Meet Dr. Berkeley Antonioli
Sexologist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Delaware and Maryland
I’m Berkeley Antonioli, PhD, LCSW-C, MEd (she/her). I’m a Sexologist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Delaware and Maryland, and the founder of Embracing Wellness Counseling.
I work with individuals, couples and groups to meet their unique goals around relational distress, sexuality concerns, healing trauma, and navigating high stress, high performance professions. I am affirming of clients in the LGBTQIA+, kink, and non-monogamous communities and am committed to anti-racist practices.
Hi, I’m so glad you’re here.
Clients describe me as non-judgmental, emotional intelligence-based, and a good listener and translator of their experiences. I’ve been told I do just the right amount of education as we go, as I use the experiences shared to illustrate the protective, adaptive function of our automatic reactions, in real time. I believe understanding the neurobiology of why we react in the ways we do is paramount in building the self-compassion necessary to move beyond shame into action. I consider myself a relational therapist, meaning, I will call attention to dynamics and emotions revealed through our working relationship for exploration and curiosity, as the treatment alliance can be seen as a microcosm of the relational concerns clients are met with outside of therapy. I further believe we all have an inborn multiplicity of self, and the complex parts of our inner worlds can be in gridlocked conflict, resulting in shame, depression, anxiety and self-doubt. I will suggest and integrate working directly with conflicting, polarized parts of the self as part of treatment, when clients are willing to do so. You can read more about my eclectic approach to treatment on the approach page.
In addition to working directly with clients, I enjoy contributing to best practices and ethical training opportunities for fellow clinicians working with vulnerable populations. To learn more about these offerings, please visit my services page.
Experience
For the past decade, I’ve worked primarily with individuals, couples and groups in my outpatient psychotherapy practice. Before moving into full-time private practice, I saw clients primarily through a DE non-profit agency dedicated to serving survivors of sexual trauma and their non-offending partners and family members. I’ve held various positions within this agency during my time there, including Program Coordinator, Clinical Supervisor, Director of Prison Projects, Resident Sexologist, Outpatient Clinician and Trauma Institute Planning Committee Member and Speaker. I’m grateful for this myriad of early career experiences, which has allowed me to develop and hold a nuanced understanding of the complex needs and challenges within the modern mental health system and larger sociocultural backdrop.
Education & Training
I feel fortunate to be able to integrate all five of my higher education degrees into the work I do currently. I earned bachelor’s degrees in Psychology (2009) and Gender Studies (2011) from Salisbury University. I went on to complete a dual degree master’s program at Widener University, earning an MSW and an MEd in human sexuality education in 2015. I completed my PhD in clinical sexology at Widener in 2019, where my dissertation research focused on exploring the qualitative experiences of erotic transference in adult survivors of early sexual trauma, as they worked with their therapists. At the start of my clinical career, I had the opportunity to train under a seasoned Gestalt parts-work and trauma therapist for 5 years, honing foundational knowledge and skills that I continue to build upon. I regularly consult with trusted colleagues in the field, and engage in on-going continuing education to stay up-to-date with best practices.
Outside of the Office
When not engaged in clinical work and professional development, I can be found bonding with my child and partner, enjoying nature, and engaged in joyful movement. I love hiking, birding, gardening and playing outside, and often have an eclectic mix of music playing in the background. I consider myself an intermediate level “hooper” (someone who engages in hula hoop dance and movement), and I’m not afraid to get smacked in the face when practicing new moves outside! People from all walks of life seem to be drawn to connecting with me, and I credit my past life as a cocktail waitress and bartender with granting me the abilities to engage meaningfully and comfortably with just about anyone. I’m just a regular person, like anyone else, who has been fortunate to find this work that allows me to continue to heal myself, and help guide others to do the same.
