About Dr. OriANA

“Sexuality is as unique as a fingerprint. When we learn our erotic language — and the language of our partner(s) — intimacy becomes playful, empowered, and deeply alive.”

— Dr. Oriana Nelsen

I support individuals and partnerships who want to deepen emotional closeness, strengthen secure-functioning dynamics, and cultivate fulfilling, attuned intimacy. My work integrates attachment science, neurophysiology, somatic awareness, and sexuality education to help people build relationships that feel grounded, connected, and authentic.

My background includes a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and certification in Sex Therapy through the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) and extensive training in somatic and attachment-centered modalities. I guide clients as they explore desire, communication, compatibility, emotional safety, and the ways intimacy can evolve across different stages of life and relationship structures.

ABOUT DR. ORIANA

Dr. Oriana Nelsen, PsyD, SEP, is a Somatic, Attachment-Based Clinical Sexologist and the Founder & Director of the San Francisco Intimacy & Sex Therapy Centers. Their work blends attachment science, neurophysiology, somatic awareness, and sexuality education to help individuals and partnerships cultivate secure, grounded, and joyful intimacy.

Before transitioning fully into sexology and intimacy work, Oriana spent years working as a couples therapist. While they no longer provide psychotherapy, this background gives them a deep understanding of attachment systems, emotional safety, conflict repair, and the relational nervous system, foundations that now inform their work as an attachment-based clinical sexologist.

With graduate and doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology and extensive study in somatics, attachment, relationships, sexology, and trauma-informed relational work, Dr. Oriana supports clients in exploring desire, communication, erotic identity, emotional safety, secure attachment dynamics and the ways intimacy evolves across relationships and life stages.

They welcome clients of all identities and orientations — LGBTQIA+, trans, queer, straight, cis, monogamous, non-monogamous, ENM/polyamorous, and kink-aligned communities..

MY APPROACH

I support individuals and partnerships who want to deepen emotional closeness, strengthen secure-functioning dynamics, and build intimacy and sexual connection that feels grounded and authentic.

My work integrates:

• attachment science

• neurophysiology

• somatic experiencing

• sexuality education

• secure-functioning relational principles

Clients explore desire, communication, connection, erotic identity, compatibility, and emotional safety through a gentle and attuned relational process.

My Focus

I specialize in the intersection of attachment, erotic identity, neuroscience, and relational connection, including: Areas of focus include:

• Intimacy and emotional attunement

• Attachment styles & relationship dynamics

• Communication and conflict repair

• Sexual desire, arousal, and compatibility

• Erotic identity & sexual expression

• ENM, polyamory, kink/BDSM, identities through a trauma-informed lens of attachment and neurophysiology

• Relationship and intimacy shifts across developmental milestones

• Complex attachment histories & relational triggers

• Building secure-functioning partnership skills

• Communication in sexual and intimacy and developing a shared understanding and language base

• LGBTQIA+ sexuality & gender

• Libido and sexual style differences

My Lens

Intimacy begins with the relationship we have with ourselves and extends outward.
Reconnecting with the body and authentic desire creates deeper, safer relational bonds.

I work from a sex-positive, consent-centered, shame-free lens rooted in attachment and somatic principles. My doctoral dissertation explored sexuality, attachment bonding, and trauma in intimate relationships — shaping my understanding of closeness, safety, erotic intelligence, and secure connection and the impact of trauma in relationships—and why secure functioning is foundational to healthy intimacy.

I am a queer, non-binary femme and Latinx polyamorous person, and my lived experience informs my commitment to culturally aware, gender-literate, LGBTQIA+ affirming, and non-monogamy-competent intimacy work.

How I Work

My style is collaborative, relational, and grounded in reverence for human connection. I serve as a guide and witness—supporting transformation through humor, compassion, curiosity, and embodied presence. Together, we explore what fosters secure attachment, deeper intimacy, and a more confident, integrated expression of sexuality.

