Meet Jan Carey, MSW, LCSW-C, LCSW, CST
I help couples understand what feels wrong and uncover what feels right
(Whether your concerns are under the covers or not)
Most couples counselors mean well, but they don’t go deep enough. As an AASECT certified sex therapist in Maryland and Pennsylvania, I help get to the bottom of your issues, so your relationship can stop floundering and start flourishing.
My therapy superpower is spotting the patterns you haven’t been able to see
So you learn what you really need — and how to ask for it
Maybe it’s my 20+ years of clinical practice experience, seeing clients break through barriers they weren’t even aware of.
Maybe it’s my own experience as a therapy client, knowing what causes those breakthroughs… and what definitely doesn’t.
Maybe it’s the way my brain is wired: intuitive, direct, challenging, kind. (Thank you, ADHD!)
However you slice it, I’ve learned that the key to a great couples therapist is curiosity.
You need a trusted professional who asks lots of questions, makes quick connections, and helps you see what's been hiding in plain sight..
I let you come to your own conclusions. But I won’t let you get away with anything. That’s not what therapy is for.
It’s for gaining the self-awareness to know your needs — and the tools to get them met.
Why work with Jan Carey?
How I help you learn (and meet) your own needs
20+ years of clinical training
It takes years for a therapist to learn how to help people in a way that’s both approachable and practical. I’ve had two decades. Through motivational interviewing, structural family therapy, and other modalities, I help you create the change you’re looking for.
AASECT sex therapist certification
Whether or not you consider sex a struggle, it helps to work with someone who knows it inside and out. I’ve had my AASECT certification since 2018 and can help you understand how sex inevitably affects your relationship.
Boutique therapy practice
AKA, you aren’t passed to an underling here — you work directly with me. I’m not just at the top of the practice. I’m at the top of my game, and you get to benefit from my decades of therapy expertise every single session.
Why you want a couples therapist who specializes in sex
(Even if sex isn’t what brought you here)
We humans are sexual beings. It’s only natural that sexual issues come up in therapy — sometimes literally (if you catch my drift).
A couples counselor without sex training isn’t properly equipped to handle the topic. They end up improvising based on their own personal experience with sex, or they avoid it entirely.
As an AASECT-certified sex therapist, I know how sex can quietly permeate problems, even when nothing is said. I won’t force the conversation. But if it comes up, I won’t steer clear.
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Masters of Social Work, Temple University
Licensed Clinical Social Worker Certified (LCSW-C), MD License #26288 / Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), PA License #CW015790
Certificate in Sex Therapy and Sexuality Education from the University of Michigan’s School of Social Work
AASECT Certified Sex Therapist
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The Developmental Model of Couples Therapy
Structural Family Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Motivational Interviewing
I specialize in two types of therapy
Spoiler: they often overlap
Couples therapy
For simmering tension, deafening silence, or anything that’s come between you
Sex therapy
For desire gaps, lack of pleasure, or a connection that's gone quiet
Get a feel for how I work
When I’m not in session, you’ll find me…
Getting my hands dirty — literally
Whether painting, gardening, baking, or walking my two dogs, I’m not a sit-on-my-hands kind of gal. I bring the same curiosity to my life as I do to my work.
Once you get to know me in session, there's room to laugh, too. I joke and banter with clients as appropriate. We’re all humans here!
FAQs about working with Jan Carey
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I am licensed in the states of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Because I offer telehealth exclusively, I am able to offer services to people in both states.
My specialization in relationships, intimacy, and sex therapy is inclusive of all clients, including both straight and LGBTQA couples. All I ask is that you’re ready to dig in and work!
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Yes, a diagnosis is required to be part of the clinical record. If you pay for therapy on your own, the diagnosis will stay private in your secure clinical record. If you use out-of-network insurance benefits, it will appear on your monthly superbill. (In that case, I strongly encourage you to call your plan before we begin, so you have a clear picture of your out-of-pocket cost.)
For couples therapy, one partner must carry the diagnosis and be identified as the “patient” for billing purposes. But this is purely an administrative formality. I always treat couples as a co-created system: the problem lives between you, not inside one person. Nobody is the “bad guy” here.
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My fee is $300 per session, whether you are attending as an individual or a couple. Payment is handled through Stripe via my secure electronic health record system. You enter your card information once when you register, and I process the fee after each session.
While I don’t bill insurance directly, I can help you use out-of-network benefits if your plan offers them. Upon request, I’ll generate a monthly superbill through your client portal, which you’ll submit to your plan for reimbursement (typically 50–80% of the fee, though you should check what your specific policy covers).
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Everything you share with me is fully private and protected by HIPAA. The only exceptions are those required by law (i.e., imminent risk of harm to yourself or someone else).
All your records — including your intake paperwork, session notes, and invoices — are stored in SimplePractice, a HIPAA-compliant encrypted electronic health record software. You have full access to your client portal, where you can view documents and manage your account.
I use an AI notetaker embedded in SimplePractice during your sessions, so I can stay present with you instead of scribbling notes. The recording is deleted once it’s transcribed, and the transcription is deleted once it’s placed in your chart. I treat your confidentiality as seriously as your concerns themselves.
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While evening appointments are available, they fill fast. If you have flexibility during the day, you’ll likely get started sooner. Please reach out for my current availability; I’ll do my best to accommodate your schedule.
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If you need to cancel or reschedule your therapy appointment, please do so within 48 business hours to avoid being charged the full session fee. True emergencies — accidents, family crises, sudden illness — are exceptions. I’ll always use good judgment.
Therapy is both an art and a science
Let’s do this dance together
I love art (ask me about my abstract art business or former dream of tap dancing).
I also love science (see my education in social work and training in the therapy models of structural family therapy and motivational interviewing).