Sexual Health Alliance Faculty
Midori
Known as the “supernova of kink” according to Dan Savage, Midori emerged from the Sex Positive movement in San Francisco in the early 1990s and soon became one of the most highly regarded presenters on sexuality, personal fulfillment, and kinky adventures. Her reputation as an authority and leading expert on alternative pleasures stem not only from her unique and entertaining process of teaching concrete skills, but in her ability to deconstruct and distill complex matters of desire into surprisingly accessible lessons with eloquence and humanity. She’s known for tackling challenging topics with fresh and relevant insights. She calls this her “head-heart-hands” method to create a space where people are allowed individual self-exploration. Fundamentally, she is motivated by helping people to create authentic and intimate relationships while emphasizing self-actualization, shame reduction, acceptance, and justice. Known for her ability to teach with equal parts expertise and heart, her intensives and pop-up classes are often booked months in advance. She is best known for her transformative small-group educational intensives, Rope Dojo and ForteFemme: Women’s Dominance Weekend Intensive. She is the author of The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage, Wild Side Sex, and Master Han’s Daughter. She has also contributed her expertise and voice in numerous articles, columns, works of fiction, and instructional books. When she’s not traveling and teaching, she’s creating provocative and haunting art and performances. For more information about Midori, visit her official website at https://www.fhp-inc.com.
CHRIS DONAGHUE, PHD, CST
Dr. Chris Donaghue is an international lecturer, therapist, and educator. Dr Donaghue is the Director of Clinical Education for The Sexual Health Alliance (SHA), host of the LoveLine podcast, weekly expert on “The Amber Rose Show”, and frequent co host on “The Doctors” tv show. He previously hosted WE tv’s “Sex Box”and Logo tv’s “Bad Sex”. He is published in various professional journals and top magazines, and has been featured on The Today Show, VICE, CNN, HLN, OWN, Nightline, Dr Drew and in Newsweek, New York Times, Daily Beast, Mens Health, Cosmo, and National Geographic. Author of the book, “Sex Outside the Lines: Authentic Sexuality in a Sexually Dysfunctional Culture”. Dr. Donaghue has lectured at prestigious Universities including USC, UCLA, and Princeton as well as being the keynote at various professional conferences such as Chicago Ideas Week, American Association for Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT), and The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS). Dr. Chris Donaghue is a Doctor of Clinical Sexology and Human Sexuality, Doctoral trained in Clinical Psychology, Licensed Clinical Therapist, a Certified Sex Therapist and a Certified Sexologist. Dr. Donaghue practices general psychology and specializes in individual and couples sex, relational, and marital therapy. His work also includes sexual compulsivity, sexual anorexia, sexual dysfunctions, and non-traditional sexuality, identities, and relationships. His work is also with diverse individuals, including all gender expressions, sexual orientations, and Kink/BDSM/Poly issues. His office is located in Los Angeles.
DAVID LEY, PHD CST, CST-S
Dr. David J. Ley is an internationally-recognized expert on issues related to sexuality, pornography and mental health. He has appeared on television with Anderson Cooper, Katie Couric, Dr. Phil and others. He has been interviewed in publications ranging from the LA Times and the London Telegraph, to Playboy and Hustler magazines. Dr. Ley has published extensively in both the academic and “pop” realms of literature. His latest book, His new book Ethical Porn for Dicks, A Man's Guide to Responsible Viewing Pleasure has endorsements from Dan Savage and Pornhub.com and is a humorous and provocative handbook for men who want to think more comprehensively about porn. The Myth of Sex Addiction (2012) and Insatiable Wives (2009) were revolutionary explorations of sexual issues which blended a powerful client-centered narrative with a rich understanding of psychology, biology and sociology. At the same time, he is Executive Director of a large behavioral health and substance abuse outpatient program, and consults across the country on both mental health and sexuality-related issues. As a result, Dr. Ley is able to bring a broad, practical approach to help mental health clinicians effectively address sexuality-related issues.
Dr. Elisabeth Sheff
The foremost academic expert on polyamorous families with children. With a PhD in Sociology, Dr. Sheff specializes in gender and sexual minority families, consensual non-monogamy, and kink/BDSM. Sheff’s first book, The Polyamorists Next Door (2014 hardback and ebook, 2015 paperback and audiobook), details the findings of the first 15 years of her research on polyamorous families with children. Her second book, Stories from the Polycule (2015), is an edited anthology of writings by polyamorous folks. When Someone You Love is Polyamorous (2016) is Sheff’s shortest book that guides family members and significant others who are trying to understand a polyamorous loved one.