Clients work toward:

• secure attachment skills

• deeper intimacy

• nervous system awareness

• erotic intelligence

• empowered sexuality

• a more integrated sense of Self and in Partnership

• effective communication

TRAINING & BACKGROUND

• Doctorate & Master’s in Clinical Psychology (attachment emphasis)

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Sexuality & Psychology; BFA in Studio Arts

• Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP)

• Certified Sex Therapist — CIIS (California Institute of Integral Studies)

• Training in PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy, AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy), EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing), Clinical Hypnotherapy, Art Therapy, Sex Therapy, Attachment Therapy, Child Therapy, Somatic Experiencing

• Published contributing author in gender & sexuality studies

• National research presenter

• Contributor to blogs & magazines

• Named among the Planet’s Top 100 Marriage Counseling Bloggers

• Currently writing a book on attachment-based intimacy & sexuality

DR. ORIANA SPECIALIZES IN:

Sexuality, Pleasure & General Sexual Wellbeing

Desire & arousal • Erotic compatibility • Pleasure confidence • Erotic identity exploration • Self-pleasure & sexual self-esteem • Sexual intelligence

LGBTQIA+ Sexuality & Gender Support

Queer intimacy • Trans & non-binary sexuality • Asexuality & demisexuality • Gender-expansive identities • Shame reduction • Embodied support around dysphoria

Attachment, Partnership & Relationship Dynamics

Secure-functioning skills • Desire discrepancies • Communication & conflict repair • Emotional intimacy • Boundaries • Relational patterns

Somatic & Embodied Sexuality

Somatic awareness • Pleasure pathways • Embodied erotic expression • Nervous-system attunement • Reconnecting to body & Self

Trauma, Healing & Integration

(Not psychotherapy)
Sexual trauma support • Gender-based trauma • Shame release • Integration of attachment & erotic experiences

ENM, Polyamory & Kink

Open relationships • Polyamory • Kink/BDSM • Consent-based exploration • Secure attachment in non-monogamy

Communication & Erotic Skills

Talking about sex & desire • Navigating boundaries • Erotic language • Safer sex conversations • Guided intimacy practices

Dr. Oriana Nelsen holds a Doctorate and Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis on attachment and relationship dynamics, along with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Sexuality & Psychology and a BFA in Studio Arts. They are a published author in gender and sexuality studies, have presented research at national conferences, and have contributed to university-level coursework in Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies. Their writing on intimacy and relationships has been featured across blogs and publications, and they were named among the Planet’s Top 100 Marriage Counseling Bloggers.

Oriana no longer offers psychotherapy and now provides attachment-based, trauma-informed sexology and intimacy guidance rooted in somatic awareness, relational attunement, and secure-functioning principles.

They are trained in PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy), AEDP for Couples, Sex Therapy, Somatic Experiencing (SE), EFT, EMDR, Clinical Hypnotherapy, Art Therapy, and draw on this extensive background to support clients in cultivating secure intimacy, embodied sexuality, and relationship wellbeing.

Oriana’s areas of passion include healthy attachment, sexuality across orientations and gender identities, LGBTQIA+ wellbeing, ethical non-monogamy, kink inclusivity, gender exploration, somatic awareness, intimacy, erotic intelligence, non-violent communication, and joyful sex positivity.

They have extensive experience with gender-expansive, non-binary, queer, trans, polyamorous, and kink-aligned individuals and partnerships, and are recognized as a culturally competent, trauma-informed, gender-literate practitioner grounded in lived experience and deep professional study.

Oriana works with individuals and partnerships on issues related to desire, intimacy, communication, attachment, erotic identity, relationship dynamics, secure-functioning partnership skills, sexuality across life stages, and the ways trauma and social conditioning shape our relationship to pleasure and connection.

They celebrate cultural and sexual diversity and welcome clients from all backgrounds, identities, and relationship structures.