Hello and welcome! My name is Dr. Michelle Johnson, OTD, MSW, LISW, but please call me Michelle (she/her/hers), and I am the owner and creator of Empowered You: Sex Therapy of Ohio.

I first knew I wanted to be a Sex Therapist in high school when I discovered some of the pioneers of the field- Freud, Alfred Kinsey, and Masters and Johnson. Their work ignited my initial passion for all things sexuality and started me on this journey.

I graduated from Kent State University with my Bachelor of Art in Psychology, backpacked through Europe, and then pursued my Master of Social Work program at Youngstown State University with the goal of becoming a Sex Therapist. During this time, I discovered a passion for Neurology while working on a Traumatic Brain Injury/Stroke floor of a Rehabilitation Hospital. Witnessing the profound impact of injury on physical and mental health inspired me to pursue a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy, combining physical and mental health into a holistic approach to healing through sex therapy.

After 11 really long years of college (but who’s counting?!), I graduated as Dr. Michelle Johnson, OTD, MSW, LISW, and was accepted into a Sex Therapy Certification Program. Over the last decade, I have conducted research within the areas of masturbation, feminist theory, sex and positioning after an injury or physical disability, and the education of other healthcare providers on how and why we should all be discussing sexuality with our patients.

It is my concrete belief that it is a human right to have access to safe and comprehensive sex education. I utilize a strengths-based approach to help patients explore and embrace their unique sexuality, heal from barriers, and most importantly, to build the healthy and happy sex life we all deserve.

When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my two hound dogs, eating Indian food, tending to my 30+ plant collection, exercising, and seeing the world one country at a time.

Enough about me-Let’s talk about sex!