Meet the Team

Diana Sadat has red wavy hair, she is smiling at the camera with an open mouth smile and wearing a black blouse. She is sitting in a chair.

Diana Sadat, RCC, CST, CST-S

Registered Clinical Counsellor, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist & Certified Sex Therapist Supervisor

Owner & Director, Allura Sex Therapy Centre

Owner & Lead Educator, Allura Sex Therapy Academy

  • Sexuality has always been my passion. As a person who feels incredibly comfortable and open to having these conversations, I’ve experienced, first-hand, how our society views and discusses topics around sex and sexuality, particularly in relationships. I have experienced the shame, guilt, embarrassment, and discomfort around sexuality, both personally and professionally, and have made it my purpose to help as many people as I can heal from sex negativity. You should be able to ask the questions that are on your mind about sex and about your relationship and get an open and honest answer without any judgement and be welcomed with genuine interest and curiosity. I want to help spread the sexual positivity that I experience to as many people as I can.

    I started teaching sex therapy over five years ago out of my love for this profession – seeing the impact of mentoring and training therapists and professionals to work with sexual issues and intimacy lights me up. Knowing that others will experience the healing power of sex positivity and curiosity from competent therapists is the ripple effect I aim to create in our community.


    My superpower as a sex therapist and supervisor is my ability to deeply listen to all the facets of clients’ sexualities with curiosity while pulling at the threads that I can see contributing to the issues that the client is struggling with today and that brings them in to see me. My trainings are developed with this same approach in mind, helping clinicians see beyond the symptom and systemically assess and integrate the multi-faceted human(s) in front of them for sexual embodiment, empowerment, and healing. I teach therapists how to develop this clinical lens with confidence, and become leaders in the therapeutic context while embodying safety, curiosity, and centering the client.

    • AASECT Certified Sex Therapist Supervisor, American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors, & Therapists (AASECT)

    • Vancouver’s first Certified Sex Therapist, AASECT

    • Registered Clinical Counsellor, BC Association of Clinical Counsellors

    • Master of Counselling Psychology, Adler University

    • EMDR Basic Training, Alivia Maric & Eve Wilensky

    • We’re Just Too Busy: Sensate Focus for Couples, Linda Weiner, MSW, LCSW

    • 35-hour Clinical Supervision Foundations Course, Janet White via City University

    • Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 1 , IFS Institute

    • Becoming an Anti-Racist, Dr. Nathalie Edmond

    • Internal Family Systems (IFS) for Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Addiction & More, Dr. Richard Schwartz & Dr. Frank Anderson

    • Sensate Focus Fundamentals, Paula Leech

    • Certificate in Holistic Sex Therapy, Institute for Sexuality Education

    • Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy Externship, Vancouver Couples & Family Institute

    • Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level I Training, The Gottman Institute

    • Treating Affairs & Trauma, The Gottman Institute

    • Somatics in Complex Trauma, The Justice Institute of British Columbia

    • Healing Trauma Level 1, Integrative Somatic Therapy Practice (ISTP)

    • Adjunct Faculty, Adler University & City University of Seattle

    • Abuse Counsellor with Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Archway Community Services

Ciara Moran, RCC, CST

Registered Clinical Counsellor, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist

Director of Clinical Services, Allura Sex Therapy Centre

  • Ciara Moran (she/her) is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, AASECT certified Sex Therapist in private practice. She specializes in sexual trauma, low desire and pleasure reclamation and is passionate about integrating bodies and joy into therapeutic practice. She loves teaching about sex and sex therapy and provides regular consultation and workshops to therapists hoping to grow their skills in the field.

