Meagan Narvaez, MEd., LMHC/LPC
Sex Nerd Extraordinaire
Hey there!
My name is Meagan Narvaez (she/her pronouns). I am a queer Woman of Color from a Puerto Rican family and a Pittsburgh-based sex therapist. I am a first-generation college graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Florida and a Master’s in Professional Counseling from the University of Georgia.
My counseling methods focus on developing connection, communication, and self-empowerment. For this reason, I aspire to learn from my clients as much as I aid them on their journeys.
Our current political climate discriminates against People of Color and LGBTQIA+ individuals. In my practice, I endeavor to be actively anti-racist and affirming of care for all sexualities and genders. You are safe and welcome here.
My passions and specializations include the intersections of race, sexuality, gender, and pleasure. As a sex therapist, I wholeheartedly believe in pleasure activism – the idea that humans are not meant to live in a constant state of suffering but rather that pleasure is our birthright. I use this framework as a guiding principle to help clients embrace and hold sacred what is pleasurable for them.
Pleasure can be many things – cooking your favorite meals, learning to say no, laughing with a dearly loved friend, moving your body, or having the best sex one can imagine! I believe that my clients deserve the kind of pleasure they desire, whatever that looks like for them.
Check out my podcast called The Sex & Podcast (pronounced “The Sex And Podcast”) to learn more about me. My guests and I share stories about how mental and physical health challenges affect sexual wellness. We also answer some common sex therapist questions.
Openly talking about sexual health is integral to normalizing sex and pleasure – one could even say my podcast is good for you!
My Credentials
I have a Master of Education in Professional Counseling from the University of Georgia. One of my favorite things about the program was that it was designed to help clinicians dive inward to explore the connections between our identities and the work we feel called to practice.
In my case, I have long felt called to work not just in sexuality but also in mental health and substance use. Exploring my relationship to these issues has led to a deeper understanding of myself and my draw to do this work, both individually and in my community.
I also have a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Florida.
Since starting along my career path in mental health care, I:
Acted as a volunteer phone Interventionist for the Alachua County Crisis Center. Being present with people through times of despair and crisis, sometimes in very real life-or-death moments, helped me to understand the life-changing and life-affirming power of feeling seen, heard, and valued. I carry that belief as a core tenet of my practice today.
Developed three professional training modules for the behavioral health agency team within which I worked. These modules provided foundational information for understanding sex therapy, polyamory and other alternative relationship structures, and trans issues.
Attended – and continue to attend – continuing education trainings to enhance my understanding of providing effective sex-related therapy.
Received training in Dr. Marsha Linehan’s Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, which is an evidence-based therapy that you can learn more about (here).
Lead a book club based in Seattle, WA, where we read books related to sex, gender, and relationships. My favorites from this exercise have been Love’s Not Color Blind by Kevin Patterson, The State of Affairs by Esther Perel, and Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski.
Took a year off and moved with my partner to Southeast Asia! I became a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certified teacher, and it was a joy working with children and learning the skills to manage classrooms while being an engaging educator. My biggest takeaway from living abroad, however, has been knowing first-hand what it is like to be an immigrant that is unable to speak the new country’s native language and navigate the nuances of that culture. I acknowledge that I had the privilege of being an English-speaking, United-States-passport-holding immigrant; even so, there were still many obstacles faced and lessons learned that will forever shape my understanding of the immigrant experience.
Completed valuable additional training with The Gottman Institute and Prepare/Enrich. These programs have equipped me to complete assessments on client relationships and to use evidence-based practices to help my clients build connection, empathy, and communication. (If this sounds like something that would change your life, read more here!)
My office
The Passion Lab was created during the COVID pandemic in my Pittsburgh-based home. My office is tucked away on a separate floor from the rest of the house to offer privacy during my telehealth sessions.
From time to time you might see one or more of my furry office assistants (pets) walking around, or hear the dog snoring.
The Passion Lab in the Media
Speaking Events
Podcasts
Smart Sex Smart Love w/ Dr. Joe Kort - Mindful Sex
Media
Sound.Health - From the Jungle to a Home and a Job