Kelvin Pace, MS, LPC-S, CST
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.
Dr. Justin J. Lehmiller
Received his Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Purdue University. He is a Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute and author of the book Tell Me What You Want: The Science of Sexual Desire and How It Can Help You Improve Your Sex Life. Dr. Lehmiller is an award-winning educator, having been honored three times with the Certificate of Teaching Excellence from Harvard University, where he taught for several years. He is also a prolific researcher and scholar who has published more than 40 pieces of academic writing to date, including a textbook entitled The Psychology of Human Sexuality (now in its second edition) that is used in college classrooms around the world. Dr. Lehmiller’s research focuses on topics including casual sex, sexual fantasy, sexual health, and friends with benefits. His studies have appeared in all of the leading journals on human sexuality, including the Journal of Sex Research, Archives of Sexual Behavior, and The Journal of Sexual Medicine. Dr. Lehmiller has run the popular blog Sex and Psychology since 2011, and it now receives several million page views per year. He has been interviewed by numerous media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, CNN.com, The Atlantic, The Globe and Mail, and The Sunday Times.
Mitchell Tepper, Ph.D., MPH
Author of Regain That Feeling: Secrets to Sexual Self-Discovery, brings a lifetime of first-hand experience with chronic conditions and disability to his calling as a Sexologist. Dr. Tepper is an American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) Certified Sexuality Educator, AASECT Certified Sexuality Counselor, AASECT Certified Educator Supervisor, licensed PAIRS Instructor, sex coach, writer, researcher, public speaker, and self-proclaimed Prophet of Pleasure.
After breaking his neck in 1982 and a short career in business and finance, Dr. Tepper realigned his life with his mission to end the silence around sexuality and disability. Since then he has become an internationally recognized expert in the field and leading advocate for the provision of comprehensive sexual health care in rehabilitation programs, including rehab programs for wounded warriors and their partners. His academic credentials include a Master of Public Health from Yale University and a Ph.D. in Human Sexuality Education from the University of Pennsylvania where his research focused on pleasure and orgasm in people with SCI. He is currently working on a documentary, Making Love After Making War: Supporting Intimate Relationships for Wounded Warriors and Their Families. Dr. Tepper lives in Atlanta with his wife Cheryl and they have a son, Jeremy.
Charlie Glickman Ph.D.
Sex & relationship coach, a sexuality educator, a sexological bodyworker, and an internationally acclaimed speaker. He’s been working in this field for over 25 years, and some of his areas of focus include sex & shame, sex-positivity, queer issues, masculinity & gender, communities of erotic affiliation, and many sexual & relationship practices. Charlie is also the co-author of The Ultimate Guide to Prostate Pleasure: Erotic Exploration for Men and Their Partners. Find out more about him on his website or on Twitter and Facebook. For Charlie’s sex coaching services, visit Make Sex Easy.
Melissa Novak, LCSW, CST
A Licensed Clinical Social Worker and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist. Melissa received both her BA and MA in Social Work from the University of Missouri-Columbia. While attending, her studies centered on human sexuality and sex therapy. Melissa specializes in the treatment of sexual dysfunction, personality disorders, and anxiety-related disorders. In her private practice located in Chicago, IL. she works with individuals, couples, sex workers, and those practicing a kink or polyamory lifestyle. On top of all this, she is also an adjunct professor teaching Human Sexuality Across the Lifespan and CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) at the University of Chicago.
Lee Harrington
Internationally known spiritual and erotic authenticity educator, gender explorer, eclectic artist and award-winning author and editor on erotic and sacred experience. Lee has taught at several universities, sexuality conferences, and within alternate sexuality communities across the United States, and throughout the world. He has taught over 900 classes throughout his career on topics from effective speaking skills to erotic authenticity, rope bondage to safer magical sex, gender paradigms to dominant/submissive power exchange within culture at large.
Lee is the only author to win the Geoff Mains award for excellence in non-fiction sexuality writing not one but three times. In addition to his writing and teaching, Lee is the host of the Passion And Soul Podcast, which covers topics on the intersection of sacred sex, kink, and life exploration as a multifaceted soul.
Emily Nagoski, Ph.D.
