SSTAR Society for Sex Therapy and Research

04/06/2026

Dear colleagues,

With just about one month to go before 2026 SSTAR Annual Meeting, which will take place in Vancouver, British Columbia, from May 7–9, 2026, we are delighted to share the attached final program.

Registration
Register here: https://sstarnet.glueup.com/event/2026-sstar-annual-meeting-s*xuality-in-connection-a-systemic-perspective-162242/
Registration closes May 1

Hotel information
This year, the Annual Meeting will be held at the beautiful JW Marriott Parq Vancouver and the DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection. Located in the heart of the city, the hotel offers unbeatable access to the waterfront, mountain views, upscale dining, and the downtown atmosphere. Whether you want world-class food, ocean views, or quick access to major attractions, this location has it all.

Book your room at the event hotel:
The DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection
45 Smithe Street
Vancouver, BC
V6B 0R3
Tel: +1 604-676-0888

A block of rooms with a special group rate has been reserved for SSTAR attendees at 475 $CAD plus taxes and service fees in the DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection Hotel.

Reserve your room here: https://book.passkey.com/event/51141970/owner/49681054/home

If calling the hotel, please inform reservations that you are attending the SSTAR 2026 Annual Meeting to receive the special rate. The room block will be released on April 9th, 2026, so please make your reservation early. After that date, room availability and prices are not guaranteed and may increase.

Workshops – Thursday, May 7
Three workshops take place on May 7 (ethics + two clinical workshops). If you want to attend a workshop but you are already registered, please contact us.

Social event – Friday, May 8 (Cruise)
Our Friday evening social is a dinner cruise. Spots are limited, if you plan to attend, we strongly encourage you to register soon. Guests are welcome and can be added during registration.

Student & ECP events
• Student & ECP Social (May 7) – advance registration required
• Student & ECP Lunch & Learn (May 8) – advance registration required
If you are a student or early career professional, we hope you will join these events, both are excellent opportunities to connect and learn.

If you have any questions as you review the program, please reach out at conferencechair@sstarnet.org.

We can’t wait to welcome you to Vancouver for what promises to be an outstanding Annual Meeting.

Warmly,

Marie-Pier Vaillancourt-Morel & Ryan Rahm-Knigge
SSTAR 2026 Scientific Program Chair and Co-Chair
conferencechair@sstarnet.org

S*xuality in Connection: A Systemic PerspectiveThe conference will explore how s*xuality is shaped by interpersonal dynamics, relational contexts, broader systemic influences, and technology. Emphasizing the integration of cutting-edge research with clinical applications, we will highlight how polit...

04/03/2026

✨ Registration is open! ✨
Join us for an inspiring few days at the Society for S*x Therapy and Research conference, where we’ll explore “S*xuality in Connection: A Systemic Perspective.”

From relationships to technology, we’re diving into the many layers that shape human s*xuality in today’s world.
📍 Vancouver, BC
📅 May 7–9, 2026

Connect, learn, and be part of the conversation.
🔗 Register now: www.sstarnet.org

*xTherapy *xualHealth

03/17/2026

We are excited to share that this year’s program will feature TWO invited lectures that integrate a medical perspective into the discussion of s*xuality.

In-person and virtual tickets are available here: sstarnet.glueup.com/event/2026-sstar-annual-meeting-s*xuality-in-connection-a-systemic-perspective-162242/

See you in Vancouver!

Dear SSTAR members,

Here is our bi-weekly update for the SSTAR 2026 Annual Meeting. We are excited to share that this year’s program will feature TWO invited lectures that integrate a medical perspective into the discussion of s*xuality.

Warm regards,
Marie-Pier Vaillancourt-Morel & Ryan Rahm-Knigge
SSTAR 2026 Scientific Program Chair and co-Chair Annual Meeting

03/13/2026

Dear colleagues,

It has been a while since we shared updates regarding the 2026 SSTAR Annual Meeting, which will take place in Vancouver, British Columbia, from May 7–9, 2026. To spark your excitement, we are pleased to share a brief early registration update, along with what comes next as we finalize the program.

Early registration snapshot (as of March 9)
• Total registrations: 140 registrations (133 in person)
• Friday Social (Cruise, May 8): 61 registrations

These numbers are extraordinary for SSTAR, and we are excited to see you all on the West Coast! Please note that these numbers will continue to change daily, thank you for helping spread the word.

Registration
Register here: https://sstarnet.glueup.com/event/2026-sstar-annual-meeting-s*xuality-in-connection-a-systemic-perspective-162242/
Registration closes May 1

Updated program
We are also pleased to share the updated program (attached), which now includes all presenters. Minor, last-minute adjustments may still occur due to unforeseen circumstances.

https://sstarnet.glueup.com/resources/protected/organization/6356/event/162242/90c0c526-e392-44ab-9212-45fa84bae243.pdf

In the meantime, we would be grateful if you could continue to forward the registration email within your networks and affiliated organizations, your support makes a real difference.

