Join us for a Sexceptional weekend on “Ethics, Ethical Dilemmas, Decision Making, and Countertransference” that is carefully curated by leading experts in the field!

Whether you're a seasoned professional or a student entering the field, this educational weekend offers the opportunity to enhance your understanding of the ethical dimensions inherent in sexual health practices.

This comprehensive experience will undoubtedly contribute to your professional growth and expertise in the ever-evolving landscape of sexual health.

Unlike theoretical guidelines, this training focuses on providing participants with practical tools to enhance their ethical decision-making abilities.

This workshop:

• Prepares individuals to adeptly handle complaints against their clinical license, offering insights into the multi-layered process involved.

• Involves discussions around the dynamic political and legal environment in the United States concerning sexual health, highlighting its potential impact on clinical activities and the increased exposure to complaints or litigation.

• Explore the critical role of ethical practices in healthcare as a strategic approach to protect minorities.

• Will focus on practical, pragmatic, actionable skills to use, as opposed to theoretical guidelines. 
  

We’ll cover questions including but not limited to:

What steps do I need to take if a potential client or current client sends inappropriate texts?

What step should I take if a current supervisor sends nude photos or erotic stories or texts to me?

How do I engage in sexual activities with other professionals? When is it not ok?

Can I be a sex worker and a licensed therapist?

What should I do if I know a colleague is displaying symptoms of an untreated disorder like a mood disorder or dementia and it could be impacting clients?

How do I handle a malicious complaint?

What can I do if I’m being harassed or bullied by someone who inhabits a position of power?

Speaker Presentations:

Dr. David Ley: Introduction to Ethical Decision Making Processes and Sex Therapy Specific Ethics

Kelvin Pace: Wait! Did We Fuck?: Navigating Clinical Ethics as a Nonmonogamous Clinician Working with Nonmonogamous and Kinky Sexual Communities

Dr. David Ley: There go I - Lessons from the Ethical Missteps of Other Therapists

Jen Meyer: Frenemies, Friends & Lovers: How to Navigate Personal Relationships Within the Professional Space

Renee LaVail: ”Do No Harm": Performing Psychosexual Assessments & Working With Youth

Dr. David Ley: Responding to And Dealing With License Complaints, Ethics Complaints, Malpractice Suits

Melinda Porter: Ethics Role-Play: Shades of Grey?

Heather McPherson: Ethics in Supervision, Group Practices and Educational Activities

Dr. David Ley: Ethics and Social Media and Modern World on Fire: Sex Therapy Specific Ethics

Interviews with our presenters

Meet Your Presenters:

DAVID LEY, PH.D. CST-S

David Ley is a clinical psychologist in practice in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Ole Miss, and his Master's and Doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from the University of New Mexico. Dr. Ley is licensed in New Mexico and North Carolina, and has provided clinical and consultative services in numerous other states. He is the Executive Director of New Mexico Solutions, a large outpatient mental health and substance abuse program in Albuquerque, NM. Dr. Ley also serves on the advisory board for the Sexual Health Alliance.

Dr. Ley has been treating sexuality issues throughout his career. He first began treating perpetrators and victims of sexual abuse, but expanded his approach to include the fostering and promotion of healthy sexuality, and awareness of the wide range of normative sexual behaviors. Insatiable Wives is his first book and won a Silver Medal in the Foreword Magazine Book of the Year contest for 2009. Dr. Ley wrote Insatiable Wives following two years of interviews with couples around the country. His controversial second book, The Myth of Sex Addiction was released in March 2012, challenging the concept of sexual addiction and exploring a different model of male sexuality. The Myth of Sex Addiction triggered a firestorm of debate, allowing people to finally challenge the media hype of this pseudo-disorder. His new book Ethical Porn for Dicks, A Man's Guide to Responsible Viewing Pleasureis due out in Summer/Fall 2016. Dr. Ley may be contacted via email through the Psychology Today website.

KELVIN PACE, MS, LPC-S, CST-S

Kelvin graduated with a master’s in clinical psychology from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2009. He has been a LPC supervisor for two years and he has been an AASECT certified therapist for 3 years. 

Kelvin is the owner of KpaceCounseling, LLC where he serves clients in private practice. He does contract work with Full Spectrum Health as a behavioral health clinician where he works with an integrated care team delivering evidenced based care to persons of the LGBTQ+ community. Kelvin has worked for a local non-profit delivering mental health services to children and young adults that have suffered from complex trauma. With a firm foundation in trauma, he delivers trauma informed sex positive therapy to his clients. Kelvin provides services to couples and individuals dealing with sexual or relationship issues that include low desire, anxiety surrounding sex, and infidelity. His current focus is on mindfulness based interventions to manage sexual concerns and he works with persons that are either in or looking to explore non-traditional relationship orientations that fall under the umbrella of consensual/ethical non-monogamy. 

