Take your clinical expertise to the next level with our Advanced SAR Program, held in vibrant Montreal during the city's world-renowned Fetish Weekend. This immersive educational experience is designed for mental health and medical professionals and advanced trainees who want to develop greater clinical competence, confidence, and cultural humility when working with clients from diverse sexuality, relationship, and kink communities.
This unique training combines evidence-informed education with thoughtfully structured experiential learning, giving participants the opportunity to move beyond theory and strengthen their ability to provide ethical, affirming, and effective care.
Why This Training Matters
Many clinicians receive little or no formal education on kink, BDSM, fetish communities, consensual power exchange, nontraditional relationship structures, or other forms of sexual diversity during post graduate training. As a result, clients often encounter misunderstanding, unnecessary pathologizing, or clinicians who feel unprepared to address their experiences.
Competent, affirming care requires more than good intentions. It requires education, self-reflection, and an understanding of the values, language, consent practices, and cultural norms that shape these communities. By increasing clinical knowledge and reducing bias, therapists are better equipped to build trust, provide culturally responsive treatment, and support clients without making assumptions about identity or behavior.
Why Montreal During Fetish Weekend?
Montreal's internationally recognized Fetish Weekend provides an unparalleled opportunity for immersive learning within a vibrant, diverse community. Through guided educational experiences, structured observation, and facilitated clinical discussions, participants will gain valuable insight into community dynamics, consent culture, diversity of expression, and the lived experiences of individuals they may encounter in you practice. Every aspect of the program is intentionally designed to support professional learning while emphasizing ethics, respect, confidentiality, and cultural sensitivity.
Prerequisites:
1.) Completion of SHA Sexceptional SAR.
2.) Completion of an Advanced SAR with SHA
or
You are already SHA Certified
*IF do not meet any of #2 prerequisites, PLEASE apply here: FILL OUT THE GOOGLE FORM. CLICK HERE.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Wednesday Evening Aug 26th: Mandatory Online Orientation Session
Thursday, Sept 2nd: Arrive at hotel by 6pm at the latest
Friday, Sept 3rd: Advanced SAR
Friday evening, Sept 3rd: Fetish Weekend Events
Saturday, Sept 5th Advanced SAR
Saturday evening, Sept 5th: Fetish Ball!
Sunday, Sept 6th, Fly out
*AASECT CE credit will only be given for time in the formal classroom.
YOUR TICKET INCLUDES:
Welcome Orientation Online
Advanced SAR Program
Group Dinner Thursday night (Dinner included)
Discussion / Process Groups
SHA Swag
You’re responsible for ticket to fetish ball, lodging (there are recommendations on the Montreal Fetish Weekend Website), flights and other meals. It is not required to participate in any extra circular activities.
*You will be able to attend the educational workshops and/or evening events (except for the few hours each day that are a part of the Advanced SAR). You can choose any ticket level to the Montreal Fetish weekend. It is your choice how immersive the experience will be.
SAR FACILITATORS
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 Pleasure is due out in Summer/Fall 2016. Dr. Ley may be contacted via email through the Psychology Today website.
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.
Kelvin Pace, MS, LPC-S, CST-S
Kelvin serves as a SHA Supervisor and is also 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.
AASECT Notice: Any events put on by the hotel are not for AASECT CEs credit and are not a part of the AASECT CEs training. Casual dress is required during CE classroom time. This event includes various events that are optional and not part of the Advanced SAR for AASECT CEs. If you need AASECT CEs* for certification or renewal, this is your chance. Lodging and flights are not included and will be the responsibility of the participant.
Please note there are two separate “events” included. The event with AASECT CEs* includes classroom time, lecture, media and group discussion. The rest of the experience/weekend is through SHA only as we are holding space for students to attend and/or observe optional extra curricular events and will provide time to process those experiences. These additional and optional events are not for credit through AASECT, nor a part of AASECT CEs*.
Note that your spot is not confirmed until we have formally approved your application and we have received your completed informed consent signed packet. In alignment with AASECT SAR guidelines, during the administrative and educational period, sexual behavior between students and facilitators is prohibited. Any sexual interaction between students and facilitators is prohibited by AASECT.