Warmly,

Marie-Pier Vaillancourt-Morel & Ryan Rahm-Knigge
SSTAR 2026 Scientific Program Chair and co-Chair
conferencechair@sstarnet.org

01/13/2026

Dear colleagues,

We are pleased to share another update for the SSTAR 2026 Annual Meeting. This year, we are bringing back our popular critical debate, with the theme:
A Critical Debate: Rethinking the Role of Clinical Intuition and Empirical Evidence in S*x Therapy

S*x therapy is a field grounded in both empirical evidence and clinical wisdom, but how evenly weighted are they? While professional organizations like SSTAR promote a foundation in evidence-based practice, the field itself faces notable challenges: limited large-scale RCTs, methodological variability, and frequent borrowing from adjacent disciplines such as general CBT, mindfulness, or trauma therapy. Can we genuinely claim our interventions are supported by robust, converging evidence? Is our confidence in what “works” truly supported by evidence, or are we relying too heavily on intuition, experience, and borrowed techniques.

This year’s debate will explore key questions, and our speakers will be assigned one side:

On one side, proponents argue that clinical intuition, honed through years of experience, is not only valuable but essential. Given the complexity of s*xual concerns and the limitations of existing studies, these therapists believe they do know what they're doing, that their expertise allows them to adapt flexibly to clients’ unique needs in ways that rigid adherence to empirical manuals cannot.

On the other side, critics argue that clinical confidence is not a substitute for scientific validation. They question whether s*x therapy is as evidence-based as it claims to be. Are we overstating the strength of our empirical foundation? Should we be more rigorous in what we claim to know until interventions are backed by strong, converging data from well-designed studies?

Ultimately, the discussion will examine whether s*x therapy is best understood as an empirically guided practice informed by clinical wisdom, or as a primarily intuitive art with selective reference to evidence.
We are thrilled to announce that Kathryn Hall and Elizabeth A. Grill will take on assigned positions in this lively debate, with Jason Winters moderating.

Warm regards,

Marie-Pier Vaillancourt-Morel & Ryan Rahm-Knigge
SSTAR 2026 Scientific Program Chair

12/29/2025

Dear SSTAR members,

Here is our bi-weekly update for the SSTAR 2026 Annual Meeting. We are excited to share that this year’s program will feature TWO invited lectures that integrate a medical perspective into the discussion of s*xuality.

Warm regards,
Marie-Pier Vaillancourt-Morel & Ryan Rahm-Knigge
SSTAR 2026 Scientific Program Chair and co-Chair Annual Meeting

12/17/2025

Dear colleagues,

We are excited to let you know that registration for the 2026 SSTAR Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, is now open! This email contains information about registration, events, hotel booking, scholarships, sponsorships, and CE credits. To help you plan your attendance, we have attached to this email the preliminary program, which includes the main highlights of the 2026 Annual Meeting and another document with the full abstracts for each workshop, plenary and invited talk. Please note that there may be some changes to the schedule, so this is not the final program.

It is going to be a great Annual Meeting, and we hope you will be able to join us!

Marie-Pier Vaillancourt-Morel & Ryan Rahm-Knigge
SSTAR 2026 Scientific Program Chair and co-Chair
conferencechair@sstarnet.org

REGISTRATION
Registration is now open and can be completed here:
https://sstarnet.glueup.com/event/2026-sstar-annual-meeting-s*xuality-in-connection-a-systemic-perspective-162242/

Please register no later than March 1, 2026 to receive the best registration rate. Presenters must register by March 1, 2026, or they will be removed from the program. Attendees who register between March 1 and May 1 will be charged the late registration fee (US$50). All registrations must be completed by May 1, 2026.

Registration includes:
•Two days of clinical and research presentations on s*xuality
•The poster session and welcome reception on Thursday evening, with a cash bar available
•Breakfast and coffee breaks on Friday and Saturday
•Saturday lunch and awards
•Plenty of opportunities for exciting discussions with colleagues!

