Couples & Sex Therapy Training Program: Part II - Human Sexuality, Sex Education & Sex Therapy (HSSEST) 2023

Wendy G Cherry, PsyD Related Seminars and Products

Executive Director

AACAST

Wendy Cherry, Psy.D, a licensed psychotherapist, is the co-founder and Executive Director of The American Association of Couples and Sex Therapists (AACAST), and the Co-Director of the Couples and Sex Therapy Training Program at UCLA. She is an accomplished educator, lecturer and public speaker for numerous universities, organizations and businesses. Wendy trained with renowned couples therapist Dr. Walter Brackelmanns for seventeen years and furthers her knowledge in the field of Interpersonal Neurobiology with membership in Dr. Allan Schore's Right Brain Psychotherapy study group. Wendy combines an empathic therapeutic stance with a straightforward approach. It is her goal to help her patients feel better as soon as possible. This is accomplished through balancing an understanding presence with the actual "work" of therapy. Wendy believes good therapists are life-long students, and enrich and expand their experience by continuing to educate themselves in emerging theories and techniques in the field of psychology. Dr. Cherry has a private practice in Encino, CA specializing in couples and sex therapy.

Patrick Jensen, LMFT Related Seminars and Products

Co-Director

AACAST

Richard David, MD Related Seminars and Products

Dr. Richard David serves as Chief Medical Officer for Genesis Healthcare, the largest Urology group in Los Angeles. He also serves as medical director for Genesis Healthcare’s Advanced Prostate Cancer Center of Excellence. Dr. David received a Masters in Medical Management (MMM) degree from the Marshall School of Business at USC and serves as Clinical Professor of Urology (Vol) at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. His clinical and research interest includes minimally invasive endoscopic treatment for urologic diseases, sexual function and prosthetics, and advanced prostate cancer. He has published extensively and presented at many international conferences in this area. He has received the “Super Doctor” designation 13 times. Dr. David is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Stephanie Prendergast, MPT Related Seminars and Products

Co-Founder

Pelvic Health & Rehabilitation Center

Stephanie Prendergast, MPT
Cofounder, PHRC West Los Angeles, CA
Stephanie grew up in South Jersey. She received her Bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from Rutgers University and her Master’s in physical therapy at the Medical College of Pennsylvania and Hahnemann University in Philadelphia. In 2013 Stephanie was the first physical therapist to be President of the International Pelvic Pain Society.

Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS Related Seminars and Products

Pelvic Health & Rehabilitation Center

Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS
Encinitas, CA
Jandra utilizes an integrative and holistic approach to find solutions that are individualized to a person's needs and wants. In addition to her Doctorate in Physical Therapy, and her advanced training in pelvic floor physical therapy, Jandra has completed her Master's of Science degree in Integrative Health and Nutrition to help those with chronic pelvic pain conditions as changes in diet and lifestyle can make a large difference in one's health and wellbeing.

Ardis Moe, MD Related Seminars and Products

Dr. Moe began her Infectious Diseases fellowship at UCLA and continued as an NIH-sponsored HIV Clinical Trials fellow, and then stayed on at UCLA as faculty in the Division of Infectious Diseases. She maintains a clinical practice at the CARE Center and also at a Ryan White-funded HIV clinic in Van Nuys: Northeast Valley Health Corporation. She has research interests in HIV dementia and complications of HIV and HIV treatments. Her hobbies include traveling and horseback riding.

Sunny Rogers, PhD Related Seminars and Products

Dr. Sunny Rodgers is the Founder of Sunsplash Media Group, a consultant firm that helps people and companies expand into wellness lifestyle brands via product development, marketing, and as a spokesperson. She has worked in the wellness product industry since 2000. Rodgers founded The Institute of Intimate Health in 2019. She received her PhD in Human Sexuality in 2020, her masters degree as a Clinical Sexologist in 2017, and her certification as an accredited Sexual Health Educator in early 2018. She is an Ambassador for the American Sexual Health Association, lecturer for the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Sexual Confidence Coach for the Marigold App, and (S)expert for The Sex Ed. Rodgers served as host for the 2017 & 2018 SE Award shows, hosted a popular weekly show on Playboy Radio, has been an expert guest on several TV and radio programs, and is a regular contributor to HuffPost, Men's Health, Cosmo, Bustle, and many more publications. 