Known for her incredible educational and informative books such as Come As You Are and Burnout: the secret to unlocking the stress cycle. Emily is a renowned author, sex educator, and researcher. She received her Ph.D. in Health Behavior with a concentration in human sexuality for Indiana University. After a career teaching human sexuality, relationships and communication, stress management, and sex education to both graduates and undergrads at her alma mater, she moved on to become the Director of Wellness Education at Smith College. Today Emily is a full time author and public speaker, spreading her message of living confidently and joyfully in the body we are in.
N. JASMINE JOHNSON, LCSW AKA JET SETTING JASMINE
N. Jasmine Johnson, MSW, MA, LCSW, is a licensed clinical therapist and owner of virtual mental health practice Blue Pearl Therapy LLC. She has a strong therapeutic emphasis on Intimacy Post Injury & Illness, Trauma, Drama and Kink, and Sex-Positive Parenting. Jasmine offers her expertise to train other therapists and professionals on the use of erotica in practice and also to create safe spaces for Sex Workers, Kinksters, and Alternative Lifestylers to engage in stigma and bias-free therapy.
Jasmine is the co-owner of Royal Fetish Films and Jet Setting Jasmine LLC where the love of the arts, film, and sex education are combined to produce content that stimulates and engages the audience to push their sexual boundaries. Jasmine shares more than 20 years of experience, with partner King Noire as Adult Entertainers, Educators, and Master Fetish Trainers. The duo are award-winning adult film stars and have dedicated their craft to creating a more inclusive and ethically sound adult entertainment industry.
Stephen Snyder, MD
Sex therapist, relationship therapist, and sexual medicine specialist — has dedicated his entire career to helping individuals and couples with sex and relationship concerns. Over 30+ years, he’s helped over 1,500 individuals and couples regain closeness and satisfaction in their relationships.
Dr. Snyder is Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City and the author of one of the most acclaimed sex and relationship books of our time, LOVE WORTH MAKING: How to Have Ridiculously Great Sex in a Long-Lasting Relationship (St Martin’s Press, 2018).
As an MD sex therapist, Dr. Snyder has a unique combination of skills that enables him to handle the most complex, difficult situations. He received his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco (M.D. 1983), trained in internal medicine at Mt Zion Medical Center in San Francisco (1983-84), then in psychiatry at the Payne Whitney Clinic, New York Hospital / Cornell University Medical Center (1984-87) and as a Fellow in Behavioral Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NYC (1987-89).
Dr. Snyder was Director of the Psychiatric Consultation Service at Mount Sinai Medical Center from 1990-2000. Since 2000, he has been in full-time private practice in Manhattan, specializing in sex and relationship concerns.
Dr. Snyder is an active member of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR); has been a presenter, workshop leader, and discussant at the Society’s national meetings; and has served on its Professional Book Award Committee and as Chairman of its Consumer Book Award committee.
He lives in New York City with his wife and children, and spends way too much time on Twitter @SexualityToday.
Peggy J. Kleinplatz, Ph.D.
Peggy J. Kleinplatz, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Director of Sex and Couples Therapy Training at the University of Ottawa.
She is a clinical psychologist, Board Certified in Sex Education, and a Diplomate and Supervisor of Sex Therapy. She was awarded the Prix d’Excellence in 2000 for her teaching of Human Sexuality. She is Director of the Optimal Sexual Experiences Research Team of the University of Ottawa and has a particular interest in sexual health in the elderly, disabled, and marginalized populations. Kleinplatz has edited four books, notably New Directions in Sex Therapy: Innovations and Alternatives, (Routledge, 2nd Edition), winner of the AASECT 2013 Book Award, Sadomasochism: Powerful Pleasures with Dr. Charles Moser (2006), and Sexuality and Aging (2015) with Dr. Walter Bouman. In 2015, Kleinplatz received the Professional Standard of Excellence Award from the American Association of Sexuality Editors, Counsellors, and Therapists. Her clinical work focuses on eroticism and transformation. Her research, writing, teaching, and clinical work have been intended to challenge, expand and diversify the field of sex therapy.