During the registration process, you can also add the following items to your cart:
•Registration for the ethics workshop on May 7
•Registration for two clinical workshops on May 7
•Friday social event (see below) including additional tickets for your guests
•For students and early career professionals (ECP): Student & ECP Social on May 7
•For students and ECPs: Student Lunch and Learn on May 8
•Continuing education credits

FRIDAY SOCIAL EVENT (May 8, 2026)
SSTAR continues its tradition of offering an offsite social gathering after the meeting on Friday evening, May 8. This year’s social event is a cruise along the beautiful bay of Vancouver. The cost of this event is US$105 per person and includes:
•A cruise between 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm
•A three-course dinner
•Non-alcoholic beverages
•Cash bar
•Music
•And lots of fun!
You can register for the social event at the same time as the Annual Meeting, and guests are warmly welcome as they can be added to your registration. We encourage you to book your tickets early to guarantee a spot. You can also sponsor a student for the social event by adding this item in your card and your donation will give one of our student attendee the opportunity to attend the Friday Night Social Event at no cost to them. Thank you for your generosity!

STUDENT & ECP SOCIAL (May 7, 2026 – 7:30 to 8:30 pm)
Join us for a relaxed opportunity to meet and connect with other students and early career professionals attending SSTAR with free food! Participants will also have the chance to nominate themselves for a student representative position and get to know members of the SSTAR Executive Council.
All student and ECP attendees are welcome, but advance registration is required, as space is limited.

LUNCH AND LEARN (Networking Event – May 8, 2026 – 12:30 to 2:00 pm)
Have lunch with interdisciplinary experts in s*x research and therapy while learning the ins and outs of their unique roles. This is a great opportunity for students and ECPs to ask questions, network, and gain insight into different professional paths.
All student and ECP attendees are welcome, but advance registration is required, as space is limited.

HOTEL INFORMATION
This year, the Annual Meeting will be held at the beautiful JW Marriott Parq Vancouver and the DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection. Located in the heart of the city, the hotel offers unbeatable access to the waterfront, mountain views, upscale dining, and the downtown atmosphere. Whether you want world-class food, ocean views, or quick access to major attractions, this location has it all.

Book your room at the event hotel:
The DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection
45 Smithe Street
Vancouver, BC
V6B 0R3
Tel: +1 604-676-0888

A block of rooms with a special group rate has been reserved for SSTAR attendees at 475 $CAD plus taxes and service fees in the DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection Hotel.

Reserve your room here: https://book.passkey.com/event/51141970/owner/49681054/home

If calling the hotel, please inform reservations that you are attending the SSTAR 2026 Annual Meeting to receive the special rate. The room block will be released on April 9th, 2026, so please make your reservation early. After that date, room availability and prices are not guaranteed and may increase.

SCHOLARSHIPS
SSTAR is deeply committed to fostering clinical s*xuality practice and research. To fulfill this mission, SSTAR aims to be a welcoming and inclusive environment for all who are interested in human s*xuality, including Black, Indigenous, and other Persons of Color (BIPOC), individuals from 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, students, and early career professionals.

SSTAR recognizes that conference registration fees can be a financial barrier and is therefore offering 4 scholarships for the 2026 Conference on Friday and Saturday, May 8–9, 2026. Applicants do not need to be SSTAR members.
To apply, complete the form here: https://cripcas.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_508jlA4IWvlcxTM

The deadline to apply is February 16, 2026. Applicants will be notified by February 23, 2026.

SPONSORSHIPS
Support SSTAR’s mission to foster clinical s*xuality practice and research and gain exposure to around 125-225 attendees. The sponsorship opportunities available here:
https://sstarnet.glueup.com/resources/protected/organization/6356/event/162242/181681db-ccc6-4093-a563-ad47cbf947d3.pdf
offer several levels of support and can be customized to fit your needs. Please reach out to the SSTAR office with any questions or for more information about sponsorship options.

We extend our sincere thanks to Modern S*x Therapy Institute for their Gold Level support and to all of our committed sponsors, including the University of Montreal S*xual Health Laboratory, the Eli Coleman Institute for S*xual and Gender Health at the University of Minnesota, the S*xual Health Alliance, Dr. Stephen Levine, Vigorito Counseling & Consulting, and Ontario S*x Therapy.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS
The SSTAR 2026 Annual Meeting is being planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Approval is pending to receive CE credits from AASECT, APA, NASW, and NYSED Social Work and NYSED Psychology.

The exact breakdown of CE credits is under review by these accrediting bodies and will be posted as soon as it is finalized.
For questions regarding CE credits, please contact:
Caroline Maykut at: caroline.maykut@gmail.com
David Lafortune at: lafortune-sgambato.david@uqam.ca

10/28/2025

This is your final week to submit an abstract for the 2026 SSTAR Annual Meeting, taking place May 7–9, 2026, in Vancouver, Canada.

This year’s theme, “S*xuality in Connection: A Systemic Perspective,” invites us to explore s*xuality within the dynamic, relational, and contextual systems in which it unfolds.

