Emma Kupferman has always been the person her friends come to with questions about sex.
“I think it’s because nothing embarrasses me, people know nothing is off-limits. I believe people can do whatever they want with their bodies, as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone.”
Now she’s using her unflappable nature and more than a decade of experience in clinical social work to tackle a new challenge: sex therapy. Emma is the newest employee at Freed Bodyworks, a holistic health center and massage therapy practice by the Potomac Avenue metro station in SE DC. Freed has been a partner of Intimate Health Consulting since its inception, and we share core values about inclusive, body-positive, sex-positive care. Emma is currently taking sex therapy clients on Saturdays at Freed Bodyworks.
Emma Kupferman grew up in Vermont, received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Goucher College, and moved to DC in 1999. She went on to get her Masters in Social Work from Howard University, which prepared her for the unique challenges of being a white woman providing social work services in a predominantly black city. “You get comfortable talking about race really quickly at Howard,” Emma explained over coffee with me on the warmest February day in DC history.
In addition to her educational background, Emma brings with her years of experience working for DC non-profits, public and charter schools, and universities. Since then, she’s worked as a hotline operator for the National Abortion Federation, provided clinical case management for multiple domestic violence organizations and family shelters, and served as the clinical supervisor for the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN).
She also volunteered at Maya Angelou Public Charter School in the early 2000’s offering sexual health education, under the tutelage of Bianca Laureano, co-founder of the Women of Color Sexual Health Network. “Bianca was instrumental to how I formed my understanding of the sex education process, as one that is non-heteronormative and non-judgmental,” Emma explained. “It was kind of the wild west back then. No one was reviewing my curriculum or supervising me, so I got to create my own structure and curriculum for the classes I taught.”
Laureano’s friendship and professional mentorship served Kupferman well, as she now offers clinical social work to SMYAL, one of DC’s most effective LGBT youth service organizations. Emma said, “Queer young people are really my heart of hearts.” She loves supporting youth in their personal growth, particularly around sexuality. “I love it when a young person gains some agency from the information they get through sex ed.”
In 2016, Emma connected with Tamara Pincus, a sex therapist working in DC, and began to train for her latest challenge: opening a private practice. Kupferman said she had been incubating the idea for a while, but Tamara’s guidance and support was integral to Emma gaining the skills and confidence she needed to move forward. When Kupferman was laid off from her day job, she felt like the universe was pushing her to take this next step.
Emma likes private practice because it is a space where she can help people actualize elements of their sexuality and feel whole. Her clients explore past trauma, including shame around their bodies and sexual identities. Many clients have been told that something was “wrong with them,” be it their weight, their interest in BDSM, or their relationship style and want a therapist who can help them work through those feelings. Many have been in therapy before, but have never had the opportunity or comfort to talk about their sex lives. Others simply want to talk about anxiety issues or stress at work but want a therapist who won’t bat an eye when they mention being polyamorous or kinky.
Regardless of what comes up in session, Emma is an exceptional therapist and excited to help her clients find comfort and satisfaction in their own lives. She is now scheduling appointments through Freed Bodyworks for Saturdays, and you can book her by clicking here.
