Meet Licensed Psychologist & Certified Sex Therapist, Katherine "Kat" Arenella, Ph.D
Katherine “Kat” Arenella, Ph.D. | Licensed Psychologist & Certified Sex Therapist
she/her
Dr. Arenella received her PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship as the Michael Metz Fellow in Couples’ Sexual Health at the Institute for Sexual and Gender Health at the University of Minnesota Medical School. She is an AASECT certified sex therapist, and has received specialized training in sex therapy modalities, gender affirming care, and sexual trauma. She is a licensed psychologist in California and Minnesota.
She is also a researcher and has published and presented on topics including diverse experiences of sexuality, desire discrepancy, queer couples, reproductive justice, training medical providers in gender affirming care, and trans health.
“There is no greater source of joy & meaning in our lives than our relationships with others.”
– Esther Perel –
Kat’s Philosophy on Sex & Mental Health
Dr. Arenella believes that sexuality is intrinsically tied to mental health and vice versa. She believes in the liberating power of finding and expressing one’s own authentic sexuality, as well as the importance of relationships to overall mental health and wellbeing.
Dr. Arenella understands that there is power in pleasure. Her goal is to help individuals and relationships find meaningful intimacy.
Kat is currently accepting clients in California and Minnesota.
CA 34496
MN LP6768
Free 30-Minute Consultation
Teletherapy Service Available
Judgement-Free Counseling
Everyone has the right to empowered, healthy, and thriving relationships. That includes you.
mental health | relationships | sexuality | healing + recovery
What is Kat's Approach?
Dr. Arenella’s approach to therapy is eclectic, liberation-focused, and client-driven. She takes a holistic and trauma informed approach to her clients that emphasizes their cultural and sociopolitical context. It is her aim to help empower clients to make changes in themselves, their relationships, and their environments.
She has a strong Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) background and believes that the best therapy treatment plan and approach fits the client and their unique needs, intersecting identities, and experiences. In addition to CBT techniques, Dr. Arenella employs emotion-focused interventions and mindfulness-based approaches. She is experienced in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) interventions, as well as a range of trauma interventions, including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Written Exposure Therapy (WET).
Kat’s Vision for Therapeutic Work
Dr. Arenella is driven to help clients better understand and explore their own sexuality and relationships. It is her goal to help clients live authentically and to better understand their own identities, relationships, and sensuality. She is passionate about helping clients understand the role oppression has had in their lives and externalizing harmful messages about identity, sexuality, relationships, and mental health.
Kat is a member of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT).