The 2025 AASECT Annual Conference is more than a professional gathering—it’s where bold ideas, cultural insights, and community care converge to shape the future of sexuality education, counseling, and therapy. At the heart of this experience are four dynamic plenary sessions designed to expand your perspective, challenge assumptions, and inspire action.
These aren’t just presentations—they’re collective moments of growth. Moments where you’ll engage with thought leaders who are pushing boundaries and offering frameworks you can bring directly into your practice.
✨ Here’s What Awaits You:
Global Perspectives on Sex and Relationships: Cross-Cultural Lessons for Sexuality Professionals
Speaker: Jessica O’Reilly, PhD
Date & Time: Thursday, June 5 | 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM PT
How often do we pause to question the cultural lens through which we view intimacy, pleasure, and relationships? In this session, Dr. Jessica O’Reilly draws from her work across 45+ countries to reveal how Western-centric models can limit our approach to sexual wellness. You’ll explore how to break free from narrow frameworks and foster practices that are justice-focused, culturally responsive, and truly global in scope.
Artistry x Science: Cultivating Professional Disposition and Humility in Community-Centered Sexuality Services
Speaker: Tanya Bass, PhD, MS, MEd, CHES®, CSE
What does it mean to lead with humility in a field that sits at the intersection of science, art, and human experience? Dr. Tanya Bass will guide you through how to embed diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into your daily practice—ensuring that sexuality services are not only evidence-based but also community-centered and compassionate.
Good Sex: Sexual Liberation as Ritual, Research, and Resistance
Speaker: Candice Nicole Hargons, PhD
Description: This plenary explores the multifaceted nature of sexual liberation, moving beyond individual expression to its potent socio-political implications. It articulates how embodied ritual can reclaim agency and disrupt intersectionally oppressive cultural norms, fostering individual, relational, and communal healing. The session also presents cutting-edge research methodologies that center marginalized voices, revealing barriers and facilitators of good sex, and addresses how sexual liberation functions as resistance against current politics and power structures.
The Future (and Past) of Sexual Liberation Is Neuroqueer, Disabled, Mad, and Deviant
Speaker: Alex Iantaffi, PhD, MS, SEP, CST, CST-S, LMFT
Description: This plenary highlights how sexuality professionals can benefit from centering principles from Disability Justice, Mad Pride, Trans & Queer Liberation, and Neuroqueer movements. It emphasizes that sexual healing and liberation often demand divesting from current sociocultural norms in favor of collective liberation. The session explores practical implications for sex therapists, educators, and counselors, focusing on unlearning and reimagining beyond current paradigms to support a future rooted in self-sovereignty and collective care.
Why These Sessions Matter
In today’s rapidly shifting world, sexuality professionals are called to lead with purpose, adapt thoughtfully, and champion inclusive care. These plenary sessions offer you:
✔️ Fresh, global perspectives to challenge your approach
✔️ Actionable strategies to center equity and humility
✔️ The inspiration to connect artistry with science in your work
If you’re ready to move beyond theory and into transformative practice, these sessions are designed for you.
🎟️ Be in the Room Where It Happens
The conversations shaping the future of sexual health, education, and therapy are happening live at AASECT 2025—and you deserve a seat at the table.
🗓️ June 5-8, 2025 | Las Vegas, NV
🔗 Register today: aasectannualconference.com
Spaces are limited. Don’t just hear about these conversations—be part of them.
P.S. By attending AASECT 2025, you’ll not only gain access to these impactful plenary sessions but also:
✔️ Earn valuable Continuing Education (CE) credits to support your professional development
✔️ Network with a vibrant, interdisciplinary community of peers, leaders, and advocates
✔️ Explore the AASECT Exhibit Hall, where you can discover the latest resources, connect with exhibitors, and engage with sponsors who support the advancement of sexual health and wellness
Invest in your growth, expand your network, and leave empowered with knowledge and connections that will fuel your work long after the conference ends.