Why Attend SAR?

Sexuality professionals work with people whose experiences of sexuality can be shaped by shame, stigma, cultural expectations, moral conflict, mismatched desire, and differing beliefs about pleasure and relationships.

This SAR creates space to thoughtfully examine those influences while developing greater self-awareness as a sexuality professional.

Over the weekend, you'll explore:

• Personal attitudes and beliefs about human sexuality

• Sexual shame, stigma, and cultural influences

• Sexual differences, taboos, and social expectations

• How personal values can influence professional practice

• The relationship between sexuality, pleasure, and well-being

• Ethical and inclusive approaches to sexuality-related conversations

• Your own experiences, assumptions, and biases surrounding sexuality

What Is a Sexual Attitude Reassessment (SAR)?

A Sexual Attitude Reassessment (SAR) is a structured, process-oriented group experience that encourages participants to examine their own feelings, attitudes, values, and beliefs about human sexuality and sexual behavior.

Rather than simply learning about sexuality, participants are invited to reflect on how their personal experiences, culture, education, and beliefs may influence the way they understand and work with sexuality.

For sexuality professionals, this self-awareness can be an important part of developing an ethical, inclusive, and non-judgmental approach to working with clients, students, and communities.

Who Is This SAR For?

This online SAR is open to professionals and students interested in expanding their understanding of sexuality, including:

• Sex therapists and therapists

• Sexuality counselors

• Sexuality educators

• Sex and relationship coaches

• Healthcare and medical professionals

• Mental health professionals

• Sexuality and sexology students

• Professionals pursuing SHA and/or AASECT-related training

You do not need to be enrolled in a Sexual Health Alliance certification program to attend.

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.