Has a client or friend ever told you that they are in an open relationship, "monogamish," talk about threesomes, swinging or poly? Do you wish you understood these concepts better? Join the world-renowned experts in the field for a Sexceptional Weekend to learn the basics and explore all the intricacies of what it means to be in a consensual non-monogamous relationship.

This Sexceptional 2-Day Weekend Will Offer:

• 16 CEUs & 16 AASECT CES* Program Approved

• Skills for any clinician, sex nerd, or curious partner

• Open to everyone, invite a friend!

Featured Speaker: Dr. Elisabeth "Eli" Sheff Dr. Elisabeth Sheff is 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 written three books, including "The Polyamorists Next Door" (2014), "Stories from the Polycule" (2015), and "When Someone You Love is Polyamorous" (2016), which explore decades of research and stories from polyamorous people. Dr. Sheff is currently in her fourth wave of data collection for her 20+ year study of polyamorous families with children.

Full Training Schedule:

Day 1:

• 31 Flavors of Non-Monogamy

• Polyamory: Moving Beyond Compulsory Monogamy

• What Do Garden Parties and Kitchen Tables Have to Do with My Poly Relationship?  A Short Course on Metamours and Polycules.

• Cultivating Connection through Mutually Respectful Communication Skills

• Upside Down Pineapples: A Look Into Swinging

Day 2:

• Polyamorous Families with Children

• Communication, Creativity, and Consent: Intersections of CNM and BDSM

Want a deeper dive already? Join the community and get certified in CNM with us! Increase your marketability with this highly sought after specialty.

MORE ABOUT OUR PRESENTERs:

DR. ELISABETH SHEFF

Dr. Elisabeth “Eli” Sheff is 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.

Dr. David Ley

Dr. David J. Ley is a world-renowned clinical psychologist known for bringing scientifically accurate and clinically sound information to discussions about modern sexuality.

He serves on the board of the Sexual Health Alliance as an expert advisor and 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 New York Times, Washington Post, 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, 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.

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. 

Michelle Hy

My name is Michelle Hy and I am from Portland, Oregon (born and raised). Some labels I identify with: bisexual, queer, cis woman, solo polyamorous, demiromantic. I'm a Chinese/Taiwanese American, part of the first generation of my family born in the US. I went to Portland State University for Applied Linguistics, but I don't actually apply any of that in my day-to-day. I started the Instagram @PolyamorousWhileAsian in February 2020 before the world shut down and through this page, I offer my perspective on non-monogamy, sharing primarily from my lived experience of being actively polyamorous the past 12 years. I focus on amplifying fellow POC and other marginalized folks underrepresented in non-monogamy representation. In addition, I focus on the political nature of non-monogamy and relating in general. My day job is also in social media but in a very different field (real estate). Finally, I have two cats: Reginald and Basil.

Jennifer Rahner

Jennifer Rahner is a Certified Sexologist and SHA Certified Sexuality Educator who is changing how we talk about sex one conversation at a time. She holds space for brave conversations and teaches with authenticity and vulnerability, unafraid to expose herself completely. She is personally and proudly out as queer, poly, and kinky.

A professional writer and educator with over 25 years of experience specializing in psychology, gender, sexuality, and pleasure, her education includes a BA from Saint Joseph’s University as well as studying with leaders in the field of human sexuality including Betty Dodson, Barbara Carellas, Midori, and Reid Mihalko.

She coaches clients and conducts workshops internationally, both in-person and virtually. You might also recognize because she’s part of the SHA Admin Team, our Director of Program Managment. Jennifer's approach is centered around enhancing knowledge about body positivity, orgasm, understanding sexual narratives, promoting open communication in relationship, and empowering individuals in their pursuit of pleasure. You may have seen Jennifer quoted in Cosmopolitan, US News & World Report, or the Toronto Sun, or on websites kinkly.com or sheknows.com. She also contributed to the books Building Open Relationships by Dr. Liz Powell and The Consent Guidebook by Erin Tillman. For more information about Jennifer you can visit her website at jenniferrahner.com.

Sander Jones

Sander T Jones, LCSW is a social worker, educator, and author in Atlanta, GA. Their passion is guiding others through the transformative, healing journeys that lead to embracing our most authentic and vibrant selves and also creating the most secure, deeply connected relationships possible.

Sander’s calling to this healing role began with the extensive trauma they experienced as a young person in addition to the negative messages they heard as a budding queer person growing up in a conservative, religious environment.

As it is for most people who experience childhood trauma, Sander internalized shame and deep self-loathing. As a teen and young adult, their inner world was a swirling vortex of pain, sadness, and hopelessness. They also internalized limiting cultural messages about gender, sexuality, and relationships that dimmed their light even further.

Sander had to find their own way and often utilized self-help books because, as a barely functioning adult, they often could not afford therapy. After decades of healing work, they felt they were able to begin helping others on their healing journeys and completed the Masters in Social Work program at UGA.

Sander specializes in treating trauma and complex trauma (Sexual abuse and other childhood traumas, religious trauma, recovering from cult experiences) and also couples and relationship therapy. Sander provides affirming care for people practicing ethical non-monogamy, LGBTQ, non-binary, and gender-expansive people, BIPOC people, neurodivergent (neuro-spicy!) people, kink/BDSM/Leather people, and people practicing voluntary sex-work.

And now, Sander is the author of “Cultivating Connection: a practical guide for personal and relationship growth in ethical non-monogamy.” This book is Sander’s first contribution giving back to the self-help genre that helped them so much.

“Cultivating Connection” is a guide to finding the balance between reclaiming and protecting our autonomy and authenticity while balancing and honoring our multiple relationships and the care and feeding they need to thrive. When each person knows and accepts what they are responsible for (and what they're NOT), this balance becomes much easier to achieve and maintain.

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.