Join us for our Sexceptional Advanced SAR by SHA on Feb. 13-16th, 2025 in New Orleans!
Welcome to NOLA! This is considered an Advanced SHA SAR. led by NOLA aficionado and SHA Alum, ANDI GRUSHKA, alongside guest expert lecturers and leaders that will unviel the HISTORY and beauty of New Orleans with SHA!
AUTOMATIC ACCEPTANCE IS GIVEN TO THOSE THAT HAVE ATTENDED A PREVIOUS SHA SAR.
*Please follow instructions and apply below if you have not attended a SHA SAR.
Due to a size cap on NOLA private tours, space is limited to 20 people for this Advanced SAR. Plan to reserve you spot as soon as you are formally accepted or reserve your spot now without need to be formally accepted if you have already attended an Advanced SAR with SHA.
HOW TO REGISTER?
REGISTRATION IS A 3 STEP PROCESS:
1.) IF YOU HAVE ATTENDED AN ADVANCED SAR WITH SHA IN THE PAST, SKIp STEP 1.
APPLY THROUGH THIS GOOGLE FORM AND WAIT FOR SHA board APPROVAL BEFORE YOU MOVE TO THE NEXT STEP.
2.) PURCHASE YOUR SHA TICKET VIA THE RED BUTTON BELOW
3.) You must stay at the host hotel. Reserve your hotel room through this link:
SHA Group Rate @ The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery Guests can also call and reference the SHA Group with our reservations team at 504-302-0017. These two options provided for you are to book Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. If you would like to book outside of those dates (i.e. arrive on Wednesday or depart on Monday), please call 504-599-2114 or email at sales@old77hotel.com. The rate will be $119 rate for 2 days pre and post conference dates based on availability. Deadline to book your hotel is Monday, January 6th, 2025.
SCHEDULE
Thursday
Welcome Orientation and meet and greet
Bourbon Street: From Strip Clubs to the Lavender Line private Tour.
Friday
Process Group
Private workshop - Current types of Sex Work in the United States, Recent Legislation and its effects on workers.
Private workshop - Women With A Vision - Our work on Reproductive Health Care, Sex Work Decriminalization, and House Bill 67
New Orleans Historic collection private tour/showing
Valentines Day evening is free and we will give them several options to check out including a parade!
Saturday
Process Group
LGBTQ Archives, Frank Perez -LGBTQ History in The French Quarter private discussion and q&a
Sandy Hester- Storyville and the gaming houses of New Orleans. Private Walking Tour
Group excursion to the Krewe du Viuex parade and party at Graphite Gallery
Sunday
Check out by 11
Optional group brunch or drag brunch!
This event offers 14 AASECT CEs which can be used for renewal of AASECT Certification or towards initial certification.
Any events in the city of NOLA including parades etc. are not for AASECT CE SAR credit and are not a part of the AASECT CE SAR training. This NOLA Advanced SAR also includes various events which are optional and are not a part of the official SAR for AASECT CES. If you need AASECT CES* for certification or renewal, this is your chance. 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 facilitator is prohibited by AASECT. Please note there are two separate “events” included. The event with aasect ces* includes classroom time, lecture, media and group discussion and follow the specific rules of a “sar for aasect ces.” 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* requirements for the aasect sar.
Note that your spot is not confirmed until we have formally approved your application and we have received your completed informed consent signed packet. There will be classroom time, experiential time and optional events. Lodging, provisions/meals and flights are not included and will be the responsibility of the participant.
SAR FACILITATORS
DAVID LEY, PH.D.
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 Pleasureis due out in Summer/Fall 2016. Dr. Ley may be contacted via email through the Psychology Today website.
Andi Grushka, MSS, LCSW-C (she/her)
Gold Pomegranate Psychotherapy
Andi Grushka is a clinical social worker who brings her unique perspective to sex therapy. She has spent almost three decades in various roles within (and adjacent to) the sex industry. Andi has written about the legal, social, and personal issues sex workers experienced from misguided and paternalistic legislation, legal limits imposed on workers’ rights, and the impact of SESTA-FOSTA on sex workers’ safety. Now, as a psychotherapist and educator, Andi has counseled sex industry clients through the challenges of COVID-19, consulted colleagues through personal and professional boundaries around their own sex work, and continues to teach mental health clinicians about sexual subcultures. She currently splits her time between Baltimore and Philadelphia.
JEN MEYER, LPC, LMFT, CST
Jen Meyer is the owner and founder of Jen Meyer Therapy, LLC, a private therapy practice in the Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. As a highly sought-after sex therapist who works with a wide variety of concerns related to sex, intimacy and relationships, Jen strives to provide every client with effective therapy treatment in an affirming and compassionate environment that gives them the greatest opportunity to travel the path towards their best self.. As a highly-motivated professional dedicated to perfecting her craft, Jen travels frequently to obtain training on the latest therapy tools and trends from the best and most well-known minds in the sex therapy world. She is also active within and has been asked to present to various profession organizations both locally and nationally that help maintain her integrated network of healthcare professionals for her clients benefit, including the following: Sexual Health Alliance (SHA), American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT), Denver Sexual Medical Alliance (DSMA) and Colorado Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (COAMFT). Jen has also pursued a number of professional certifications along the way, including her CST, LMFT and LPC. She obtained a Masters of Art (MA) in Counseling from Oakland University, a fully accredited program by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), and has completed a one-year program Sexual Health Certificate Program. Jen takes pride in being surrounded by some of the best sexologists and healthcare professionals in her field, many of whom continue to be dear friends, along with many others who continue to inspire her and make her a better person and therapist.
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.
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.