    • Certified Sex Therapist, AASECT

    • Registered Clinical Counsellor, BC Association of Clinical Counsellors

    • Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, UBC

    • Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT) Level 1 Clinician, The PACT Institute

    • Sex Therapy Certificate, The Buehler Institute

    • Sensorimotor Psychotherapy level 1 , Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute

    • Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy Externship, Vancouver Couples & Family institute

    • AEDP Immersion Training, Canadian AEDP Society & Institute

Westland Academy For Clinical Sex Therapy

Allura Sex Therapy Academy is able to offer a selection of our courses only through the innovation of Dr. Teesha Morgan & Constance Lynn Hummel  – their desire to bring Westland Academy for Clinical Sex Therapy to life as a way to combat the lack of credible, accessible, training opportunities for practitioners who want to do what’s best for their clients and expand their skills and understanding in the areas of sex, sexuality, and sexual dysfunction. 

These programs are unique in that they were created through a combination of listening to lived experiences of those represented in the programs through focus groups, experts in the field to contribute their wealth of knowledge, and a team of dedicated graduate students  and research assistants who have dug deep into the research to bring you evidence-based information. 

Research Alumni

 Sam O’Brien ○ Sydney Ricciardi  ○ Victoria Rideout  ○ Madison Chen  ○ Dana Holkestad  ○ Debra Winter  ○ Stephanie Koutsoulianos ○ Parket Garrod  ○ Veronica Chase  ○ Kirti Agarwal  ○ Sophia Murray  ○ Hazel Hughes  ○ Mia D  ○ Hasan (Hus) Mawani  ○ Brittany Young Tenn ○ Deema Abu-Hannoud  ○ David Mahadevan ○ Jennifer Parlee  ○ Simone Deahl  ○ Abisheikh (Abi) Sharma  ○ Quingsheng (Ryan) Qiu  ○ Elyssa Carroll Goldman  ○ Adrianna Xue  ○ Aysha Dhala  ○ Diana Sadat  ○ Alaina Chun ○ Teah Scotten  ○ Mason Shell  ○ Chelsea Cameron  ○ Jules Ku-Lea  ○ Codie Jordan  ○ Veronica Li  ○ Brittany Underhill  ○ Emily Hanson ○

Guest Experts & Presenters

Allura Sex Therapy Academy brings together some of the top sexuality researchers, educators, therapists, and trainers in North America to provide our students and participants the best sex therapy training and education in Canada

Leatherman and Gay Activist | Author | BDSM Educator

  • Since the mid-70′s Hardy has been an active in the leather community as a gay activist, author & speaker on aspects of the SM/Leather scene. He is author of several books including, Playing with the Family Jewels, Soul of a Second Skin and Playing With Pain as well as a contributor to the Dallas Voice newspaper and Leatherati. Professionally he is marketer and filmmaker. His documentary on the leather lifestyle “LEATHER” has won numerous awards and appeared in festivals around the world, and his film, “Out of the Darkness, The Reality of SM” is currently being used by health care professionals around the world. The current recipient of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Leather Leadership Award, he was also awarded NLAI’s Man Of The Year award in 1999 and in 2007 he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Leather Association International. Most recently he was honored to be a judge for IML 2013 and ILSb 2013. Hardy currently serves as Co-Chairperson of the board of the Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance in Washington, DC. Find his interview in the BDSM: Working with Kinky Clients Course.

Alternative Sexuality & BDSM Educator

  • Queer. Kinkster. Nerd. Slut. Educator. Activist. Redrobin is a Vancouver-based international presenter of alternative sexuality and identifies as a queer, genderfluid (she/her), polyamorous switch. She’s been involved in her local sex and kink community since 2007. She began teaching lap dancing classes for The Bachelor Plan in 2010, then in 2014 taught her first BDSM class for MVK and soon was teaching regularly for both the BDSM community as well as the sex and swinger communities. She has previously been Vice President of Metro Vancouver Kink and organizer of the Queer and Trans event known as The Rainbow Connection. Her background in nursing has fueled her passion for the human body and mind, and she enjoys exploring her own as well as others. She wants to give back by helping others experiment with their sexuality and is a firm believer that you can never stop learning! You can learn more at Alternativesexuality.ca Find her interview in the BDSM: Working with Kinky Clients Course.