Our Scientific Program Chair and Co-Chair, together with the Planning Scientific Committee and Local Hosts, are creating an inspiring and engaging program—and we want you to be part of it! Whether your work is empirical, clinical, or theoretical, we invite you to share your insights by submitting an abstract for presentation.
Don’t miss the deadline—abstract submissions close October 31, 2025.

👉 Submit your abstract by October 31, 2025.

Submit your abstract here: https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/79677/submitter

View full submission instructions here:
https://sstarnet.org/sites/default/files/content-files/Call%20for%20abstract%202026%20FINAL.docx

10/15/2025

We are delighted to invite you to submit an abstract for the 51st SSTAR Annual Meeting to be held in Vancouver from May 7 to 9, 2026! The theme of the 2026 conference is S*xuality in connection: A systematic perspective.

Abstracts on all s*xuality-focused empirical research, clinical observations, and theoretical formulations are welcome, and we particularly encourage submissions that focus on how s*xuality is shaped by interpersonal dynamics, relational contexts, broader systemic influences, and technology.

This includes, but is not limited to, work that examines how political, cultural, legal, relational, and digital systems surrounding individuals can shape s*xuality and inform both practice and research in s*xual health.

You can submit your abstract in one of two categories:

1. Research-focused abstracts

2. Clinically-oriented abstracts

All abstracts must be well-structured and clearly articulated. Research abstracts must clearly identify the clinical implications of the findings and show methodological rigor. Clinical abstracts must clearly articulate how the content is grounded by or meaningfully connected with existing empirical or theoretical frameworks.

Submissions that are solely anecdotal or insufficiently contextualized within existing literature will not be considered. We encourage strong evidence-informed contributions that are clearly positioned within the broader research or clinical discourse.

All abstracts are to be submitted through Oxford Abstracts, an abstract management software that will makes it easy to organize, review, and standardize all submissions. The submission portal is now open and will remain open until the deadline, October 31, 2025.

Use this link to submit your abstract: https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/79677/submitter

The deadline for this opportunity is October 31, 2025!

https://sstarnet.org/save-date-thursday-may-7-2026-saturday-may-9-2026

Looking ahead, we’re pleased to share that the 2026 SSTAR Annual Meeting will take place from May 7–9, 2026, at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver and the DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

10/08/2025

Thank you so much to everyone who was able to join us (both virtually and in person) for the 2025 Fall Clinical Case Conference in Toronto! It was filled with vibrant and thoughtful discussion!

Excited to see you all at the 2026 Annual Meeting, May 7-9 in Vancouver! We are accepting abstracts now.

09/19/2025

NEXT WEEK!!

Hello all! Here's an update for the Fall Clinical Case Conference, we will be offering 6 CE credits for AASECT, APA, NYSED Social Work, and NYSED Psychology.

This event is also approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval # 886770612-6946) for 6 continuing education contact hours.

To register, please visit

This year's conference, scheduled for September 26, will continue the tradition of previous case conferences. It will feature detailed presentations of clinical case material, followed by extensive time for thorough examination, analysis, and discussion of the clinical issues, case dynamics, and tre...

08/27/2025

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Eric FitzMedrud as a featured presenter at the SSTAR 2025 Fall Clinical Case Conference, taking place on Friday, September 26, 2025, at the Novotel Toronto Centre.

Dr. FitzMedrud will present his session, “Are We There Yet?: Efficacy Challenges with OCSB, ADHD, OCD, and Spiritual Beliefs”, at 9:00 AM. This case presentation follows the treatment of an early 30s Indian American man seeking help for what he described as “s*xual problems,” “stuff hidden,” and “addiction.” Through this case, Dr. FitzMedrud will examine the complex intersections of culture, spirituality, and masculinity, and how these themes shape both the clinical process and treatment outcomes.

We invite you to join us for this compelling session as Dr. FitzMedrud explores the challenges and nuances clinicians face when navigating overlapping diagnoses and deeply personal belief systems in therapeutic work.
____________________________________________________________________

Eric FitzMedrud
Private Practice Therapist

Eric FitzMedrud is a therapist specializing in relationship and s*xual issues in the San Francisco Bay Area. His specialty is helping men improve their s*x lives by learning to regulate their emotions, removing s*xual entitlement, and honing their s*xual consent and negotiation skills. FitzMedrud is a member of the American Association of S*xuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. He’s the award-winning author of “The Better Man: A Guide to Consent, Stronger Relationships, and Hotter S*x” and he’s been published in academic books, and an academic journal. He’s spoken at multiple conferences, trained therapists, and taught many graduate courses in psychology. FitzMedrud has a PhD in Clinical Psychology. He is polyamorous and bis*xual, and lives with his wife of twenty-five years and his life partner of eight years in San Francisco’s East Bay area.