Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Aston.
Jackie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I became a therapist because I’ve always been fascinated by what helps people create deeper, healthier relationships. I earned my Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Early in my career, I worked with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and major life transitions. I spent several years at an eating disorder treatment center before joining a group practice, and eventually I started my own virtual private practice.
As I worked with clients, I realized I was especially interested in the relationship dynamics underlying so many of their struggles. That led me to specialize in couples therapy and pursue extensive training in differentiation-based therapy. I draw heavily from the work of Dr. David Schnarch, whose approach has had a profound impact on how I help couples navigate emotional, relational, and sexual intimacy challenges. I love helping people develop a stronger sense of self while learning to stay deeply connected to the people they love.
Today, I work with individuals and couples through my virtual private practice, seeing therapy clients in Maryland and Washington, DC, and coaching clients around the world. I also co-host the Differentiated Love & Sex podcast, where we make conversations about relationships, intimacy, and personal growth practical, accessible, and relatable. In addition to my clinical work, I enjoy serving as a resource in the community by providing both in-person and virtual webinars on topics related to relationships, parenting, mental health, and personal growth. I have presented for PTA meetings, churches, and a parenting institute. I value creating opportunities to make mental health education and relationship tools more accessible to people outside of the therapy room.
On a personal note, my work is deeply informed by my own life as well. My husband and I are celebrating 10 years of marriage this month, and we’re raising two wonderful daughters while eagerly awaiting the arrival of our third child this September. Both my personal and professional experiences continue to shape my passion for helping people build relationships that are deeply connected, authentic, and resilient.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. Like many therapists in private practice, one of the biggest challenges was learning that being a good clinician doesn’t automatically mean knowing how to run a business. Building a private practice meant developing skills in marketing, networking, and entrepreneurship that I had never been taught in graduate school.
Clinically, I’ve also learned that growth isn’t always comfortable—for my clients or for me. Specializing in differentiation-based therapy challenged me to think differently about relationships and pushed me to continue growing both personally and professionally.
More recently, balancing a growing practice, a podcast, and family life has been another learning experience. It’s required me to be intentional about my priorities, set healthy boundaries, and accept that I can’t do everything perfectly. Those experiences have made me a better therapist because I understand firsthand what it means to keep growing while navigating the realities of everyday life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My practice focuses on helping individuals and couples build stronger, more authentic relationships by developing a stronger relationship with themselves. I specialize in differentiation-based therapy, an approach that helps people stay emotionally connected without losing themselves in the process. Whether a couple is struggling with communication, anxiety issues, conflict, trust after betrayal, emotional distance, or sexual intimacy, my goal is to help them move beyond simply managing problems and instead create lasting change.
In addition to therapy, I offer relationship coaching and co-host the *Differentiated Love & Sex* podcast, where we translate complex relationship concepts into practical, everyday conversations. I want people to understand that healthy relationships aren’t about avoiding conflict or finding the perfect partner—they’re about developing the emotional maturity to stay connected while remaining true to who you are.
I think what sets my work apart is that I don’t just teach communication techniques or conflict-resolution strategies. I help people understand the deeper emotional patterns that keep them stuck and support them in changing those patterns at their source. At the heart of my work is an integration of emotional, relational, and sexual intimacy because I believe these areas cannot be separated. The way we manage our emotions, relate to one another, and experience physical intimacy all influence each other. By addressing all three together, I help individuals and couples create deeper, more authentic connection and lasting change rather than simply resolving surface-level problems.
I’m especially proud of creating a practice and podcast that make these concepts approachable and accessible. My hope is that whether someone works with me as a therapy or coaching client or simply listens to the podcast, they leave feeling empowered to create relationships that are more connected, resilient, and fulfilling.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Resources that have shaped my work focus on relationships, sexuality, personal growth, and the human experience. A few of the biggest influences include:
Dr. David Schnarch
* *Passionate Marriage
* *Intimacy & Desire
* *Resurrecting Sex
* *Brain Talk
* *Constructing the Sexual Crucible
* *Living at the Bottom of the Ocean
Dr. Emily Nagoski
* *Come As You Are
Esther Perel
* *Mating in Captivity
Dr. Laurie Mintz
* *Becoming Cliterate
Dr. Irvin D. Yalom
* *Staring at the Sun
Dr. Joe Kort
**Erotic Orientation: An Introduction to Theory and Practice
Dr. Brené Brown
**Daring Greatly
Beyond books and professional resources, some of my greatest teachers are my own relationships—being married, raising young children, and continuing my own personal growth. Those experiences continually deepen my empathy and shape the way I show up for my clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.candgtherapy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackie_aston_therapist
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590204780060
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jackie-aston-07720052
- Twitter: @diflovesexpod
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@differentiatedloveandsex
- Other: https://substack.com/@diffloveandsex
