery, we get you. There’s always a path forward when we come together.

OUR SERVICES

INDIVIDUAL THERAPY

Let’s banish those self-imposed barriers. The world needs your full and uncensored self. It’s not always going to be easy work, but it works.

Icon of brightly colored eye for EMDR

EMDR

EMDR and attachment-focused EMDR can calm the physiological symptoms of complex trauma and quiet the constant barrage of intrusive thoughts.

RELATIONSHIP THERAPY

Life is not The Notebook – relationships require work. We foster a space to heal past pain, where you and your partner can become a stronger version of “us”.

SEX THERAPY

Liberated. Confident. Hot. Crank up the volume on your sexual experiences to reveal a radiant sexuality that ignites all aspects of life (seriously, it can do that).

SOME COMMONLY TREATED CONCERNS

  • Relationship Conflict

  • Relationship Disconnect

  • Lack of emotional or physical intimacy

  • Communication Issues

  • Mismatched desire

  • Infidelity recovery

  • Anxiety & Depression

  • Life Stage Transitions

  • Identity Development

  • Self-Confidence & Self-Esteem

  • Lack of or low sexual desire

  • Exploring non-monogamy

  • Sexual Identity exploration

  • Pain during sex

  • Sexual trauma

  • Sexual shame

  • Exploring kink, BDSM and fetishes

We welcome clients of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as gender identities and expression, and sexual and affectional orientations. We are proudly LGBTQIA+ inclusive, kink and BDSM positive, and poly-friendly.

GET STARTED

A more connected, vibrant future can start right now.

Featured in

Watch AVID Intimacy’s Founder, Lena Elkhatib’s Tedx Talk

Design Your Sexual Theme Park

Featured PRESS

Let's Talk About It: Is Romanticizing Romance Lucid Dreaming Or Plain Ludicrous?
Sara Marsha, LPC

Dating A Sapiosexual May Inspire You To Up
Your Reading Game
Rachel Zar, PhD, LMFT, CST

AFFILIATIONS

Keep with us on the ‘Gram

Creativity and hope are a winning duo 🙌 ⁠ ⁠ If you take a few seconds to sit down, close your eyes and imagine your wildest dreams (maybe regarding your relationship, hobbies, passions, career) what do they look like?⁠ ⁠ Boundless creativity might s
You might’ve seen it reenacted by Hollywood at some point, but how does relationship therapy actually work?⁠ ⁠ It’s normal to have questions (and even some nerves about the whole thing!).⁠ ⁠ Basically, relationship therapy is a type of ps
Three is a party 🎉 AVID founder Lena Elkhatib recently shared her thoughts on what makes a threesome a wholesome one for @mashable:⁠ ⁠ ”Lena Elkhatib, a sex and relationships therapist who founded AVID Intimacy, recommends asking the following
Ever feel like your sexy moods are chronically appearing at the “wrong” time?⁠ ⁠ Like, you can’t stop thinking about getting together when you’re in the middle of your work day but then finally when all is said and done at the
“Let’s co-create a space where “should” is not invited, and be curious about what feels good and true for you.” – Layla Tahmassebi (they/them), MA, Individual, Relationship and Sex Therapist.⁠ ⁠ Layla specializes i

AVID Intimacy is located on land that is and has long been a center for Native peoples. The area is the traditional homelands of the Anishinaabe, or the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations.