About Our Practice

Clinical Director Renée LaVail, LMFT, CST, ACS
Renée (she/her) is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist & Approved Clinical Supervisor. Working as a psychotherapist for 14 years, Renée began her professional career focusing on family therapy. In 2011, her focus shifted to include sexual health. Renée is passionate about providing a safe and supportive clinical space for the community to address and discuss all areas of sex, sexual health, and relationship diversity. Renée has been a clinical supervisor since 2011 and founded the Clinical Supervisor Academy with colleague Dr. Leandrea Romero, with the support of the Southwest Family Guidance Center & Institute. Renee worked with Southwest Family for 13 years, ending her tenure as its Clinical Director in 2021 to expand her organization. She is a doctoral candidate in Behavioral Health Leadership & is the founding director of Albuquerque Sex Therapy and its guiding organization, the Clinical Assessment Group. Renée accepts private pay and the following insurances: NM Medicaid, Friday Health Plans, Molina Healthcare of NM, Presbyterian Commercial plans, Presbyterian Centennial Care (Medicaid), True Health NM, United Healthcare, Western Sky Community Care & BCBS.

Therapist Katherine Spikes, LMFT
Katherine has over eight years of experience with sex-positive counseling for adults, couples, and families. She is completing her Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy, specializing in adolescent and youth sexual health. Independently licensed and certified in family trauma work, her passion is developing age and developmentally appropriate, sex-positive educational programming that includes safety, consent, body positivity, and gender identity. Katherine accepts private pay and the following insurances: NM Medicaid, Friday Health Plans, Molina Healthcare of NM, Presbyterian Commercial plans, Presbyterian Centennial Care (Medicaid), True Health NM, United Healthcare, Western Sky Community Care & BCBS.

Therapist Christina Coleman, LCSW, CSOTP
Christina is a certified Sex Offender Treatment Provider with over five years of experience in detention and hospital settings. Grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy augmented with elements of  Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, she has a person-centric, motivational approach. Meeting clients wherever they are emotionally is her utmost priority. Christina feels that our society does not talk about sex and sexual health enough or objectively approach the subject. Her goals are to normalize topics of sexual health and hold a space for people to be their authentic selves without fear of shame or alienation. Christina accepts private pay and the following insurances: NM Medicaid, Friday Health Plans, Molina Healthcare of NM, Presbyterian Commercial plans, Presbyterian Centennial Care (Medicaid), True Health NM, United Healthcare, Western Sky Community Care & BCBS.

Therapist Krishna Vemulapalli, LMHC, CSOTP
Krishna is a Licensed Mental Health Clinician delivering sex therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, blending person-centric and narrative therapy approaches. His unique perspective is informed by a blended Jamaican and Asian Indian parentage, a four-year tour in the US Armed Forces, a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado, and a Masters’s Degree in Counseling from the University Of New Mexico. Krishna’s focus is working with individuals and couples on sex and sexual health issues, including alternative relationship structures, kinks, and fetishes. Krishna accepts private pay and the following insurances: NM Medicaid, Molina Healthcare of NM, Presbyterian Commercial plans, Presbyterian Centennial Care (Medicaid), True Health NM, Western Sky Community Care & BCBS.  Krishna cannot accept Friday Health Plans or United Healthcare.

Therapist Lori Ortiz, LPCC
Lori (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor who specializes in sexual health and wellness. For six years, she has focused on Multisystemic Therapy, a family and community-based program specializing in Problem Sexual Behavior (MST-PSB). Lori’s compassionate approach helps identify strengths and areas for growth, encouraging straightforward steps toward lasting change. She is pursuing certification in sex therapy and provides a safe space for clients to explore their identity and sexuality challenges. Her unique perspective is informed by being a gay woman in a same-sex marriage. Lori accepts private pay and the following insurances: NM Medicaid, Friday Health Plans, Molina Healthcare of NM, Presbyterian Commercial plans, Presbyterian Centennial Care (Medicaid), True Health NM, United Healthcare, Western Sky Community Care & BCBS.

Therapist Marylouise Kuti, LMSW, CSOTP
Marylouise (she/her) is deeply committed to a therapeutic approach that aligns with her core values: honoring every individual with dignity and respect. She believes that each person is the expert of their own lived experiences. With specialized training in CBT and DBT, she employs a psychoeducational and solution-focused approach to therapy, always prioritizing her client’s self-determined treatment goals. Marylouise creates an environment where clients feel free from judgment and shame. She firmly believes that human sexuality and exploration are healthy aspects of the human experience. This conviction drives her specialized focus on sexuality-related concerns and relationship wellness. Operating within a sex-positive framework, Marylouise is LGBTQI+ and kink-friendly. Marylouise accepts private pay and the following insurances: NM Medicaid, Molina Healthcare of NM, Presbyterian Commercial plans, Presbyterian Centennial Care (Medicaid), True Health NM, Western Sky Community Care & BCBS. Marylouise cannot accept Friday Health Plans or United Healthcare.

Therapist Vincent Espinoza, LMSW
Vincent (he/they) is a nonbinary, pansexual Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and Licensed Substance Abuse Associate (LSAA) Counselor who specializes in Sex Therapy through a systems-oriented lens. Vincent strongly believes in incorporating all aspects of an individual’s identity in the journey toward healing and self-love. Vincent’s focus is working with members of the LGBTQ+ community, individuals with special sexual interests (including, but not limited to, fetish and kink), couples involved in nontraditional relationships (including, but not limited to, ethical nonmonogamy and polyamory), and adolescents and young adults seeking guidance and support in exploring their emerging gender and sexual identities. Vincent believes in creating a safe therapeutic space free of guilt, judgment, and shame. Vincent accepts private pay and the following insurances: NM Medicaid, Molina Healthcare of NM, Presbyterian Commercial plans, Presbyterian Centennial Care (Medicaid), True Health NM, Western Sky Community Care & BCBS. Vincent cannot accept Friday Health Plans or United Healthcare.

Therapist Leanne Lusko, LMHC
Leanne (she/her) is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who specializes in Sex Therapy and is certified in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Timeline Therapy, and Hypnotherapy. She utilizes an evidence-based approach grounded in psychoeducation, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Before focusing on sex therapy, she worked with clients to address anxiety, depression, divorce, domestic violence, infidelity, anger management, substance use, addiction recovery, post-traumatic stress disorder, and self-harm. Leanne provides a safe, motivational space to explore past experiences, identify areas needing support, and develop positive habits to improve quality of life. Leanne accepts private pay and the following insurances: NM Medicaid, Molina Healthcare of NM, Presbyterian Commercial plans, Presbyterian Centennial Care (Medicaid), True Health NM, Western Sky Community Care & BCBS. Leanne cannot accept Friday Health Plans or United Healthcare.

Therapist Laura Ross Wood, LMSW, PMH-C, CHt
Laura is a Licensed Social Worker, certified in Perinatal Mental Health, Gottman Levels 1&2, Bringing Baby Home, and hypnotherapy; now pursuing certification in sex therapy. Her strengths-based and sex-positive approach includes examining past traumas and experiences, facing present struggles honestly and openly, and creating a more positive future. Exploration, education, psychodynamic and feminist theory, Gottman, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, self-esteem and boundaries work, communication skills, and mindfulness are great ways to learn more about yourself and to feel better. Laura loves working with adult and teenage clients; individuals and couples; and anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, self-esteem issues, postpartum mood disorders, and childbirth. Laura accepts private pay and the following insurances: NM Medicaid, Molina Healthcare of NM, Presbyterian Commercial plans, Presbyterian Centennial Care (Medicaid), True Health NM, Western Sky Community Care & BCBS. Laura cannot accept Friday Health Plans or United Healthcare.

Therapist Leasa Metcalf, LMHC
Leasa (she/her) is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor delivering sex-positive psychotherapy with a cognitive behavioral and person-centric approach. Her previous experience includes therapy for trauma, depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction, anger management, and domestic violence. Leasa enjoys working with children, teens, adults, and the LGBQT+ community. She strives to provide a safe and comfortable environment, allowing each individual to be unique and authentic. Leasa offers treatment for concerns related to sexuality, gender, sexual identity, body positivity, kink/fetish, and wellness within relationships. Leasa accepts private pay and the following insurances: NM Medicaid, Molina Healthcare of NM, Presbyterian Commercial plans, Presbyterian Centennial Care (Medicaid), True Health NM, Western Sky Community Care & BCBS. Leasa cannot accept Friday Health Plans or United Healthcare.

Alisa Moortgat, Intern
Alisa Moortgat (she/her) is a Queer woman providing sex-positive from a strengths-based approach. Alisa is passionate about working with members of the LGBTQIA+ and gender-expansive communities, relationships across the spectrum, neurodivergent individuals, survivors of sexual violence, and deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Alisa is eager to work with clients of alternative sexualities, including but not limited to kink, fetish, BDSM. She is committed to providing culturally humble, affirming, and collaborative care. Alisa accepts private pay and the following insurances: NM Medicaid, Molina Healthcare of NM, Presbyterian Commercial plans, Presbyterian Centennial Care (Medicaid), True Health NM, Western Sky Community Care & BCBS.

Marión Carrillo, Intern
Marión Carrillo is a bi/pan and indigenous Masters of Social Work graduate student at New Mexico Highlands University. He is well-versed in nonmonogamy, queer relationships, BDSM, and sex work. Marion uses client-centric and trauma-informed modalities and a philosophy of harm reduction to treat clients at any stage in their life.  Marión accepts private pay and the following insurances: NM Medicaid, Molina Healthcare of NM, Presbyterian Commercial plans, Presbyterian Centennial Care (Medicaid), True Health NM, Western Sky Community Care & BCBS.

Devon Palmer, BISI, CSW
Devon is a Sexual Health Coach, providing personalized guidance, education, and support to individuals seeking to enhance their sexual well-being. His approachable demeanor, extensive knowledge, and non-judgmental attitude create a comfortable space for clients to discuss sensitive topics and make informed decisions. Devon accepts private pay for sexual health coaching and Medicaid for CCSS services.

Ashley Palmer, RN, INN
Ashley is a highly trusted Registered Nurse and IIN-certified hormone health coach with over eight years of medical experience. She brings her invaluable expertise to the Albuquerque Sex Therapy team, specializing in sexual health coaching for female clients. Ashley’s compassionate approach and dedication to promoting sexual well-being create a safe space for clients to explore intimate topics with confidence. Ashley accepts private pay for sexual health coaching.