Attend the 2027 Sexological Conference and connect with hundreds of sexology experts!
October 14th - 16th, 2027, at the Grand hyatt downtown denver
Attendees include the world’s leading sexologists and those aspiring to be one.
Sexual Health Alliance (est. 2015), is a global leader in training and continuing education for mental health practitioners, medical professionals, academics, and researchers.
Learn from world-class keynotes and 30+ expert presenters in an in-person, immersive event. Join fellow psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, physicians, gynecologists, urologists, pelvic floor physical therapists, registered nurse practitioners, mental health nurse practitioners, scientists, researchers, educators, counselors, sexologists, coaches from all over the world.
register now!
Conference Schedule
Wednesday, October 13
[OPTIONAL] Informal Opening Reception
Thursday, October 14
[MORNING] Pre-Conference
[AFTERNOON] Conference Kick Off
Friday, October 15
Saturday, October 16
Meet Your 2027 Keynote Speakers
Join us in Denver for SHA’s 2027 Annual Sexological Conference, where Justin Lehmiller, PhD, Midori, and David Ley, PhD, CST-S will bring their expertise in sexuality research, consent education, and clinical practice to the keynote stage. Get to know our first confirmed keynote speakers below, and stay tuned for more speaker announcements.
Grand Hyatt Denver
SHA’s 2027 Annual Conference will be held at the Grand Hyatt Denver Downtown, October 14–16, 2026. Known for its modern luxury, exceptional service, and top-tier location, the Grand Hyatt remains one of the highest-rated hotels in Downtown Denver. Located in the heart of the city, the hotel is just minutes from Union Station, Coors Field, the Colorado Convention Center, Michelin-starred restaurants, parks, nightlife, and boutique shopping. It’s also pet-friendly, making it a convenient and comfortable stay for all attendees.
Secure your room early at the Grand Hyatt Denver and enjoy the full conference experience onsite with the SHA community.
Upgrade to VIP!
Your VIP registration provides additional gatherings designed for connection, advanced networking, and celebration. In addition to the events on the full conference schedule (to be emailed separately), you'll have exclusive access to special events throughout the weekend.
Your VIP Perks include:
Up to 20 Continuing Education credit hours
VIP SHA Shirt
VIP swag and surprise goodies!
Front-row access to sessions and events
VIP-Only lunch
VIP-Only additional special event
Choice of one Pre-Conference Workshop
Networking opportunities with our headline presenters
2 tickets to Friday Evening Festivities
And, more that we can release yet!!
Become SHA Certified, Enroll Today!
Imagine completing your Certification in Sexology+ (including a personalized AASECT transcript/application), saving you hundreds of hours of time and money. You’ll also be gaining every CE you need, all supervision, SARs plus plenty more you haven’t even thought of yet. When you become SHA Certified, you’re not just checking boxes and doing the bare minimum; you’re going above and beyond while also joining a global community of sex therapists, educators, counselors, coaches, and medical practitioners who are shaping the future of sexology.
Instead of piecing together conferences one by one and hoping they align with International standards or the (US AASECT requirements), you can enroll in SHA’s Sex Therapy, Sexologist, Sexuality Counselor, Sex Educator or Sex and Relationship Coach Certification Program, where every training is intentionally curated, tracked, and streamlined to support your AASECT path. No guesswork. No overwhelm. Just a clear, supported journey from start to finish.
As an SHA Certified professional, you’ll gain:
Access to a thriving global community of practitioners and leaders
Expert faculty, mentorship, and guidance every step of the way
Exclusive SHA trainings, tools, and support you won’t find anywhere else
A complete, organized portfolio for international associations (including AASECT-aligned hours)
If you’re ready to take your sexual health education further—and become truly sexceptional—apply to become SHA Certified today. Your future clients (and your future self) will thank you. Apply HERE.
