When Therapy Gets Spicy Part 2: Clinical Deep Dive
Instructor
Greg Kilpatrick, LMFT, CST
In-person Course
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
12:00 – 1:30pm
Location
The Alamo Psychotherapy and Training
6401 Ruby Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90042
1.5 CEs for qualifying professionals.
Course fee
$40 for licensed therapists
$25 for pre-licensed and students
Sex, sexuality, gender and relationship structure are frequent themes in cultural discourse, but how often do they move from subtext to explicit conversation in therapy? Chances are, both you and your clients are thinking about these topics more than you're talking about them. This training explores the complex, often unspoken dynamics that shape the therapeutic space, especially when it comes to identity, desire, and relational diversity.
In this second session on navigating sex and sexuality in the therapy room, we’ll focus on clinical applications.
Therapists—especially those practicing in urban and culturally diverse communities—often encounter sexualities and relationships that differ significantly from what we were taught in graduate school, and often from our own lived experience. This workshop is grounded in the belief that therapy becomes more effective when we understand what we bring into the room.
Grounded in Howard Bacal’s Specificity Theory and Sari vanAnders’ Sexual Configurations Theory, and held within the broader frame of contemporary psychoanalysis, this workshop explores how therapists can more fully and flexibly show up for their clients. Through clinical material from both the presenter and attendees, we’ll move beyond theory into real-world application.
A limited number of attendees will be given the opportunity to present a case for discussion. If you are interested in this, please email the workshop organizer prior to the event.
Optional readings, provided upon registration:
Bacal, H. A. (2011). Specificity Theory: The Evolution of a Process Theory of Psychoanalytic Treatment. American Imago, 68(2), 267–285.
van Anders S. M. (2015). Beyond Sexual Orientation: Integrating Gender/Sex and Diverse Sexualities via Sexual Configurations Theory. Archives of sexual behavior, 44(5), 1177–1213.
Iantaffi, A., Barker, M.-J., Scheele, J. (ill.), & van Anders, S. M. (2018). Mapping your sexuality: From sexual orientation to sexual configurations theory [Zine; PDF]. Queen’s University, van Anders Lab.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this training, participant will be able to:
Describe therapeutic stances that can be taken when working with erotically marginalized patients, with a special focus on alternative sexualities and relationship structures.
Apply Sexual Configurations Theory (SCT) to clinical case formulation and ongoing treatment.
Articulate intersections between therapist and client identities that may arise in work with erotically marginalized populations.
Instructor Credentials
Greg Kilpatrick, LMFT, CST is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Sex Therapist (AASECT) in private practice in Pasadena, California. He specializes in working with clients navigating sexuality, gender, religious trauma, and alternative relationship structures, with a particular focus on queer individuals, people recovering from purity culture or religious fundamentalism, and those exploring kink or non-monogamy.
Greg’s clinical approach is relational, affirming, and grounded in a deep respect for complexity, particularly the messy intersections of identity, desire, and belief. He has advanced training in sex therapy, alt-sex and alt-relationship frameworks, and religious trauma, and these areas form the core of both his clinical and research work.
In addition to his practice, Greg teaches and facilitates trainings for mental health professionals on working with sexuality and relational diversity. He is a member of the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists and is committed to expanding cultural responsiveness and clinical nuance around topics that are often under-discussed, especially in the therapy room.
For more information or questions contact us at thealamoprograms@gmail.com
Refund policy: Participants seeking a refund can email us at thealamoprograms@gmail.com at least 15 days before the first meeting. Refunds requested 15 days or earlier will receive 100% refund. 14-7 days prior, participants are eligible for a 50% refund. No refund will be provided 6 days prior or less.
Course attendance certificates awarded within 21 days of end of course.
Course meets the qualifications for 1.5 hours of continuing education credit for PhD, LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the American Psychological Association and the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
The Alamo Psychotherapy and Training is a dba of Michelle Harwell Therapy. Michelle Harwell Therapy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Michelle Harwell Therapy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
No known conflict of interest or commercial support for Michelle Harwell Therapy, The Alamo Psychotherapy and Training, or the instructor.
Contact Us
To request accommodations for special needs, obtain the grievance policy, report a grievance, request a refund, request more information about the course, or if you have general questions, please email us at thealamoprograms@gmail.com