Rachel Zar, PhD, LMFT, CST

Rachel Zar, PhD, LMFT, CST is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist, and Clinical Sexologist who specializes in relationship and sex therapy. She holds a Masters of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from The Family Institute at Northwestern University and a PhD in Clinical Sexology from Modern Sex Therapy Institutes. She also holds certificates in sex therapy and sexuality education from University of Michigan. Dr. Zar sees individuals and couples and provides clinical supervision at Avid Intimacy, a private group therapy practice in Chicago.

While all sexual or relational concerns are welcome in her office, Dr. Zar specializes in working with those experiencing sexual functioning issues including painful sex (vulvodynia, vaginismus, etc.), difficulty with or inability to orgasm, or low or diminished libido. She worked for many years at the Center for Sexual Medicine and the Center for Menopause, gynecologic subspecialty groups that are part of Northwestern Medicine, and her PhD dissertation focused on the lived experience of chronic genito-pelvic pain. She also specializes in supporting clients who are working toward a better understanding of their sexual selves, who are navigating dating distress, who are healing from past trauma, or who seek guidance about forming and maintaining relationships. For clients working on general anxiety, major life transitions, or other relational issues, she offers a sex-positive and sex-inclusive approach. Dr. Zar is proudly an LGBTQ-, kink-, and poly- affirmative clinician.