I am thrilled to spotlight my mentor, Dr. Laura Widman, who recently presented at SHA’s Sexuality Business Summit to share how she transformed years of groundbreaking research into a successful business. 

Laura is a researcher, professor, author, psychologist, and all around badass dedicated to improving adolescent health, with an emphasis on sexual communication skill development. In much of her work she incorporates digital technologies to deliver health programming to teens and families. 

She is a co-author of the bestselling undergraduate textbook Our Sexuality, a professor at Florida State University’s Institute on Digital Health and Innovation in the College of Nursing, and founder of Teen Health Research, a woman-owned small business committed to modernizing sex education.

With nearly 100 peer-reviewed publications cited over 6,500 times, Laura’s research spans HIV and STI prevention, sexual communication, and digital health interventions. In this blog, I’ll review some of her research findings and how she translated them into real-world solutions.

The summit brought together people with diverse roles and experiences, but everyone shared a common mission: advancing sexual health and empowering communities. That sense of belonging and shared purpose was evident whether listening to global experts discuss business best practices or chatting with peers about the challenges we face.

The chat box was buzzing 🔥– full of encouragement, resource-sharing, and real-time networking. One part of the conference I enjoyed was the breakout groups. These gave participants the chance to connect on a deeper level. In mine, participants spanned different professions and backgrounds, which was great to learn from. At the same time, we all bonded over a shared passion for sexual health and creating meaningful change.

BDSM is an umbrella term for Bondage, Discipline, Dominance, Submission, Sadism, and Masochism. It encompasses a variety of activities that are characterized by consent, communication, and boundaries.

As cultural attitudes shift and BDSM becomes increasingly mainstream, research on these practices is expanding. For sexual health professionals, it is critical to understand this evolving landscape not only at the community or national level, but also globally. This blog reviews recent international studies on BDSM and highlights their implications for clinical and educational practice.

Despite ongoing stigma, research shows that BDSM can provide psychosocial and relational benefits. For professionals, moving beyond stigma and integrating evidence into practice is essential.

As sexual health professionals, we know that sexual satisfaction and well-being are not only shaped by major life events, but are also deeply influenced by everyday interactions. Yet much of the research relies on individuals’ perceptions of their relationships, often captured through one-time surveys. While useful, this approach misses the complexity of what happens between partners in real time.

That’s where dyadic diary methods come in. Unlike traditional studies, dyadic diaries gather information from both partners. This approach allows researchers to capture the moment-to-moment dynamics of relationships, including how partners influence one another’s sexual satisfaction and overall well-being. This can be especially valuable for therapists and educators seeking to better support individuals and couples as they navigate intimacy and connection.

For sexual health professionals, the implications are clear: psychedelics may significantly shape how clients understand and experience sexuality, intimacy, and identity. Being prepared to discuss this topic is imperative. Part of this includes understanding how they work, emerging research and potential risks and benefits.

What is Sexual Health Day? Sexual Health Day is a celebration of advancing sexual health for all individuals globally. This day reminds us that sexual health and wellbeing are the work of sexual health professionals not confined to clinics or educational spaces, it is our job to advocate it daily. Sexual health professionals can use their roles to reduce stigma, normalize sexual health and elevate marginalized voices year round.

“Rough sex” appears across pornography, social media, and even court cases, but its meaning varies widely. A New Zealand study of 567 adults found no single definition—participants cited behaviors from hair pulling and slapping to choking, with views ranging from playful and consensual to harmful or coercive. Some connected it to BDSM, while others saw them as separate. These perceptions are shaped by personal experience, culture, and context. The key takeaway: safe, positive sexual experiences require understanding your own preferences, communicating openly, and respecting your partner’s boundaries.

Consent is central to sex coach certification. Dr. Ley David Elliot Cray emphasizes advanced approaches such as meta-negotiation, power dynamics, and queering kink. SHA’s certification program equips coaches with the tools to guide clients through safe, inclusive, and empowering consent practices.

Kink is an essential topic in sex educator certification. Midori and the Sexual Health Alliance emphasize that kink is not solely trauma-driven, but a diverse and normal part of human sexuality. Understanding kink helps sex educators reduce stigma, provide safe exploration tools, and foster inclusive learning. Conferences like SHA’s Nonvanilla Weekend and Annual Conference in Denver offer unique opportunities for hands-on learning and community building.

