Sean Orpen

In starting my career, I completed my bachelor’s degree from UBC, master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University, and the certification program from the American Association of Sex Counselors, Educators, and Therapists (AASECT). As my passion for my profession grew, I knew that I wanted to do more, and this leads me to begin the process of becoming credentialed as a sex therapy supervisor and a Marriage and Family Therapy supervisor, which I am in the process of completing now. Early in my career, I worked closely with and received supervision from the founders of the Gottman Method at the Relationship Research Institute as an intervention facilitator and research interviewer on studies that focused on relational conflict, communication, and decision-making skills. Over time I began to feel drawn to more community service. Eventually, I moved out of research and into clinical work, where I served active duty and retired Army and Special Forces personnel stationed at Joint base Lewis Macchord. What I loved about this work was a greater focus on relationships, intimacy, and sexuality in those I served. With all the difficulties that come from war and military life, I found great value in working directly with individuals and couples to reconnect to their own desire for intimacy, passion, and vulnerability, which eventually led me towards a more focused practice in sex therapy.