Brooke Bralove Psychotherapy

Brooke Bralove Psychotherapy Psychotherapist, Master Accelerated Resolution Therapy Practitioner, AASECT Certified S*x Therapist I am the proud mother of two wonderful daughters.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Maryland with over 20 years of clinical experience. Born and raised in the DC area, I attended Sidwell Friends School for 14 years before receiving my B.A. in Afro-American Studies from the University of Pennsylvania in 1996. After working in the nonprofit sector for three years, I graduated from Columbia University’s School of Social Work in 2001. I worke

d at House of Ruth in Washington, DC for two years, providing individual and group counseling to victims of domestic violence. In 2004, I completed a two-year advanced clinical training program in psychodynamic psychotherapy at the Washington School of Psychiatry. In 2013 I became a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator, based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown. In 2014 I earned a certificate at the National Group Psychotherapy Institute. In addition, I have recently become an AASECT Certified S*x Therapist. I have been working with individuals, couples, and groups in private practice in Bethesda since 2004.

A little Monday reminder: sometimes your body needs a minute before your brain can catch up. Try this: breathe in gently...
08/31/2026

A little Monday reminder: sometimes your body needs a minute before your brain can catch up.

Try this: breathe in gently for 4, exhale slowly for 6, and repeat a few times. Don’t worry about taking the “perfect” breath. Keep it comfortable and notice what happens when you give your body permission to slow down.

This is one of those tools you can use pretty much anywhere: before a hard conversation, in the middle of a stressful workday, or when you realize you’ve been holding tension for the last hour.

💜 Save this one for later, and send it to someone who could use a softer start to their Monday.

Low libido isn’t always about s*x.Stress, exhaustion, hormones, pain, medications, body image, trauma, relationship dyna...
08/29/2026

Low libido isn’t always about s*x.

Stress, exhaustion, hormones, pain, medications, body image, trauma, relationship dynamics, and plain old mental overload can all affect how easy, or hard, it is to access desire.

And when s*x starts to feel like pressure, one more thing on the to-do list, or something you’re supposed to want, desire can get even harder to find.

Instead of only asking, “Why don’t I want s*x?” try asking, “What might be getting in the way of desire right now?”

If this feels familiar, s*x therapy can help you get curious about what’s happening without shame or pressure. 💜 Visit the link in bio to learn more.

08/27/2026

Want to make s*x feel more exciting? Try taking s*x off the table.

I loved talking with Cindy Scharkey, RN, BSN on her Permission for Pleasure podcast about pleasure, desire, s*xual agency, and what can happen when we take some of the pressure out of s*x. 💜 Thank you, Cindy, for such a fun and important conversation.

One of my favorite homework assignments for couples is to make in*******se and certain kinds of touch completely off-limits for a little while, then go back to making out like you did when kissing alone felt incredibly exciting.

When every touch doesn’t have to lead somewhere, you can slow down, build anticipation, play, and pay attention to what you actually want. Sometimes an artificial “no” creates space for a much more expansive “yes.”

🎧 Listen to Permission for Pleasure wherever you get your podcasts.

Your Monday reminder: better s*x doesn’t always start with doing more. Sometimes it starts with slowing down enough to a...
08/24/2026

Your Monday reminder: better s*x doesn’t always start with doing more. Sometimes it starts with slowing down enough to actually notice what feels good.

Give yourself time to shift gears. Breathe. Focus on one sensation. Stay curious about what your body is responding to. And take or**sm off the agenda.

You don’t need to try all five at once. Pick one and bring a little more attention, and a little less pressure, into the experience this week.

Save this for the next time you need a reminder to slow things down.

08/21/2026

Flashback Friday to a reminder that still matters: familiar doesn’t always mean good for you. It just means familiar.💜

Sometimes you can really want to change and still find yourself falling into the same patterns. Your brain knows those patterns. Doing something different, even something healthier, can bring up anxiety, doubt, and a whole lot of discomfort.

When you notice yourself feeling stuck, try this sentence stem:
“It makes sense that I’m feeling stuck because…”

Instead of judging yourself for being back in the same place, get curious about why that place feels so familiar. That little bit of self-compassion can make it easier to start choosing something different.

👇 What’s something you’re trying to do differently, even though the old way still feels more familiar?

Your body is not a pop quiz you were supposed to pass by 30.What turned you on five years ago might not be what turns yo...
08/19/2026

Your body is not a pop quiz you were supposed to pass by 30.

What turned you on five years ago might not be what turns you on now. Stress, hormones, relationships, and life experience can all shape what feels good, and as you change, your s*xuality can change with you.

That means you should keep learning yourself instead of assuming you should already have all the answers.

Try this: Instead of asking, “Why don’t I want what I used to?” ask, “What feels good to me right now?” Notice what creates curiosity, comfort, pleasure, or even just a little spark without making or**sm the goal.

If you’re feeling disconnected from your body or your desire, s*x therapy can help you explore what feels good now without shame or pressure. 💜 Visit the link in bio to learn more.

💜 If you’ve been craving a little time to focus on you, I’d love to see you at Fuel Your Fire: A Women’s Wellness Summit...
08/17/2026

💜 If you’ve been craving a little time to focus on you, I’d love to see you at Fuel Your Fire: A Women’s Wellness Summit on September 27.

I’m honored to be the featured keynote speaker at 12:30 p.m., sharing a conversation about women’s wellness, resilience, personal growth and living with more intention and purpose.

The event will also include wellness experts, interactive experiences, resources, giveaways and opportunities to connect, all while supporting BRAWS: Bringing Resources to Aid Women's Shelters and One Neighborhood Foundation.

📅 September 27 | 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
📍 Vienna Volunteer Fire Department Hall
🎤 Keynote at 12:30 p.m.

A big thank you to the Fuel Your Fire Collective for creating this space and inviting me to be part of it.

Space is limited, so scan the QR code to reserve your spot. And if you’re able, bring a new bra, menstrual products or feminine hygiene essentials to donate to BRAWS.

08/16/2026

Grateful for Dana Irvine: Wise Divine Women for having me on her Facebook Live!

08/15/2026

Sometimes what your relationship is missing isn’t more effort in the bedroom, it’s a little more newness.

When everything starts to feel familiar and predictable, try creating more anticipation: plan a date for each other, get ready separately, surprise your partner with something small, or simply do something differently than you usually would.

You don’t have to overhaul your s*x life. A little mystery can go a long way, especially when the emotional safety is already there.

I loved talking about this with Jessica on the Midlife Advice with Jessica Long. 💜 If this gave you a new way to think about desire in long-term relationships, save it for later or send it to someone who might need the reminder.

*xtips *xtipsforcouples *xadvice

You can understand exactly why you’re anxious and still have your body react like something is wrong.That’s the part tha...
08/13/2026

You can understand exactly why you’re anxious and still have your body react like something is wrong.

That’s the part that can leave you wondering, “Why am I still reacting like this?”

You’ve talked about it. You’ve tried to calm yourself down. You know you’re safe. And your nervous system is still saying otherwise.

This is one of the reasons I love ART. It can help the brain process what’s underneath the reaction so the memory or trigger feels more neutral, and your body doesn’t have to respond with the same level of distress. You keep the knowledge. Lose the pain.

💜 If any of this sounds familiar, send me a DM or use the link in bio to learn more about ART.

Address

4963 Elm Street Suite 100
Bethesda, MD
20814

Telephone

+12022564646

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