SHA TEAM
CEO/FOUNDER: Heather Mcpherson, Ma, LPC-s, lmft-S, CST, AASECT CST-S
Heather McPherson is the CEO and Founder of the Sexual Health Alliance, a premier education and certification provider for sexuality professionals. Heather also founded Respark, a national brand that encompasses a group therapy practice, Respark Foundation Nonprofit, and ReSpark Retreats. Respark Therapy & Associates (respark.co) is a group practice that serves Colorado, Washington and Texas specializing in sexuality and relationships. She is published in Playboy Magazine as well as Playboy Online, and has been featured on CNN, HuffPost, Rolling Stones, SheKnows, Quartz, Bravo, the Body, the Sun, Sex and Psychology with Dr. Justin Lehmiller, Psychology Today with Dr. David Ley, Parent Harald, and more. Heather McPherson has lectured at prestigious universities including University of Texas at Austin, Texas State University, University of Utah, University of Colorado Denver and Governors State University in Chicago. She is an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist Supervisor, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Supervisor (LMFT-S) and a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S). She also is the Texas Section Leader for AASECT (American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors & Therapists). She has appeared on several podcasts including Loveline with Dr. Chris Donaghue as well as Sex with Dr. Jess. Heather helps clients gain confidence, rebuild trust, increase playfulness, and find passion and meaning in their erotic lives. Heather graduated with honors from Texas State University with a MA in Marriage, Couple and Family Therapy; a CACREP Accredited Program.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HEATHER
Director of Program Management:
Jennifer Rahner, CSE
Jennifer Rahner is a SHA graduate and Certified Sexuality Educator who leads by example with vulnerability, unafraid to expose herself completely. She is passionate about helping people experience more pleasure in their lives - sexual and otherwise - and is a Certified Bodysex Faciliator and a Certified Urban Tantra Professional. A lifelong learner, she graduated summa cum laude from Saint Joseph’s University with a BA in Organization Development. In addition to working behind the scenes improving SHA programs and processes, she runs a solo practice at jenniferrahner.com and also teaches with her nesting partner, Sean. Proudly polyamorous, she also shares her life with another partner, Bill. You may have seen her quoted in Cosmopolitan, the Toronto Sun, the Dame blog, Kinkly.com, Sheknows.com and more.
LGBTQIA+ Curriculum Coordinator:
Ley David Elliette Cray, PhD (she/they)
Ley David Elliette Cray, PhD (she/they) is LGBTQIA+ Curriculum Coordinator for the Sexual Health Alliance, as well as a SHA-certified sexuality counselor. Additionally, she is a certified philosophical consultant, therapeutic game master, mindfulness coach, and trauma-informed yoga instructor. Formerly a tenured professor of Philosophy and affiliate of Asian Studies, Contemplative Studies, and Women & Gender Studies at Texas Christian University, Ley maintains an internationally recognized scholarly profile, with work published in journals such as British Journal of Aesthetics, Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, and Journal of the American Philosophical Association and expert interviews in publications including Care.com, Healthline, Mindbodygreen, and Yoga Digest. Outside of her work at SHA, Ley serves as a column editor for queerview, published through Anomalous Press and focused on queer representation in media; offers yoga practices at Downtown Desert Yoga in Las Cruces, New Mexico; and provides affirming, adaptable, and inclusive gender, sexuality, relationship, and identity coaching and consulting sessions through Transentience Coaching (http://www.transentiencecoaching.com). Ley is currently based out of Las Cruces, New Mexico, where she watches a lot of horror movies with her cats.
Marketing and Social Media Coordinator
Minty Holmes (she/her, they/them)
Minty Holmes is the Marketing and Social Media Coordinator at the Sexual Heath Alliance and has been with the company since 2022. A graduate of the Columbus College of Art & Design class of 2017, her passions include digital art and design, writing, communication, and connecting with others via tech. Her favorite part of working at SHA is connecting with progressive people in an open and accepting environment. In her free time Minty can be found playing video games, taking photos, and snuggling up with her fiance and dog.
SHA Leaders
SHA Leader:
NICOLETTA HEIDEGGER, lMFT
As a published author, Nicoletta Heidegger, has contributed to columns, podcasts and blogs about sex and sexuality including the Stanford Daily, Sex Talks with my Mom, The Positive Results Corporation, Playboy Radio, Swingtowns, and Wine with Dr. Wendy Walsh. When she is not seeing clients, Nicoletta delivers information focused on the latest sex facts, education, and research via her podcast Sluts and Scholars, and her short and long form videos, “Staying On Top” on Instagram and YouTube. Nicoletta also serves on the board for the Compton Jr. Posse, a group that keeps troubled youth on horses and off the streets.
Nicoletta is a registered Marriage and Family Therapy Intern (#88163) practicing in Los Angeles. She works in Private Practice and sees clients at the non-profit Center for Individual and Family Counseling in North Hollywood. Nicoletta received her BA in Psychology from Stanford University and her MA in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. Nicoletta is currently pursuing her Masters of Education in Human Sexuality from Widener University.
LEARN MORE ABOUT NICOLETTA
SHA LEADER:
tameca Dove
Tameca Dove is a Sex Therapist and LMFT. Her passion is working with trauma survivors to help them heal and break the trans-generational cycles in their lives. She enjoys working with Bipoc, queer, and neuro-divergent individuals. Her specialties are sex therapy, racial trauma, identity (sexual, personal, and cultural), relationships and life transitions. She wants to help you improve your intimacy, communicate more effectively, become more vulnerable, gain a better understanding of who you are, let go of fear, decrease your anxiety, and embrace your strength and power. She has worked in the field of psychology the majority of her adult life and has experience working with diverse populations, families, children, & adults. She received her training from the LGBT Center in Hollywood California. She was trained & supervised to specialize in & work with transgender individuals by Elise Turen. She also completed training as a mediator from Loyola Law School. She enjoys traveling,learning about new cultures, trying new restaurants,going to museums,live music, and nature.
SHA LEader:
Stefani Threadgill
Stefani Threadgill is a sex therapist, couples therapist, and dating and relationship coach specializing in the sexual concerns and relationship issues of couples and individuals. Stefani is the owner and founder of Stefani Threadgill, PLLC and The Sex Therapy Institute.
SHA Leader:
Dylan Davies
Dylan Davies served as the Co-Founder of the Southwest Sexual Health Alliance from 2015-2016. We are forever thankful for her services and contributions to this organization and hope she one day returns! She is now busy graduating, setting up her practice and obtaining hours for licensure.