Annual NASW VA/DC Conference
2026-03-25 17:00 - 2026-03-28 10:00 (America/New_York) | Newport News Marriott at City Center, 740 Town Center Dr, Newport News, 23606, United States
Find our table at the Annual Conference hosted by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Virginia and Metro DC Chapters! We will be giving out stickers, snacks, pride flags, and information on our support groups. Speak with members of our staff about services and availability for therapy, coaching, and education.

Tamara Pincus, LICSW is a licensed clinical social worker, AASECT-certified sex therapist, and the Clinical Director and Owner of The Pincus Center. She specializes in working with kinky, polyamorous and LGBTQ clients, and she has been active in alternative sexuality communities since 1998. She has spoken around the country on issues related to ethics in sex therapy, consent culture, polyamory and BDSM.
Sara Burleson, LMSW is one of our amazing therapists at The Pincus Center. Sara offers therapy online to people in Washington, DC and Virginia. She works with adult individuals and welcome members of the LGBTQ+ community. Sara sees folks who are navigating fat liberation, ethical non-monogamy, sexuality, gender expansion, issues of trauma and PTSD, domestic violence, and more.

Monthly Support Group for Mono/Poly Relationships
2026-04-08 20:00 - 21:30, 2026-05-13 20:00 - 21:30, 2026-06-10 20:00 - 21:30, 2026-07-08 20:00 - 21:30, 2026-08-12 20:00 - 21:30, 2026-09-09 20:00 - 21:30, 2026-10-14 20:00 - 21:30, 2026-11-11 20:00 - 21:30 and 1 more date | Online Event
Monthly coaching support group for relationships where one partner wants monogamy and the other wants nonmonogamy, led by an expert coach.

This group is designed to offer support for people who are in mixed dynamic relationships in which one partner wants an exclusive relationship, and another partner wants an open or multiple partner relationship. Meetings are online and last from 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on the group energy.
The current meeting time is the second Wednesday of every month at 5 pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern time, beginning February 11. Please contact Dr. Eli at drelisheff@gmail.com with any questions. Sliding scale is available; please contact us at events@tamarapincus.com to discuss it.
Please sign up on our Eventbrite page to reserve your spot!
About your facilitator
Dr. Elisabeth “Eli” Sheff (she/her) has researched polyamorous families with children for over 25 years. She is the author of four books, 30+ peer-reviewed publications, and 130+ blogs on Psychology Today, with 10+ years’ experience coaching people facing challenges with CNM and BDSM. Dr. Eli specializes in the mono/CNM mismatch because she intellectualized her fear, and has been the mono partner in two CNM/mono marriages. Her super-power is combining research findings and trends gleaned from her coaching practice with personal insights to understand if, when, and how mono/CNM relationships can work or not.

The Elephant in The Room: Addressing Fatness in Your Practice
2026-04-17 12:00 - 14:00 | Online Event
Gain the skills and knowledge you need to best support clients of size in your therapy practice!

It’s time to serve clients of size without perpetuating anti-fat bias. This workshop is for clinicians, counselors, educators and others seeking to engage with evidence-based research and lived experience related to weight stigma. Build practical skills to reduce stigma in your professional space.
Sign up on Eventbrite to reserve your spot!
After participating in the workshop, participants will be able to:
– Describe socio-cultural factors that impact the lives of people of size, including systems of oppression
– Demonstrate ability to use affirming language regarding body size
– Apply strategies that reduce perceived and enacted weight stigma in therapy environments
– Identify weight inclusive providers and resources

We welcome professionals who are new to fat liberation and want to enact non-oppressive therapeutic practices by continuing their education around fatness, fat liberation and body affirmation. While this workshop centers the experience and voices of people of size, everyone is welcome to attend.
This class offers 2 AASECT-approved CEUs. Please select the CEU option at registration if you wish to receive the certificate. You MUST attend the live session and confirm your attendance in the session to complete the requirements. Workshops offered by non-AASECT affiliated educators have been supervised and reviewed by an AASECT-certified supervisor.
AASECT Core Knowledge Areas
A. Ethics and Ethical behavior
C. Socio-cultural factors (e.g. ethnicity, culture, religion, spirituality, socio-economic status, family values) in relation to sexual values and behaviors
This class is virtual and will be recorded, with the link to the recording provided to all registrants. Sliding scale tiers are available, and you may also inquire about sliding scale accommodations at contact@tamarapincus.com. And sign up for our mailing list for workshop announcements, and free sexual and mental wellness resources!
About your facilitator:
Jenna Weintraub, CYT is a sexuality educator with more than 20 years of experience teaching and training. Jenna facilitates professional development workshops and education sessions on various sexuality and sexual health topics, focusing on program delivery for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, teens, people of size, and people raising children. As a member of the Association for Size Diversity and Health and a certified Be Body Positive Program facilitator, she supports people in examining diet culture and reclaiming their bodies through education and yoga. Jenna is a member of AASECT and a graduate of The Sexual Health Certificate Program at The University of Michigan.
The Pincus Center for Inclusive Treatment and Education specializes in working with queer, transgender/nonbinary, kinky, and ethically non-monogamous/polyamorous people. We value sex positivity (including asexuality), body positivity and fat liberation, and racial justice.

