About

About Intimacy, Sexuality & Gender Center of California

The Intimacy, Sexuality & Gender Center of California (ISGC) is dedicated to providing professional, confidential, and compassionate therapy services to individuals, couples, and families. Since 1992, we have been committed to helping clients overcome emotional, psychological, and gender-related challenges, enabling them to live the quality of life they deserve. Our mission is to create a safe and inclusive environment where everyone can explore and resolve their intimacy and sexuality concerns.

Stephen L. Braveman

Meet Our Founder

Stephen L. Braveman, LMFT, DST, CST-S

Stephen L. Braveman, License #MFC28926, is the founder and director of ISGC. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, AASECT Certified Diplomate and Supervisor of Sex Therapy, Gender and Sexual Abuse Specialist, Sacred Sexuality/Tantra Educator, and an LGBT and KINK Specialist. With a career spanning over three decades, Stephen’s work is renowned and respected.

Stephen co-authors the influential book CPR for Your Sex Life, How to Breathe Life into a Dead, Dying or Dull Sex Life, alongside Mildred Brown, Ph.D. This book continues to captivate readers and provide valuable insights into revitalizing sexual relationships. Stephen’s expertise has also been featured in numerous national publications, television shows, and documentaries.

A Legacy of Impact

Among Stephen’s proudest achievements is his groundbreaking documentary, Boyhood Shadows: I Swore I’d Never Tell. Developed in collaboration with the men in his group at the Monterey County Rape Crisis Center, this film has provided immense support to thousands of sexual abuse survivors, helping them confront and heal from their traumatic experiences.

Meet Our Office Manager

Wanda M. Braveman

Wanda M. Braveman plays dual roles as Office Manager and Patient Advocate at ISGC and is an established author. Her input at ISGC has been transformative, mainly through her insightful memoir, White Knight: Living with Alzheimer’s Moment by Moment. Her experience and empathetic approach lend a personal touch to her interactions.

Moreover, Wanda has initiated the Care for Caregivers Group at ISGC, which she derived from her book’s philosophy. The aim is to empower individuals to care for themselves while assisting their loved ones, fostering a demeanor centered around positivity and present-mindedness. Wanda’s group also intends to support professional caregivers, recognizing the universal need for caregiver support.

Wanda formally invites everyone to engage with the new ISGC services, ensuring clients, “We help you experience the best of yourself!”

Our Services

Individual, Couples, and Family Therapy

At ISGC, we offer a comprehensive range of therapy services to meet the diverse needs of our clients. Stephen provides individual, couples, and family sex therapy and psychotherapy, helping clients navigate and resolve their intimacy and sexuality concerns.

A Closer Look into Our Sex Therapy Services

We understand how much courage it takes to seek help in addressing and mending complex personal and intimate challenges. That is why we strive to provide sex therapy services in a compassionate and professional environment conducive to your journey toward self-growth, healing, and empowerment.

Additionally, our sex therapy services are conducted by a licensed mental health professional. This highly qualified and empathetic sex therapist brings a depth of specialized knowledge in assessing, diagnosing, and treating a wide spectrum of sexual and interpersonal issues, ensuring that your journey toward healing is grounded in expertise and compassion.

 

Specialized Therapy Groups

We offer several specialized therapy groups tailored to specific populations and needs:

  • Especially for Men: A group for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
  • Living with a Survivor Retreat: A retreat designed for those living with survivors of sexual abuse.
  • Female Sexuality Group: A supportive space for women to explore their sexuality.
  • Male Sexuality Group: A group for men to discuss and understand their sexual experiences.
  • Sacred Sexuality/Tantra Groups: Weekly and weekend workshops for individuals seeking a deeper connection with themselves and their partners. These workshops cater to abuse survivors, LGBT individuals, people with disabilities, and interfaith communities, making them the first of their kind in the Monterey Bay Area.
  • Monterey Transitional Support Group: The first and only co-ed group for the transgender community on the central coast, meeting WPATH requirements and successfully running since 1992.
  • KINK Couples Therapy Group: A group designed for couples interested in exploring KINK play, helping them navigate their feelings and experiences.

About Our First-of-Its-Kind Tantra Workshops

Whether you’re looking to reignite the passion in your relationship or you’re on a personal quest for sexual growth, our Tantra workshops are meticulously designed to facilitate a bonding and healing experience like no other. These specialized therapy groups dive into the transformative power of human connection and offer a unique approach to building intimacy and self-awareness.

Our Tantra workshops celebrate and support the diverse tapestry of human connections, welcoming individuals from all walks of life. Through these specialized therapy groups, we create a serene and respectful space where everyone can experience the principles of Tantra and its consequential benefits for all who seek deeper intimacy, healing, and understanding.

Our Philosophy

Stephen Braveman is an innovator with a unique approach to therapy. He is a well-respected leader in the community. He believes that “all people deserve to live with healthy, safe, true, honest, and deeply connected intimate personal relationships. Everyone should enjoy appropriate sexual pleasures and expressions, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, or preference.”

Publications

  • Innovative Methods of Treating Patients with Sexual Trauma in Innovations in Clinical Practice: Focus on Sexual Health, 2007 by Stephen L. Braveman, LMFT, DST
  • CPR for Your Sex Life: How to Breathe Life Into a Dead, Dying or Dull Sex Life Stephen L. Braveman, LMFT, DST and Co-Author Mildred L. Brown, Ph.D. 2007
  • White Knight, Living with Alzheimer’s Moment by Moment, by Wanda Braveman (Proost)

Publications Appeared In

The Monterey County Herald:

  • Molested Males Need To Find Ways To Heal, 1999
  • Ending The Cycle: How Men Survive Sexual Abuse, 1998
  • National Organization Works For Perspective On Male Sexual Abuse, 1998
  • No Safe Place & From Denial To Survival, 1997
  • Therapy Group Focuses On Male Survivors Of Sexual Abuse, 1996

The Coast Weekly:

  • Men Can Be Victims In The Hands of Women, 1998
  • California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists The California Therapist:
  • Betrayed as Boys, by Richard Gartner, Ph.D., Book Review, 1999
  • Let Me Count The Ways, by Marty Klein, Ph.D., Book Review, 1999
  • America’s War On Sex, by Marty Klein, Ph.D., Book Review, 2008

Meet Bob and Ellie

Bob and Ellie Braveman, our cherished Service Animals at ISGC, serve as emotional support dogs. Their primary role involves welcoming patients upon their arrival at our offices. Additionally, Bob and Ellie offer emotional comfort to patients who take solace in petting and showing affection to them during their therapy sessions with Stephen. Typically, they can be found enjoying their naps, snuggled up closely together.

Experience the ISGC Difference

At the Intimacy, Sexuality & Gender Center of California, we strive to be a haven for you and your family. Our inclusive and supportive environment ensures that every client feels valued and understood. Connect with us today and experience the difference that specialized, compassionate therapy can make.