About
Meet Sam
(they/them)
Practice Director, Principal Sexologist,
& Specialist Social Worker
Sam is the founder of Queer Pleasure Collective — a space created to support queer and fat folks in exploring pleasure, identity, and connection without shame. As a pleasure and connection specialist, Sam provides radically-inclusive support to help people feel at home in their bodies, reconnect with joy, and live their fullest, most authentic lives. Their approach is gentle, trauma-informed, and grounded in intersectional, pleasure-centred care.
Education
Master of Science in Medicine (Sexual & Reproductive Health)
The University of Sydney
Bachelor of Social Work (Honours, Mental Health)
The University of Queensland
Background
Sam brings nearly ten years of experience supporting people across mental health, reproductive health, and trauma-informed care. Drawing on their training in Sexology and Social Work, they founded Queer Pleasure Collective to create a radically inclusive space where therapy, education, and community intersect.
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Their career includes specialist roles in palliative care and oncology, perinatal mental health, maternity care, chronic and complex health (including pelvic pain), suicide prevention, housing and homelessness, and clinical education. Sam has led statewide health education programs, contributed to national research and policy development, and provided clinical and peer supervision to emerging practitioners. They have also delivered LGBTQIA+ inclusivity training, developed digital mental health models of care, and co-facilitated community events — always with a focus on dignity, access, and equity.
This diverse background underpins Sam’s commitment to challenging systemic barriers and creating spaces where queer and fat communities can explore connection, pleasure, and self-determination on their own terms.
Approach
At the heart of Sam’s practice is a belief in the transformative power of pleasure, connection, and self-determination. They work through trauma-informed, person-centred, and intersectional frameworks which recognise the complexities of identity, lived experience, and the ways systemic oppression can impact sexual wellbeing, body image, and relationships. Sam’s goal is to co-create spaces where clients feel safe, empowered, and supported to explore, learn, and heal on their own terms.
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Sam takes an eclectic approach to therapy, drawing on a range of evidence-informed modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Narrative Therapy, Schema Therapy, Somatic Therapy, and Attachment Theory. This flexibility allows them to tailor support to each client’s unique needs, helping individuals navigate challenges, build resilience, and cultivate more fulfilling connections.
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Affirming and inclusive care is central to Sam’s work. Beyond supporting individual clients, they are committed to dismantling barriers that have historically excluded marginalised communities from accessing care. In every session, Sam strives to create environments which honour each person’s experiences whilst also advocating for broader societal change.
Specialisation
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Sexual pain (vaginismus, vulvodynia, dyspareunia)
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Low sexual desire, arousal, or satisfaction
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Mismatched desire and other relationship dynamics
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Sexual shame, trauma, or fear around sex and intimacy
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Exploring kinks, fetishes, and sexual preferences
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Difficulties with orgasm and pleasure
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Exploring sexuality and gender identity
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Reconnecting with your body and navigating body image concerns
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Healing from fatphobia and creating space for pleasure in larger bodies
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Building confidence in sexual communication and connection
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Navigating intimacy during life transitions (perinatal, chronic illness, aging)
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General mental health counselling in an LGBTQIA+ and size-inclusive space
Personal
When they're not in session, you’ll usually find Sam hanging out with their rescue cat (Ziggy), tending to their ever-growing plant collection, sipping an oat cappuccino, getting lost in a podcast, or exploring Melbourne’s arts and theatre scene.