DR. MELODY BROWN, PHD, LMFT
Dr. Brown is a licensed marriage and family therapist with both her M.A. and PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her clinical training began nearly thirty years ago where her studies included a concentration on working with systems while addressing issues of power, privilege, and oppression. After completing her master’s degree, she began working in child welfare in long term foster care. While in this position, she witnessed the trauma children experienced both within their homes and at the point of being removed from their families. She collaborated to develop models for what is now called concurrent planning in foster care. She later became a foster care placement specialist. Prior to completing her doctorate, Dr. Brown held several positions at Denver Children’s Home, a treatment center for traumatized children and families. In her initial work as a residential therapist, she was trained by the Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) to work with sex offending youth. She also participated in training and case consultation with the Child Trauma Center where she learned to work with families using trauma informed treatment. She transitioned to work in community organizing as the Site Coordinator for the East Denver Collaborative of Family to Family. Through these experiences, she maintained her focus on highlighting the importance of understanding cultural norms and differences in marginalized communities.
She joined the counseling center at the University of Colorado Denver where she returned to clinical work, supervision and training in 2011. In 2019, she joined the Counseling Program at CU Denver specializing in couple and family therapy through a multicultural lens. She maintains a private practice offering consultation, clinical supervision, and individual, couple, and family therapy.
Dr. Brown is a clinical fellow of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. She presents and trains both locally and nationally on clinical supervision through a social justice lens and on the complexities of working with oppressed and marginalized communities.
Michael A. Vigorito, LMFT, CGP, CST
Michael Vigorito is an author, sex therapist, and mental health consultant. In his practice, he provides individual, couples, and group therapy. Over his career, he has specialized his training in co-occurring disorders (e.g., mental health and substance use disorders), domestic violence, mindfulness, and clients living with HIV.
In addition to being a practicing therapist, Michael, along with Douglas Braun-Harvey, has developed a sexual health assessment and treatment program, which can be found in the publication Treating Out of Control Sexual Behavior - Rethinking Sex Addiction.
Michael serves as a consultant for the Behavioral Health Systems Baltimore and the University of Maryland - Prevention Research Center. There he has designed and implemented several different programs that help aid in training surrounding conducting conversations around sex (health, risk-reduction, and LGBTQ+). All of these programs are taught to include the understanding of how these topics can differ throughout different cultures.
He also creates and speaks at various sexual and behavioral workshops. Michael discusses topics such as his out-of-control sexual behavior assessment and treatment, sexual and gender diversity, and integrating sexual health into psychotherapy.
Hernando Chavez
Dr. Hernando Chaves holds a B.A. in psychology from University of California Santa Barbara, a M.A. in marital and family therapy from University of San Diego, and a D.H.S. doctorate in human sexuality from the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing with working with sexual minorities (kink, fetish, sex work, nonmonogamy), intimacy/relational difficulties, and sexual concerns/dysfunctions. Dr. Chaves is a psychology and sexuality professor at Orange Coast College and Pepperdine University, presented at various academic institutions including Alliant, Cal Lutheran, CSULB, NYU, USC, and USD. conferences/shows such as AVN/AEE, AASECT, Catalystcon, SSSS, and SHE, and a Western Region past president for the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality. He has written and/or consulted for 14 instructional sex education projects, co-host for Penthouse's Sex Academy instructional series, and consultant for BaDoinkVR virtual reality sex therapy instructional video. Dr. Chaves has written for Sexpert.com, AskMen.com, a contributing author to the International Encyclopedia of Human Sexuality, and been featured in publications such as Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Marie Claire, Bustle, Vice, Maxim, The Daily Star, Esquire, and Alternet.
Dr. Anna Randall
Dr. Anna Randall is a member of TASHA - The Alternative Sexualities Health Research Alliance. She is a sex therapist in the state of California, alongside her role as both a presenter and a researcher on sexuality-related issues. Dr. Randall currently teaches at Widener University in the school of social work and sexuality.
Dr. Richard Sprott
Dr. Richard Sprott is a researcher and professor at California State University and is currently researching sexuality-related issues around kink and BDSM, polyamory, and all kinds of consensual non-monogamous relationships. Dr. Richard Sprott is the founder of TASHRA - The Alternative Sexualities Health Research Alliance.