JEN MEYER, LPC, LMFT, CST-S

Jen Meyer is the owner and founder of Jen Meyer Therapy, LLC, a private therapy practice in the Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. As a highly sought-after sex therapist who works with a wide variety of concerns related to sex, intimacy and relationships, Jen strives to provide every client with effective therapy treatment in an affirming and compassionate environment that gives them the greatest opportunity to travel the path towards their best self.. As a highly-motivated professional dedicated to perfecting her craft, Jen travels frequently to obtain training on the latest therapy tools and trends from the best and most well-known minds in the sex therapy world. She is also active within and has been asked to present to various profession organizations both locally and nationally that help maintain her integrated network of healthcare professionals for her clients benefit, including the following: Sexual Health Alliance (SHA), American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT),  Denver Sexual Medical Alliance (DSMA) and Colorado Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (COAMFT). Jen has also pursued a number of professional certifications along the way, including her CST, LMFT and LPC. She obtained a Masters of Art (MA) in Counseling from Oakland University, a fully accredited program by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), and has completed a one-year program Sexual Health Certificate Program. Jen takes pride in being surrounded by some of the best sexologists and healthcare professionals in her field, many of whom continue to be dear friends, along with many others who continue to inspire her and make her a better person and therapist.

Renée LaVail, LMFT, CST, ACS

Renée (she/her) is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist & Approved Clinical Supervisor. Working as a psychotherapist for 14 years, Renée began her professional career focusing on family therapy. In 2011, her focus shifted to include sexual health. Renée is passionate about providing a safe and supportive clinical space for the community to address and discuss all areas of sex, sexual health, and relationship diversity. Renée has been a clinical supervisor since 2011 and founded the Clinical Supervisor Academy with colleague Dr. Leandrea Romero, with the support of the Southwest Family Guidance Center & Institute. Renee worked with Southwest Family for 13 years, ending her tenure as its Clinical Director in 2021 to expand her organization. She is a doctoral candidate in Behavioral Health Leadership & is the founding director of Albuquerque Sex Therapy and its guiding organization, the Clinical Assessment Group. 

Melinda Porter, MA, LPC-S, CST, CCTP

Melinda Porter, MA, LPC-S, CST, CCTP is a therapist in Carrollton, Texas and is also a licensed LPC in Colorado.  Melinda began her career in education, obtaining a Bachelor Education with an Early Childhood Endorsement degree. She then went on to obtain a Master of Professional Counseling degree from Texas Wesleyan University. While her teaching career was fruitful and encompassed 13 years, she decided to venture into counseling – an endeavor that would allow her to work with individuals and their families as a unit. She opened MCP Counseling in 2014 and has been providing care for clients in all communities since that time. 

As a Certified Sex Therapist (CST) with the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) and with the Sexual Health Alliance as well as Certified Non-Monogamy Therapist with the Sexual Health Alliance, Melinda provides services to couples and individuals with diverse sexuality concerns, including – but not limited to – loss of desire, discrepancies in desire between couples, erection or ejaculation difficulties, fetishism, issues of gender identity, issues pertaining to sexual identity and sexual orientation, challenges around orgasm, Genitopelvic Pain / Penetration Disorder, sexuality and chronic illness, sexuality and physical ability, polyamory, and sexual trauma.  

Melinda is also a trained EMDR therapist. She uses EMDR to help clients move through trauma and places they feel stuck and teaches skills to stabilize and process from a secure place. Melinda is invested in helping clients move at their own pace and is committed to being supportive and present with clients in sessions. Melinda is also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP). 

Melinda has also worked in the queer community since 2012, working with children, teens, individuals, couples, and families to process sexuality and gender questions and/or transitioning. She provides safe space and education on the journey to congruency. Her goal to help her clients find self-understanding and skills to be present in the moment. 

HEATHER MCPHERSON, MA, LPC-S, LMFT-S, 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.

WANT TO BECOME SHA CERTIFIED?:

Want to stop paying for conferences one by one, unlock forever perks and gain hours towards AASECT Certification too? This program can also be registered for and included as part of SHA’s full Sexuality Educator/Counselor/Sex Therapy Certification & Sexuality Consultant Program. Apply HERE to become SHA Certified and to gain all the CEs you need to apply towards AASECT Certification. Take your sexuality education even further and become sexceptional.

NEED A SCHOLARSHIP FOR THIS WEEKEND CONFERENCE?

In collaboration with the BIPOC Collective, SHA donates two full weekend scholarship spots to every conference for BIPOC-identifying individuals.

*The BIPOC Collective's mission is to support the diverse community of BIPOC adult performers and sex-workers within the adult industry through mutual aid and advocacy with dignity and respect.

STUDENT DISCOUNTS

Are you a current college or graduate student? Email shacertifications@gmail.com with a copy of your student ID and current or next term’s course schedule to get this conference at student rate.

*Please note, this discount does not include CEs.