BDSM & Kink Sex Educator

  • Melody Anne is a sex educator, workshop presenter, research assistant, kinkster, and all-around sensual adventurer. A shameless sex geek with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a minor in Critical Studies in Sexuality from the University of British Columbia, she completed Options for Sexual Health’s Sexual Health Educator Certification program, and juggles her time between volunteering at two sex research labs and facilitating workshops on sexual health and pleasure. She has presented on topics ranging from sexuality and invisible disabilities to consent in BDSM, at venues including the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, ConvergeCon, the Guelph Sexuality Conference, and Metro Vancouver Kink. You can find the latest on Melody Anne on her Facebook Page, Erotic Education with Melody Anne (www.facebook.com/eroticeducator), or follow her on Twitter at @EroticEducator. Find her interview in the BDSM: Working with Kinky Clients Course.

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Human Sexuality Professor | Founder of O.R.G.A.S.M. Research Lab

  • Dr. Cory Pedersen earned her PhD from the University of British Columbia in 2004. After teaching many years as a graduate student at UBC and sessional instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Cory was hired full time at Kwantlen. Her interest in human sexuality began in 2007, with research on developmental trends in the adolescent sexual timetable. She developed the very popular course, Psychology 3010 (Human Sexuality) in 2008 and has been immersed in sexology ever since. By 2012, and several sexology honours students later, Cory had founded the ORGASM (Observations and Research in Gender and Sexuality Matters) Research Lab to further her interests, while giving students the opportunity to gain valuable research experience. Several collaborative projects with the lab have been presented at respected psychology conferences and are in submission for publication. You can find out more about her work at Orgasmresearchlab.com. Find her interview in the Penis Problems: Working with Erectile Dysfunction, Premature Ejaculation and Delayed Ejaculation Course.

Director, UBC Sexual Health Laboratory | Canada Research Chair in Women’s Sexual Health

  • Marcy Dayan is a registered physiotherapist and is a designated Clinical Specialist in Women’s Health with expertise in the management and treatment of both female and male bladder and bowel control, vaginal/genital/rectal pain, diastasis abdominus and perinatal low back and pubic bone/groin pain. Since graduating from UBC with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy in 1984, Marcy has completed postgraduate courses in incontinence, pain, sexual health and counseling, pelvic dysfunction and orthopaedics. She has also completed a Master of Health Administration from the University of British Columbia. Active in clinical practice, teaching and research, Marcy works in private practice, and is a also a clinical faculty member and lecturer on urogenital pathophysiology in the Master of Physiotherapy program at the University of British Columbia. You can find out more about her and her work at Dayanphysio.com. Find her interview in the Painful Sex: Working with Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder Course.

Founder – Ohnut | Sexual Health Advocate

  • Emily is a spritely entrepreneur who has always been passionate about creating catalysts that spark human connection. While developing Ohnut (an intimate wearable designed to help women and couples who experience deep dyspareunia) she co-founded the Lady Bits League and co-launched the Sexual Wellness Summit, to connect people and professionals from all over the sexual health world, through education and story. Emily has redefined her life as a proud entrepreneur, maker, community leader, and sexual health advocate. You can find out more about her work with Ohnut here. Find her interview in the Painful Sex: Working with Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder Course.

Certified Imago Therapist | Trauma Therapist | Educator

  • Maureen is a Registered Clinical Counsellor who works with survivors of trauma, including complex trauma and dissociation – both historical and recent. She is a long-standing instructor with the Justice Institute of BC, teaching other counsellors skills for working with complex trauma.

    Through her Vancouver-based private practice she works with individuals, couples and groups, as well as provides clinical consultations to a number of counsellors and agencies. She does extensive work with couples where one or both of the partners is a trauma survivor. She has written several articles, including one co-authored with Maggie Zieglar on counter-transference in trauma groups. She also wrote “Balancing conflicting Interest: A Counsellor’s Guide to the Legal Process, 3rd Edition”.

