What is a SAR? 
SEXUAL ATTITUDE REASSESSMENT (SAR)

Our next SAR will be VIRTUAL
on March 22-23, 2024

What is a SAR?

The Sexual Attitude Reassessment (SAR) workshop is a unique experience designed to help professionals confront and understand their countertransference to sexual material brought in by the client. It is also a requirement for AASECT certification. We offer the SAR once per year for primarily for your convenience. 

Our workshop is designed to be inclusive of all kinds of people engaged in all kinds of behaviors--behaviors that may make sense, or that may be confusing. A SAR stimulates sex-positive discussions and questions: How do we experience our own sexuality? What about the sexuality of others? Do you understand today’s sexual attitudes and behaviors? How does thinking about, observing, or experiencing that landscape make you feel? 

Stephanie, Natasha and Ruby are all experienced SAR leaders and have decades of experience as psychotherapists between them. Both are AASECT certified sex therapists and supervisors of sex therapy. Natasha is expert at navigating issues related to religion and culture, while Stephanie has written a broad textbook about sex therapy and sexuality that was just updated for publication later this year. Ruby has recently joined our SAR facilitator team and will be adding her expertise in Black sexuality and kink to our repertoire. We are so grateful for our well-rounded team!

*Nobody is required to watch sexually explicit material, but you are required to participate in discussions. And yes, listening is also participating.

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When is the next SAR?

March 22-23, 2024
VIRTUAL SAR 


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THE SAR IS A UNIQUE GROWTH EXPERIENCE!

People who take a SAR generally emerge with new self-knowledge about their own sexuality. This helps them be more open-minded and compassionate of those clients whose experience of sexuality may be very different from their own.
People who take a SAR generally emerge with new self-knowledge about their own sexuality. This helps them be more open-minded and compassionate of those clients whose experience of sexuality may be very different from their own.
When we are unable to acknowledge or be in touch with our own misconceptions about the broad span of human sexual behavior, we can end up projecting guilt and shame onto others. Nobody wants that!
When we are unable to acknowledge or be in touch with our own misconceptions about the broad span of human sexual behavior, we can end up projecting guilt and shame onto others. Nobody wants that!

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU? DIP IN AND FIND OUT!

The aim of the SAR is to desensitize sex educators, counselors, and therapists so that they can be fully present and open to sexual material of all types. The SAR is designed to be a space for exploring attitudes, values, and beliefs about sex in self and others.
Our SAR includes exposure to sexually explicit material. No one will ever be forced to look at material if it goes against personal values to do so. We encourage everyone, however, to participate in discussions whether or not they have viewed the material.
We do not share what is in the SAR in advance of the experience because we want you to have an authentic response in the here and now. We hope that you will trust our professional judgment in bringing you a meaningful workshop that will enhance your understanding of sexuality.
All You Need to Bring Is an Open Mind...
The aim of the SAR is to desensitize sex educators, counselors, and therapists so that they can be fully present and open to sexual material of all types. The SAR is designed to be a space for exploring attitudes, values, and beliefs about sex in self and others.
Our SAR includes exposure to sexually explicit material. No one will ever be forced to look at material if it goes against personal values to do so. We encourage everyone, however, to participate in discussions whether or not they have viewed the material.
We do not share what is in the SAR in advance of the experience because we want you to have an authentic response in the here and now. We hope that you will trust our professional judgment in bringing you a meaningful workshop that will enhance your understanding of sexuality.
All You Need to Bring Is an Open Mind...

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM A SAR?

The SAR experience can help anyone in the sexual or mental health field understand sexual attitudes, values, and beliefs.
The SAR is for:

 
  • Psychotherapists: Psychologists, MFTs, LPCs, LCSWs, MSWs, psychiatric nurses
  • Health care providers: Physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, physical therapists
    Sex educators: All areas of expertise, from family planning to college and university instructors
The SAR experience can help anyone in the sexual or mental health field understand sexual attitudes, values, and beliefs. The SAR is for:

  • Psychotherapists: Psychologists, MFTs, LPCs, LCSWs, MSWs, psychiatric nurses
  • Health care providers: Physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, physical therapists
  • Sex educators of all types, from family planning to college and university instructors

SAR: Frequently Asked Questions

Is your SAR AASECT approved?

Yes. LearnSexTherapy.com is sponsored by The Buehler Institute, which is an approved institutional provider for AASECT.

Will you offer other types of CE, e.g., APA?

The SAR experience is unique to AASECT. Only AASECT CEs will be offered.

Can anyone take the SAR?

Graduate students and professionals who want to become AASECT certified must take a SAR. Professionals who cannot meet the AASECT residency requirement but who are enrolled in one of The Buehler Institute's programs are welcome to attend.

Can I take the SAR if I am in a program from another AASECT provider?

Of course, just enroll!

Why is your SAR 10 hours instead of 14 hours or more?

We decided to meet what was the minimum requirement for AASECT certification purposes because it allowed busy professionals to arrive Friday afternoon, stay all day Saturday, and fly out. AASECT recently changed the requirement to a 14-hour minimum, which begins January 2022. Enjoy the convenience of a 10-hour SAR!

Is the SAR completely online?

Yes. Due to COVID we will only be offering an online SAR experience. We may offer live SAR experiences in the future.

Who the heck are Stephanie Buehler and Natasha Helfer?

Dr. Stephanie Buehler is a licensed psychologist and Natasha Helfer is an LMFT, and both are Certified Sex Therapists and Supervisors of Sex Therapy. Between them they have over 25 years of experience in the field and have lead many types of groups, including past SARs. Dr. Buehler is Director of LearnSexTherapy.com by The Buehler Institute and is the author of What Every Mental Health Professional Needs to Know about Sex, with a third edition coming out in Fall 2021. 

Will there be sexually explicit material?

Yes. We have carefully curated sexually explicit material and show it not to titillate but to make certain points about human sexuality. The Buehler Institute SAR is designed to make you think about people and the diverse range of sexual expression and experiences. You are not required to watch the material, but you are required to participate in discussion.

What if I am triggered by the SAR?

We will do our best to give a trigger warning before showing certain material, but we cannot predict who might be triggered. You will have the opportunity to process material in small groups, in pairs, and as a whole group. You may also send a private message to Stephanie or Natasha. Finally, we encourage you to identify either another certified AASECT member or a supervisor with whom you can further discuss your response after the SAR experience is completed.

Our next SAR is September 8-9, 2023.
We can't wait to see you there!

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