About Dr. Michael Stokes III
Focus areas
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Sex Addiction
Sexual Behavior Problems
Painful Sex / Dyspareunia
Sex Therapy
Sexual Dysfunction
Porn Addiction
Sexual Abuse Counseling
Clientele seen
Teenagers (13-17)
Seniors (65+)
Families
Young adults (18-24)
Individuals
Adults (25-64)
Couples
Treatment approaches
Attachment-based
Family / Marital
Coaching
Family Systems
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Gottman Method
Identity
Gender
MaleSexuality
GayFaith
NonreligiousEthnicity
White
Languages spoken
English
Getting to know Dr. Michael Stokes III
I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Sex Therapist in Rhode Island and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Connecticut. I hold an EdD in Professional Counseling from American International College. I enjoy working with individuals and couples of all genders and sexual orientations who need additional support. With years of experience providing sex therapy, I treat a wide range of sexual and intimacy disorders. I understand that sex can be a difficult topic for many people. My approach to therapy is down-to-earth, collaborative, and realistic. I want my clients to learn new skills and healthy ways of coping to foster their joy and authenticity.
What should a new client know about working with you?
When you have a toothache, you go to the dentist. When you have a weird mole, you go to a dermatologist. But what happens when your sex life is not all puppies and rainbows? That’s where sex therapy comes in.
Sexual health is a major part of our overall well-being. Sex therapy goes beyond the birds and the bees to address and restore core identity and intimacy issues for a better, more fulfilling sex life.
Sounds great, right? It is. But a lot of people are unaware of the resources available through sex counseling. Here’s what you need to know about sex therapy and how it can help you feel like your most authentic and connected self.
There are two main two goals of sex therapy: 1) to feel like your authentic self and 2) to feel connected and experience pleasure with your partner(s). With counseling starting from the inside-out, you’ll learn the why behind the what in approaching your sexual health.
Some common issues or situations that may lead to sex therapy include:
Sexual identity or orientation discovery
Feeling a lack of intimacy with your partner(s)
Sexual addiction
Relationship issues
Sexless marriage or mismatched desires
Lack of emotional connection
Lack of self-esteem
The feeling that your sex life could use a boost
No matter your reason, it doesn’t hurt to try. The biggest message for those considering sex therapy? You are not alone.
What to Expect In Sessions
Shame-free Conversation
Sex therapy is a form of psychotherapy that requires a dialogue between patient(s) and the couselor. In other words, sharing openly is the most important way to work on finding solutions.
Sometimes, this may require bringing up awkward or uncomfortable topics. But guess what? Sex therapists have heard it all. Nothing is surprising, and they’re not judging you.
What is your typical process for working with clients?
Finding the right fit for a therapist is so important. You want someone you can trust, open up to about things you would never tell family or friends, and someone who can offer you some useful strategies and feedback.
I am an interactive therapist. This means, I will not just sit there and have you talk for 50 minutes without any interactive feedback. Being an interactive therapist, we are having a conversation so there is give and take. I will ask you questions and perspective about what is going on for you that maybe you didn’t think about before.
Collaboration is huge! I am not the expert on you. You are. This means if you tell me “I think you are wrong” or “I would never try that”, I am going to take your feedback seriously. We will work together to find strategies and solutions that are practical.
I understand the complexities of things like balancing a family, kids, owning/running a business, managing employees all while trying to create a life that brings you happiness and fulfillment. Life is hard. Sometimes it sucks and sometimes it is freaking awesome. Our work together is to make it suck less and help you find your spark again; emotionally, sexually, spiritually, professionally, etc!
Talking to a total stranger can seem intimidating. Pile that on with needing to talk about a sexual issue. As a sex therapist, I think I have heard it all. Your difficulties, desires, wants, needs, etc can all be explored without judgement. The goal is to talk openly about the things getting in the way for you. I try to make it easy to talk about these things. You are in the driver’s seat here. You control how much or little we talk about. After all, this is your process. Not mine.
Have more questions? Want to see if after reading this we are a good fit to work together?
Dr. Michael Stokes III is not in-network with any insurances
It’s common for mental health providers to be out-of-network. Many insurance plans offer out-of-network coverage, so you may get partially reimbursed. Learn more
Out-of-pocket fees and assistance
Initial session: $300 for 60 minutes
Ongoing session: $300 for 60 minutes
More information on payments and coverage
I am considered an out-of-network provider, which means I do not participate with insurance networks. This allows me to create a concierge-type model, dedicating the time and attention required to each of my patients so they receive the highest level of care. Being out-of-network also frees us from restrictions imposed by insurance companies.
I made this choice intentionally because it keeps my practice small and client-focused. Because of this, I don’t have a high caseload. I only take on a small number of clients at a time so I can be fully present for you in our sessions and provide flexibility in scheduling as needed. I believe therapy fees should be transparent so I have included my fees below.
$300 for a 50 minute individual session
$350 for a 50 minute session couples session
For those who have out-of-network benefits and wish to use their insurance, I can make this very simple and bill out the claim for you. This will be processed out-of-network and insurance may pay a portion of my fee. Some plans will pay 70-80% of my fee– it’s dependent upon your plan.
Education and background
Practice names
Education and training
- American International College, EdD in Professional Counseling
NPI number
1861775561
How soon can I make an appointment with Dr. Michael Stokes III?
Generally, Dr. Michael Stokes III has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Dr. Stokes III's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is Dr. Michael Stokes III accepting new patients?
Dr. Michael Stokes III generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Dr. Stokes III's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does Dr. Michael Stokes III accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if Dr. Stokes III is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with Dr. Michael Stokes III online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with Dr. Stokes III using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does Dr. Michael Stokes III work with?
Dr. Michael Stokes III works with Rhode Island Sex Therapy LLC.
What are common reasons for patients to see Dr. Michael Stokes III?
Dr. Michael Stokes III frequently sees patients for Depression, New Patient Visit, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Sleep Problems. You can see other visit reasons for Dr. Michael Stokes III on their profile.
What languages does Dr. Michael Stokes III speak?
Dr. Michael Stokes III speaks English.