    She is a certified Imago Relationship therapist (Advanced Clinician) and Clinical Consultant. Along with her business partner Tamara Adilman, Maureen also presents Imago-based “Getting the Love You Want” weekend workshops for couples. You can find out more about her work with couples by visiting www.ImagoVancouver.com Find her interview in the BDSM: Working with Kinky Clients Course.

Canadian Certified Counsellor } Certified Adlerian Counsellor

  • Joe Ramirez is a Canadian Certified Counsellor with a Master of Counselling Psychology from Adler University, a Certified Adlerian Psychotherapist, a member of the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology, and the Founder and Director of Clear Counselling.

    Joe is experienced in working with men, women, and trans-individuals on a variety of identity, sexual, and relationship concerns, helping clients be more in sync with forward movement. He provides Supervision to his team, a guest speaker on Adlerian Counselling, and an adjunct instructor at Adler University.

    Find his interview in the Penis Problems: Working with Erectile Dysfunction, Premature Ejaculation and Delayed Ejaculation Course.

Urologist | Senior Surgeon-Scientist

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AASECT Certified Sex Therapist & Sex Therapist Supervisor

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Clinical Psychologist | Director of the Sexual Health Research Laboratory (sexlab.ca)

  • Dr. Ryan Flannigan is an Assistant Professor and surgeon-scientist in the Department of Urologic Sciences at the University of British Columbia. He received his subspecialty training at Weill Cornell Medicine and now focuses his clinical and surgical practice in the management of erectile dysfunction, Peyronie’s disease, male infertility and microsurgery. He has an active translational research program working toward developing new technological advances for penile implants to better treat erectile dysfunction, novel pharmacological agents for Peyronies disease and regenerative therapies for severe male infertility. He has been recognized with numerous national and international research awards and is a contributing author to the new Canadian Urologic Association Erectile dysfunction guidelines, and is the lead author for the Canadian male infertility guidelines. Find his interview in the Penis Problems: Working with Erectile Dysfunction, Premature Ejaculation and Delayed Ejaculation Course.

Director, UBC Sexual Health Laboratory | Canada Research Chair in Women’s Sexual Health

  • Paula received her Bachelor’s Degree in Family and Human Development at Arizona State University and then went on to receive her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Massachusetts, at Boston. Post family therapy licensure, she became AASECT (American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists) certified as a Sex Therapist and worked with individuals, relationships, and families in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts for over ten years. In that time, she received AASECT certification as a Supervisor of Sex Therapy, and co-founded a sex therapy agency and training institute where she saw clients in addition to training therapists to become competent, confident sex therapists themselves. Paula continues to regularly present at various training institutes as well as Universities and therapy agencies across the US and Canada. She is the author of Overcoming Anxiety in Sex and Relationships: A comprehensive guide to intimate and emotional freedom.

  • Dr. Brotto is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of British Columbia, Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychology at Simon Fraser University, and the Executive Director of the Women’s Health Research Institute. She is a member of the International Academy of Sex Research, the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health, the Society for Sex Therapy and Research, the Canadian Sex Research Forum, and the Canadian Psychological Association. She is also a Registered Psychologist who sees clients through her private practice – the Tri-Cities Sexual Health Services, while also running the UBC Sexual Health Laboratory. To find out more about Dr. Brotto and her work see Loribrotto.com

  • Dr. Caroline Pukall, a Clinical Psychologist, is Professor of Psychology, Director of the Sexual Health Research Laboratory (sexlab.ca), and Director of the Sex Therapy Service (Queen’s Psychology Clinic) in the Department of Psychology at Queen’s University. Her research focuses on human sexuality, with a particular focus on vulvodynia (chronic genital pain), postpartum pain and sexual function, persistent genital arousal disorder, sexual arousal, sexual health in cancer patients, and diverse relationships. In the Sex Therapy Service, Caroline trains student therapists on sex and couple therapy techniques for clients who have sexual, relationship, and/or gender concerns. You can find out more about her and her work at Sexlab.ca. Find her interview in the Painful Sex: Working with Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder Course.