SHA 2027 annual sexological conference KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Justin Lehmiller, PhD
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Kinsey Institute Research Fellow, Harvard Award-Winning Educator, and Author of Tell Me What You Want
Dr. Justin Lehmiller leads the Sexual Health Alliance Study Abroad program to Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Iceland, Barcelona and more coming soon. He received his Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Purdue University. He is a Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute and author of the book Tell Me What You Want: The Science of Sexual Desire and How It Can Help You Improve Your Sex Life. Dr. Lehmiller is an award-winning educator, having been honored three times with the Certificate of Teaching Excellence from Harvard University, where he taught for several years. He is also a prolific researcher and scholar who has published more than 50 academic works to date, including a textbook titled The Psychology of Human Sexuality (now in its second edition) that is used in college classrooms around the world. Dr. Lehmiller's research focuses on topics including casual sex, sexual fantasy, sexual health, and friends with benefits. His studies have appeared in all of the leading journals on human sexuality, including the Journal of Sex Research, Archives of Sexual Behavior, and The Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Dr. Lehmiller has run the popular blog Sex and Psychology since 2011, and it now receives several million page views per year. He has been interviewed by numerous media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, CNN, The Atlantic, The Globe and Mail, and The Sunday Times. He has been named one of 5 "Sexperts" You Need to Follow on Twitter by Men's Health and one of the "modern-day masters of sex" by Nerve. Dr. Lehmiller has appeared on the Netflix series Sex, Explained, he has been on several episodes of the television program Taboo on the National Geographic Channel, and he has been a guest on Dr. Phil. Dr. Lehmiller has also appeared on numerous podcasts and radio shows, including the Savage Lovecast, the BBC’s Up All Night, and several NPR programs (1A, Radio Times, and Airtalk).
He is a popular freelance writer, penning columns and op-eds for major publications, including The Washington Post, Playboy, USA Today, VICE, Psychology Today, Men’s Health, Politico, and New York Magazine. In addition, the articles he writes on Sex and Psychology have been syndicated on major websites, including Business Insider, Huffington Post, and Thought Catalog. He has also interviewed several prominent authors, journalists, and psychologists about their work for his blog and podcast, including Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Lisa Ling, Drs. John and Julie Gottman, and bestselling authors Christopher Ryan (Sex at Dawn) and Lisa Taddeo (Three Women).
Dr. Lehmiller has given talks around the world on sex, love, and relationships. He is available as an expert speaker and has experience consulting on legal cases, including taking the stand as an expert witness. Dr. Lehmiller has also worked with several major sexual health and wellness brands and is available as a spokesperson, as well as a media, marketing, and product development consultant.
Midori
Keynote Speaker
Sexuality Educator, US Army Veteran, and Author Bridging Japanese and American Kink Cultures, AASECT Humanitarian Award Winner, and Leader in Consent-Based BDSM Education
Born and raised in Japan, then spending formative years in 90’s San Francisco safer sex and alt sex activists circles, Midori brings a multicultural and holistic approach to education and discussion of kink, BDSM, and consent.
Dubbed the “Supernova of Kink” by Dan Savage, Midori emerged from the Sex Positive movement in San Francisco in the early 1990s as a grassroots activist educator to become a well-regarded educator and thinker on BDSM sexuality, kink, consent, and sex ways in Japan and the US.
Midori founded Rope Dojo in 2003, ForteFemme Women’s Dominance Weekend Intensive in 2004, and Consent Dojo in 2020. Awarded the AASECT Humanitarian Award in 2022. She is the Co-director of Education for Kink Informed Certification through Sexual Health Alliance. She has served as an advisor for many organizations and companies on matters of BDSM, kink, and consent. Her teaching style and strength lay in her ability to deconstruct and distill complex matters of desire into accessible lessons with humor and humanity.
She is known for her book “The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage”, the first English instruction book on Shibari. She contributed the chapter on BDSM and women of the Asian diaspora in “An Intersectional Approach to Sex Therapy: Centering the Lives of Indigenous, Racialized, and People of Color”, and has contributed to numerous articles, columns, works of fiction, and instructional books. When she’s not traveling and teaching, she’s creating social practice art and performances. She’s a UC Berkeley graduate and served in the US Army.
David Ley, PhD, CST-S
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Clinical Psychologist, Author of The Myth of Sex Addiction, and National Thought Leader on Healthy Sexuality and Ethical Pornography
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 and leads SHA’s Sexual Attitude Reassessment or Adjustment (SAR) as well as SHA’s Advanced SARs in Mexico and Jamaica.
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 most recent book, Ethical Porn for Dicks, A Man's Guide to Responsible Viewing Pleasure has been a staple for any curious individual.
2026 Annual Sexological Conference Best moments!