Liz Selzer-Lang, MFT Related Seminars and Products

Liz is an AASECT-certified sex therapist and licensed MFT in the State of California (MFC #53198) with a private practice in mid-city Los Angeles. Alongside my clinical work, I have taught Human Sexuality and Advanced Human Sexuality to graduate psychology students at Ryokan University. I work with individuals with a range of mental health concerns and am trained to work collaboratively with other healthcare providers to address most sexual health disorders. I enjoy working with couples presenting with relational and sexual issues including: mismatched desire; transitioning from monogamy to Ethical Non-Monogamy (ENM); recovering from betrayal; loss of libido; the impact of sexual trauma; and problematic desires. I am Poly- and Kink-affirming as well as an ally for members of the LGBTQIA community, as I grew up in a queer context in the Midwest. I am trained in the Trauma Resilience Model (Level 1) and have experience working with dual diagnosis clients in early sobriety. My approach is integrative, blending psychodynamic, mindfulness-based CBT, and somatic interventions to help clients develop self- and other-acceptance.

Ronald Rivera, MD Related Seminars and Products

Assistant Clinical Professor

UC Irvine Medical Center

Ronnie Rivera is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of California, Irvine and the Associate Clerkship Director for emergency medicine rotations. He completed medical school at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, and residency at SUNY Downstate / Kings County in Brooklyn, New York. After being elected to Chief of Education, he discovered a passion for teaching his peers much in the same way he advocates for improving bedside patient education as part of patient centered care. To further that goal, he did a medical education fellowship in Multimedia Design and Education Technology (MDEdTech) at UCI. He is currently completing a masters degree in education focused on Digital Age Learning and Technology at Johns Hopkins University. His current projects include teaching techniques for improved bedside interactions with patients from at-risk populations and educating on improving social determinants of health from the Emergency Room. He also works as a Dean’s Scholar for the UC Irvine School of Medicine developing the LGBTQIA+ and social determinants of health curricula.

Joshua Gonzalez, MD Related Seminars and Products

Dr. Joshua Gonzalez is fellowship-trained in Sexual Medicine and specializes in the management of male and female sexual dysfunctions. Theses include issues surrounding sexual arousal, orgasm, libido/desire, sexual pain, menopausal management, penile curvature, and erectile function. Dr. Gonzalez also treats a variety of common urological conditions including genitourinary cancers, benign prostatic disease, voiding dysfunction, and male infertility. Throughout his career, Dr. Gonzalez has focused on advocating for sexual health and providing better healthcare to the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Nathan Vincent, ACC, CPCC Related Seminars and Products

Nathan Vincent is currently a Surrogate Partner intern working within the triadic model with therapists and clients across all genders. He is in the process of supervision-completing his training with the International Professional Surrogates Association (IPSA) and is actively seeing clients. Vincent has partnered with urologists and researchers at UCLA to publish the findings of primary research in the Journal of Sexual Medicine pertaining to pleasure, pain and the pelvic sensations in receptive anal intercourse. Vincent says of his Surrogate Partner work: “I come to this work because I am passionate about intimacy. Transformation occurs through creating a unique client experience addressing relationship building, trust, and consent, combined with the power of somatic awareness and knowledge. This framework allows clients to grapple with fear and shame, embrace desire, and ultimately express themselves authentically in relationship with others emotionally and sexually.” 

Arianna Fernandez Related Seminars and Products

Arianna Fernandez (he/they/she) is a Certified Surrogate Partner, professional cuddler, intimacy coach, and trainer of surrogate partners at the International Professional Surrogate's Association. They have represented surrogate partner therapy on television and podcasts with the aim of spreading awareness about and destigmatizing the modality. In addition to media appearances, Fernandez is on the executive board of local nonprofit organization Sex Positive Los Angeles, where she facilitates workshops and process groups in consent and boundaries, sensate focus, sexual health, polyamory, LGBTQ+ affirmation, and more. She is on staff at the Center for Sexuality Counseling, where she works with clients of all genders and orientations. 

Lisa Valle, D.O., FACOG, ABIHM Related Seminars and Products

Lisa M. Valle, D.O., FACOG, ABIHM is a board certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist and has been in practice for over 18 years. Her integrative practice solely focuses on caring for women with female sexual concerns in Santa Monica, California.  Her emphasis has been on concerns such as: pelvic & vulvovaginal pain disorders, loss/decreased libido, inability/difficulty achieving orgasm, arousal disorders, and various vulvovaginal disorders.  She is a member of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH), the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists.