Alex Tatum (he/him)

I completed my postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Minnesota Medical School, where I acquired specialized training in sex and gender issues including erectile dysfunction, compulsive sexual behavior, and relationship distress. I am a Certified Sex Therapist (CST) by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT).

I gained expertise in LGBTQ issues through my clinical work and research. In addition to my previous work in settings with primarily LGBTQ clients, I maintain an active research agenda studying LGBTQ concerns. In my role as an assistant professor, I routinely publish peer-reviewed articles in academic journals on topics such as internalized homonegativity, acceptance concerns, and stress related to navigating a world that centers heterosexual and cisgender identities.

During my sex therapy training I gained specific expertise working within kink, fetish, and BDSM communities. I understand the unique concerns impacting sexual outsiders, such as discussing kink identity with partners and experiencing a sense of belonging in subcommunities. Further, I identify as a member of the leather community and have presented my research on leather identity and psychological wellness at the Leather Archives & Museum in Chicago, IL.

My postdoctoral training in sex therapy focused on strategies for recognizing subconscious beliefs that dictate behavior, which informed my present clinical work. As a therapist I focus heavily on how belief systems influence thought and emotion. I maintain expertise in CBT through regular training and through my program of research as a tenure-track faculty member.

Attachment is a critical construct that impacts our relationships with others. My experience in attachment theory dates all the way back to my undergraduate studies, during which I examined attachment styles in relation to the social regulation of emotion. I continue to conduct research and publish peer-reviewed articles studying attachment theory as it relates to sexual health.

I routinely saw couples during my postdoctoral training in sex therapy, and continue to work with couples wishing to enhance intimacy and connection inside and outside of the bedroom. Some common topics I work with couples on include repair from boundary violations (eg, infidelity), setting new boundaries, navigating conflict, developing empathy for one another, and recognizing when old/harmful relational patterns are surfacing in present relationships.

As a therapist, I routinely work with individuals, couples, and polycules as they expand their relationship networks. I value the sensitivity attached to emotionally vulnerable topics such as jealousy, and I strive to work at a pace that works best for you and your relationship(s). As a professor, I research psychological factors that promote healthy adjustment in polyamorous and other forms of consensually non-monogamous relationships.

I recognize the tremendous diversity of sexual interests and kinks, and genuinely enjoy working with clients to identify and promote safe and consensual practice of a multitude of kinks. I honor previous experience of shame that may have been internalized from being raised in a sex-negative environment, and I value working with clients to challenge automatic thoughts that fuel cycles of shame, distress, and/or disconnection from a broader kink community.