Neurobiology of Sex, Love & Attachment

Title of Event: Neurobiology of Sex, Love & Attachment

Description of Event:

This course is a primer to help mental health professionals understand the application of neuroscience to clinical work with love, sex, and relationships. It will offer clinicians the ability to have a more robust appreciation for the role neurobiology and affect regulation play in clients’ sex and romantic lives.

Learning Objectives: 

Describe the basic tenets of Affect Regulation and Interpersonal Neurobiology theories, as well as how to integrate these models into their work.
Explain the interplay of clients’ attachment styles and nervous systems, in relationship, and how to help them develop more relational security with co-regulation activities.
Discuss the neuroscience of sex, arousal and desire.

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Kate Balestrieri, Psy.D., CSAT-S, is a Licensed Psychologist (Clinical and Forensic) in CA,FL, NY and IL. She is a Certified Sex Therapist, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist – Supervisor, and PACT III trained couples’ therapist.

Dr. Balestrieri earned her Doctorate of Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, and completed her Post-Doctoral Fellowship though the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, with a concentration in Forensic Psychology. In over 16 years of clinical experience, she has conducted clinical and forensic evaluations, provided expert witness testimony in court, and been a treatment provider in clinical, forensic, and correctional settings. The Founder of Modern Intimacy, Dr. Balestrieri is a passionate advocate for mental health, relational and sexual health and wellness. Throughout her work, Dr. Balestrieri focuses on helping people build resilience and recovery from what ails them to move from a position of pain or discomfort to one of thriving, holistically in their lives. A sex positive provider and human, Dr. Balestrieri is dedicated to helping people have a more expansive and integrated relationship with sex.

Dr. Balestrieri is a regular contributor for Poosh, YourTango, Psychology Today, House of Wise and has been featured in many other publications. She also has two podcasts, Modern Intimacy (focused on sex, mental health and relationships), and Without Consent (a true crime podcast deconstructing sexual violence). Both can be found on Apple podcast and Spotify.

Date of Event: Friday, January 16, 2026

Time of Event: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM EST

Location: Online Synchronous or Online Asynchronous following the live webinar

Presenter/Speaker: Kate Balestrieri, Psy.D.

Company/Organization Sponsor: Modern Sex Therapy Institutes (MSTI)

Contact Name: Rachel Needle

Contact Telephone Number: (561) 379-7207

Contact Email: info@modernsextherapy.com

Event Website: https://modernsextherapyinstitutes.com/product/neurobiology-of-sex-love-attachment-4-ce-hours-2024/

AASECT Approved CEs: 4