Kink and neurodivergence intersect in meaningful ways that challenge stereotypes and expand our understanding of sexual diversity. Liam Wignall’s research indicates that 30–50% of individuals in certain kink communities display autistic traits, compared to 1–2% in the general population. This finding not only disrupts outdated notions that autistic people are asexual or uninterested in intimacy—it also suggests that kink environments, with their emphasis on clear communication, consent, and negotiated boundaries, can align closely with neurodivergent preferences.

The Sexual Health Alliance delivers inclusive, research‑based education across the spectrum of human sexuality—including kink. Through events, certifications, and community discussions, SHA helps dismantle stigma, promote ethical practices, and equip professionals to meet diverse client needs.

Kink informed therapy is a specialized, affirming approach to mental health care that embraces the diversity of human sexual expression, including BDSM and fetish practices. Informed by lived experience and professional insight, therapist Joe Zarate-Sanderlin shares how intersectionality, consent, communication, and curiosity form the foundation of ethical kink-informed care. The blog promotes SHA’s Kink-Informed Advanced Certification, a program designed to prepare professionals to work competently and compassionately with kink-involved clients.

The Sexual Health Alliance (SHA) offers a Sexuality Counselor Program that equips professionals with clinical training in human sexuality, gender, and pleasure. This certification is designed for therapists, educators, and coaches seeking to specialize in sexual health counseling. The program provides a progressive curriculum, flexible online learning, and access to a supportive professional community.

Graduate Courtney Johnson Benson credits SHA with helping her launch her private practice, Seasoned Sexuality, and shaping her career in clinical sexuality. SHA’s emphasis on lifelong learning, inclusivity, and real-world application makes it a top choice for those committed to transforming social narratives around sex and gender.

Learn how to apply, explore the program’s benefits, and join a global network of change-makers in the field of sexual health.

What is sex addiction therapy?

Sex addiction therapy traditionally treats compulsive sexual behavior using an addiction-based framework, often including abstinence and 12-step models. However, experts like Dr. David Ley challenge this model for increasing shame and avoiding accountability. New approaches, such as the Out of Control Sexual Behavior (OCSB) model, offer science-based, harm-reduction alternatives that empower clients without moral judgment.

What does a certified sex therapist think about sex addiction? Michael Vigorito explains why the traditional model is flawed, highlighting the role of shame, identity, and context in out-of-control sexual behavior. Learn how clinicians can adopt a more effective, compassionate approach—and how to get trained through SHA’s Problem Sexual Behavior certification.

This blog explores Dr. Daniel Watter’s expert perspective on why the term “sex addiction” may do more harm than good. Drawing from over 40 years of clinical experience, Dr. Watter critiques the limitations of diagnostic labeling and promotes an existential, individualized approach to treating out-of-control sexual behavior. He highlights the role of mortality, trauma, and cultural influences as deeper drivers of sexual behavior, urging therapists to move beyond rigid protocols toward compassionate, person-centered care. The post also invites readers to attend the Sexual Health Alliance’s upcoming online event, Rethinking Sex Addiction, to learn more.

What is sex coach certification?
Sex coach certification is professional training that equips individuals to support others in their sexual well-being through coaching, education, and communication strategies. It differs from therapy and focuses on goal-oriented client work.

Learn how sex therapists, educators, counselors, and clinicians can ethically use AI in their professional practice. Find out what AI can and cannot do, including tips on privacy, bias, and best practices. The post also includes recommended tools and real-world examples to support sexual health professionals in integrating AI responsibly.

In recent years, the mental health field has made significant strides toward recognizing the complexity of human sexuality. Yet, as Silva Neves—an acclaimed psychosexual and relationship psychotherapist based in London—reminds us, there is still work to be done, particularly when it comes to supporting LGBTQ+ individuals in clinical settings. In a recent interview, Silva shared invaluable insights about the limitations of sex addiction models, the importance of cultural competency, and how trauma, shame, and heteronormativity often intersect in ways that harm queer clients.

For professionals seeking to better serve their clients, or individuals seeking affirming care, working with an LGBTQ Certified Sex Therapist can be transformative. These clinicians bring a much-needed understanding of sexual diversity, relational nuance, and the broader social forces that shape intimacy and behavior.

How is it 2025, and we still do not recognize the full humanity of people with disabilities?

How have we climbed the invisible staircase of technological advancement and yet we cannot completely wrap our hearts around the tapestry of human connection threaded within us all?

My forays into the research world regarding sexuality and disability were motivated by the fact that I felt like I was an outsider. I felt as though dating, romance, and sexuality were the perpetual parties I was never invited to; the adorable guy who sat next to me in every class but never indicated anything beyond platonic interest; the secrets of collegiate enterprise that would never be whispered in my ear.