The Advanced Practitioner Summit Imago, EMDR, Trauma Healing & Applied Sexology

100% Online Conference!

Step into The Advanced Practitioner Summit: Imago, EMDR, Trauma Healing & Applied Sexology—a dynamic, two-day professional training designed for sexual health professionals who want to work at the leading edge of relational and sexual wellbeing.

Happening February 21–22, this training brings together Dr. Joe Kort and a roster of expert educators for an immersive deep dive into the therapeutic models shaping today’s most effective clinical practice. This is where advanced theory meets real-world application.

This training shows you how to integrate Imago Relationship Therapy, EMDR principles, and modern trauma-healing frameworks to transform conflict, process sexual and relational wounds, and strengthen clients’ emotional regulation and sense of safety. By weaving applied sexology with trauma-informed care, you’ll gain practical tools to address desire differences, arousal challenges, relational ruptures, compulsive patterns, and a wide range of sexual expressions.

Over these two days you will dive into:

• Principles of Imago Relationship Therapy—including mirroring, validation, and empathic dialogue—and describe how these methods support relational attunement and conflict transformation in clinical practice.

• How to apply Imago techniques to assess relationship dynamics and guide couples through structured communication processes that enhance connection, reduce reactivity, and strengthen secure attachment.

• The foundational principles of EMDR, including bilateral stimulation and adaptive information processing, and explain how these mechanisms support the resolution of sexual shame, attachment injuries, and trauma-related triggers.

• How to apply EMDR-informed strategies to help clients reduce distress related to performance anxiety, relational trauma, and psychosexual concerns, integrating these techniques into a broader trauma-informed therapeutic approach.

Use this world clock to find the corresponding time in your time zone!

SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, feb 21st

START TIME: 10:00AM - 6:00pm cst

SUNDAY, feb 22nd

START TIME: 10:00AM - 6:00pm cst

PRESENTERS

More presenters coming soon!

Dr. Joe Kort, PhD, LMSW

Talk Title 1: Advanced Imago Theory: Deepening Relational Insight and Intervention

Talk Title 2: How Trauma Lives in Relationships—and How Healing Happens

Psychotherapist Joe Kort, PhD, LMSW, is the clinical director and founder of The Center for Relationship and Sexual Health in Royal Oak, Michigan. He is a board-certified clinical sexologist, author of four books, lecturer and facilitator of therapeutic workshops. Throughout his 36 years of private practice, he successfully has utilized varying therapy modalities to help hundreds of individuals and couples improve their lives and strengthen their relationships.

Dr. Kort specializes in marital problems and conflicts; mixed orientation marriages; male sexuality and sexual health concerns; “sex addiction,” out-of-control sexual behaviors; sexual identity issues; childhood sexual abuse; LGBTQIA Affirmative Therapy; and Imago Relationship Therapy.

He is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), a safe and effective treatment that can help patients who have suffered for years from anxiety, distressing memories, nightmares, insomnia, abuse or other traumatic events.

Dr. Kort obtained his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, with a dual major in psychology and social work. He earned master’s degrees in social work and psychology from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and a doctorate (PhD) in Clinical Sexology from the American Academy of Clinical Sexologists.

Amanda Jepson, LPC, CST, ACS, ABS

Talk Title: EMDR for Sexual Trauma: Evidence-Based Strategies for Healing

Amanda Jepson (she/her) is a total sex nerd, both personally and professionally. She is one of the co-founders of Respark Foundation, a Clinical Therapist at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience, and an adjunct lecturer for the University of Colorado-Denver. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Approved Clinical Supervisor, SHA and AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist, Amanda has been a therapist for over a decade; she specializes in working with active duty and veteran military service members and first responders on issues such as combat trauma, physical or sexual abuse, sexual assault, and vicarious trauma. Additionally, her specialized training means she is skilled in helping clients navigate issues and interests related to sex, sexuality, consensual nonmonogamy, and kink from an intersectional and inclusive lens. Amanda has been previously featured on the Sex & Psychology Podcast as well as on Midori’s Consent Dojo and Patreon. She is passionate about empowering her clients as they reclaim their whole selves, providing consultation to both seasoned and new providers, and being a sex-positive provocateur hoping to instigate thoughtful dialogue and dispel shame related to all things kinky and sexy.

Juliane Maxwald, LP, CST

Juliane Maxwald is a licensed Psychoanalyst (LP) and an AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist (CST). She specializes in relationship, intimacy, and career-related concerns.

She has over 20 years of experience, with extensive training in individual psychotherapy and coaching, addiction treatment, trauma-informed work, couples therapy, and sex therapy.

Juliane has served on the faculty at The NY Graduate School of Psychoanalysis, The Center for Modern Psychoanalysis, and the Sex Therapy Program at The Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy, where she has taught courses, facilitated workshops, and supervised therapists in training.

Erin Musick, M.C.,R. Psych, CST, RYT

Erin Musick is a Registered Psychologist, AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist, and 200-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher. She is one of the owners of Lethbridge Counselling Services and has worked in the counselling field since 2006. Erin holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology and a Master of Counselling degree in Counselling Psychology. She completed her sex therapy training with the Sexual Health Alliance in 2022.

Her areas of practice include sexuality and related concerns (sexual difficulties, sexual shame, desire and arousal struggles, impacts of trauma, sexual dysfunction, and out-of-control sexual behavior), trauma and attachment concerns, health and chronic illness/pain, binge eating and disordered eating, body image, depression, anxiety, panic, OCD, adult ADHD, life transitions, and fears and phobias. Erin is kink-aware and affirming, and works openly with polyamorous, CNM, and LGBTQIA2S+ clients.

Erin is a Certified EMDR Therapist and Consultant with EMDRIA and has been using EMDR in her practice for over 20 years. Her work is also informed by somatic approaches, polyvagal theory, DBT, systems approaches, and ACT. She takes a highly person-centered and strengths-based approach to therapy.

WANT TO BECOME SHA CERTIFIED?

Imagine completing your Certification in Sexology (and including your AASECT application) in a fraction of the time—saving hundreds of hours—while gaining every CE you need, all in one place. When you become SHA Certified, you’re not just checking boxes; you’re joining a global community of sex educators, counselors, coaches, and therapists who are shaping the future of sexual health.

Instead of piecing together conferences one by one and hoping they align with International standards or the (US AASECT requirements), you can enroll in SHA’s Sexuality Educator / Counselor / Coach / Sexology / Sex Therapy Certification Program, where every training is intentionally curated, tracked, and streamlined to support your AASECT path. No guesswork. No overwhelm. Just a clear, supported journey from start to finish.

As an SHA Certified professional, you’ll gain:

• Access to a thriving global community of practitioners and leaders

• Expert faculty, mentorship, and guidance every step of the way

• Exclusive SHA trainings, tools, and support you won’t find anywhere else

• A complete, organized portfolio for international associations (including AASECT-aligned hours)

If you’re ready to take your sexual health education further—and become truly sexceptional—apply to become SHA Certified today. Your future clients (and your future self) will thank you. Apply HERE.