Whether your work is individual, relational, or family-centered, all clinicians benefit from expanding their understanding of the diverse experiences and expressions of sexuality that exist beyond dominant social and clinical norms and narratives.
Sexuality at the Margins will create a space for clinicians at all levels of experience to engage in curious inquiry, critical reflection, and meaningful connection. Together, we will explore the margins as sites of knowledge, resistance, and possibility. Recognizing the valuable perspectives and experiences that emerge from historically marginalized communities and can deepen our understanding of sexuality and inform clinical practice.
Through interdisciplinary dialogue, we will examine how broader social, cultural, and political systems shape sexual experiences and relationships, challenge assumptions embedded within our clinical frameworks, and consider how to translate these insights into more inclusive, ethical, and responsive care.
Conference Background
History of the Sexuality Symposium
Since its inception in 2019, The New England Association for Family and Systemic Therapy (NEAFAST) has dedicated itself to increasing training opportunities, advocacy and clinician connectedness in New England.
In 2023, NEAFAST introduced the first annual Sexuality Symposium, a conference aimed at providing our community of systemic therapists with the knowledge and clinical skills needed to work competently, confidently, and ethically with aspects of sexual health and intimate relationships. With the collaboration of co-sponsor South Shore Sexual Health Center (SSSHC), this first Sexuality Symposium brought our attendees an introduction to the field of sex therapy, explored best practices for welcoming conversations about sexuality into our practice, and offered insight into common relational challenges around sex and intimacy.
In 2024, the Sexuality Symposium added the Private Practice Colloquium (PPC) as a second co-sponsor. From 2024-2026, with Conference Committee members from all three organizations at the helm, the Sexuality Symposium developed further, integrating and emphasizing a strong social justice orientation. As more states and communities passed legislation threatening the safety and livelihood of transgender and gender non-conforming folks, the decision was made to focus the Sexuality Symposium on how mental health practitioners can support, advocate for, and enhance therapeutic skills when working with these individuals and communities, and and the family systems and relationships that support them. A fundraising component was introduced, and donations from conference proceeds have been made to Transgender Emergency Fund, Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, and Trans Lifeline.
In 2027, the Sexuality Symposium will broaden its focus to all individuals, families, and communities at the margins. This year’s theme invites participants to continue efforts to de-center cis-heteronormativity, and to deepen our exploration into unexamined cultural scripts in our clinical work and intimate lives. Workshop topics may include:
- Disability justice
- Being in community
- Reproductive justice
- Desire and desirability
- Intercultural relationships
- Therapist identity
- Queer and Trans Sexualities
- Sexuality and Race
- Intersections of theory, clinical work, and our current political realities
- The ethics and efficacy of therapy models or interventions with specific populations
Our 2027 fundraising recipient will be announced soon.
Conference Audience
- New and seasoned master’s level and licensed mental health professionals working in community-based settings and private practice.
- Bachelor’s level direct care clinicians seeking to increase understanding of systemic care and improve service delivery.
- Clinical supervisors, agency management, and agency staff seeking to increase systemic thinking around liberation praxis that includes critical thinking respective of human sexuality.
- Students preparing to enter into the profession of mental health and social services.
- Mental Health Professionals seeking to increase awareness of their services and current areas of research.
General Workshop Information
The Conference Committee is seeking six workshops that will address topics related to human sexuality and intimate relationships and align with this year’s theme, “Sexuality at the Margins". These workshops will provide participants with knowledge and clinical skills to improve systemic thinking, promote clinical growth, move effectively towards direct action or advocacy, and increase collaboration between licensed clinicians and other professionals within the field. As a reflection of our commitment to supporting our community all selected workshops will be paid a stipend of $150.00.
Timeline:
- Workshop proposals accepted: Starting October 2, 2026
- Deadline to submit workshop proposals: December 1, 2026
- Conference registration opens: January 2027
- Conference: Friday, May 21, 2027, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm ET
Conference Schedule:
8:30 - 9:00: Welcome
9:00 - 10:30: Morning workshops (participants will selected
one session to attend from multiple options)
10:45 - 11:00: Break
11:00 - 12:30: Keynote Speaker
12:30 - 1:30 Break (Lunch)
1:30 - 3:00: Afternoon workshops (participants will select
one session to attend from multiple options)
3:00 - 3:15: Break
3:15 - 4:30: Wrap up, including reflection and dialogue as a community