Tristan Taormino
Tristan Taormino is an award-winning author, columnist, editor, and sex educator. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with her Bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Wesleyan University in 1993. She is the author of True Lust: Adventures in Sex, Porn and Perversion, Down and Dirty Sex Secrets, The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women and editor of the Lambda Literary Award-winning anthology series Best Lesbian Erotica. Her popular Village Voice column “Pucker Up” is nationally syndicated. She runs her own adult film production company, Smart Ass Productions, and is currently an exclusive director for Vivid Entertainment. For Vivid, she directs a reality series called Chemistry, winner of several awards, including the 2007 AVN Award for Best Gonzo Release. She also helms Vivid’s sex education imprint, Vivid-Ed, for which she has written, produced and directed several titles. Tristan has been featured in over 250 publications including The New York Times, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Entertainment Weekly, Details, New York Magazine, Men’s Health, and Playboy. She has appeared on HBO’s Real Sex, The Howard Stern Show, Loveline, Ricki Lake, and on CNN, MTV, and The Discovery Channel. She lectures at top colleges and universities, where she speaks on gay and lesbian issues, sexuality and gender, alternative relationships, and feminism. She teaches sex and relationship workshops around the world.
Dr. Jess O’Reilly
Toronto-based, Jess O’Reilly began working as a sexuality counselor in 2001. Alongside her academic and television credits, Dr. Jess is also an accomplished author with three best-selling titles. Her latest, The New Sex Bible, has received rave reviews from professionals and clients alike, and her first book Hot Sex Tips, Tricks and Licks is in its fourth print! Look for her monthly column in Post City or catch her on Tuesday mornings on Global TV’s The Morning Show, Wednesdays on 102.1 The Edge, and Saturdays on PlayboyTV. Canadian-born and Chinese-Jamaican and Irish by descent, Dr. Jess loves ultimate frisbee, crab, airplane turbulence, cheese, and red wine. Makes perfect sense, right?
Dr. Sally Valentine
Sally Valentine, PhD, FAACS holds a doctorate in clinical sexology, is a licensed clinical social worker, certified sex therapist, certified EMDR therapist, certified hypnotherapist, certified Imago Relationship Therapist, and a registered Sivananda yoga teacher. She has extensive training in sex therapy, hypnotherapy, EMDR, trauma resolution and tantric mind-body therapy. Sally has a private practice in Boca Raton, FL and specializes in relationship/intimacy issues, sexuality concerns, trauma and life stressors. Additionally, Sally is an AASECT Certified Supervisor for Sex Therapists and a state approved Clinical Supervisor for Licensees of Clinical Social Work. Dr. Valentine is a national and international presenter and workshop facilitator. She teaches in areas of enhancing sexuality, tantra sexuality, healing the mind-body connection of trauma, and personal growth transformation. Sally is a fellow of the American Academy of Clinical Sexologists and a Diplomate of the American Board of Sexology. She is an active member of the American Association of Sexual Educators, Counselors, and Therapists, National Association of Social Workers, Imago Relational Therapy International, Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy Association and EMDR International Association.
Linda Weiner, MSW, LCSW
Linda Weiner, MSW, LCSW is Co-Director of the Institute for Sexual & Relationship Therapy & Training, an Adjunct Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, a supervisor, speaker, workshop presenter and author. Training together and working at Masters & Johnson Institute, she and Constance became colleagues and lifelong friends. The two of us recently collaborated on the publication of the first illustrated manual detailing the use of Sensate Focus in sex therapy and updating this foundational technique for diverse clients.
Constance Avery-Clark, PhD.
Constance Avery-Clark, PhD is Co-Director of the Institute for Sexual & Relationship Therapy & Training, an AASECT-Certified Diplomate in Sex Therapy, and a Licensed Psychologist. With two Ph.D.s (in Clinical Psychology and the Psychology of Jungian Studies), she has been in private practice for 30 years in Florida. She is a CE Provider through APA and AASECT, presents nationally on the subject of intimacy, relationships, and meaningfulness, has published numerous articles and, together with her long-time colleague and friend from Masters & Johnson Institute, has a book coming out this year entitled Sensate Focus in Sex Therapy: The Illustrated Manual.
Jamila Dawson
Jamila Dawson is an LMFT and sex therapist in California with her private practice Fire and Flow Therapy and has presented at many major conferences like Sex Down South. She is also listed on Pineapple Support where they provide mental health services to sex workers in their area. Jamila heavily focuses on social justice practices while she works in the field of human sexuality.
Kayna Cassard
Kaya Cassard is an LMFT, Sex Therapist, and Pelvic Pain Relief Expert in Venice, CA. She has over 14 years of experience in the field! Kayna works with both individuals and couples to explore their sexuality and issues that surround their lives outside of the bedroom as well. Kayna is the founder of Intuitive Sensuality which provides therapy and education for sexuality issues.