Should I Seek an Autism Diagnosis?
2026-05-27 19:00 - 20:30 | Online Event
Am I Autistic?

You’ve been doing some research and find you share many characteristics with Autistic people. You’ve read some Autistic peoples stories and resonated with the experiences you found there. You tend to hang out or get along best with Autistic or otherwise neurodivergent people. Maybe someone even asked or assumed you are Autistic.
If you’re an adult who identifies with Autistic traits, characteristics, social patterns, and lived experiences, you may have considered self-identifying as Autistic or being assessed for an official Autism diagnosis. There are many considerations that go into deciding to formally or informally identifying as an Autistic adult. In this presentation we will use the Medical and Social Models of disability to explore a variety of factors that may influence your choice.

Register on Eventbrite!
Participants will:

Differentiate characteristics of the Medical Model of Disability & Social Model of Disability
Identify potential risks and benefits of seeking a formal diagnosis of Autism through the medical model
Determine opportunities for continued identity growth through self-diagnosis

This presentation is for Autistic or possibly-Autistic adults and their supporters (including family members, friends, partners, and professionals) who want to know more about why someone may or may not seek an Autism diagnosis.
This class is virtual and will be recorded, with the link to the recording provided to all registrants. Sliding scale tiers are available, and you may also inquire about sliding scale accommodations at contact@tamarapincus.com. Don’t forget to check out our other classes on neurodiversity and make sure to join our mailing list for workshop announcements and free sexual and mental wellness resources!
Reese Hebrank, LCSW-C (he/him) is a queer, polyamorous, transgender clinician with The Pincus Center for Inclusive Treatment and Education. He received his MSW from the University of Southern California and previously worked in public mental health care, as well as doing mobile crisis and emergency care. He specializes in trauma recovery, gender identity, neurodiversity, and– as a person with disabilities and the parent of a child with disabilities– the experience of ableism.
The Pincus Center for Inclusive Treatment and Education specializes in working with queer, transgender/nonbinary, kinky, and ethically non-monogamous/polyamorous people. We value sex positivity (including asexuality), body positivity and fat liberation, and racial justice.

Safe Space NOVA’s Pride Prom
2026-06-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N Union St, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
The Pincus Center is a proud sponsor of this night of affirmation and validation for DMV queer and trans youth, amidst a political backdrop of control and erasure. Safe Space NOVA Prom Student Ambassadors have selected Starry Night as this year’s theme.
Community discount code: $$ThePincusCenter

Alexandria LGBTQ+ Pride Fair
2026-06-27 14:00 - 18:00 | John Carlyle Square Park, 825 John Carlyle Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314, United States
Find our table at Alexandria’s LGBTQ+ Pride Fair for free goodies!

Cultivating Satisfaction in Non-Monogamy
2026-07-06 19:00 - 20:30 | Online Event
In celebration of the Week of Visibility for Non-monogamy, join a workshop that focuses on joy in different relationship structures.
Sign up for this workshop on our Eventbrite page!
Most people have a hard time getting started in consensual non-monogamy (CNM) relationships because it is a shift from the style of relationship management they grew up with. In celebration of the Week of Visibility for Non-monogamy, learn from the research on relationship satisfaction in polyamory and CNM and gain insight to make your relationship more joyful. The dynamic duo of Tamara Pincus, LICSW and Dr. Eli Sheff bring research and lived experience together to chart the ways in which CNM relationships fall on hard times and how to weather the challenges while making the most of the good times.
AASECT Objectives:
1. Identify 2 research findings about consensual non-monogamy
2. Name 2 strategies for increasing satisfaction in non-monogamous relationships

Tamara Pincus, LICSW is a licensed clinical social worker and AASECT certified sex therapist who runs The Pincus Center which offers therapy, coaching and sex education. She specializes in working with kinky, polyamorous and LGBTQ clients. Tamara has been working in the field of sex therapy since 2011 and since then has built a practice with a team of 11. Tamara is passionate about racial justice, fat justice and LGBTQ rights. She also co-authored a book titled “It’s Called Polyamory: Coming Out About Your Non-Monogamous Relationships” with Rebecca Hiles. She lives in Virginia in a queer polyamorous household of chaos.
Dr. Eli Sheff is the foremost academic expert on polyamorous families with children, and has more than 25 years’ experience researching consensual nonmonogamies. Dr. Eli has a PhD in sociology and is a Certified Sexuality Educator who has written four books and 30+ academic articles on CNM and BDSM/kinky sex. She serves as a relationship coach, educator, and expert witness. She has appeared on hundreds of podcasts, television shows, and media interviews with outlets from NPR, National Geographic, and the New York Times, to Cosmopolitan and Savage Love. Dr. Eli blogs for Psychology Today and always wants to make friends with dogs.
The Pincus Center for Inclusive Treatment and Education specializes in working with queer, transgender/nonbinary, kinky, and ethically non-monogamous/polyamorous people. We value sex positivity (including asexuality), body positivity and fat liberation, and racial justice.
The Week of Visibility is a shared, movement-wide activity being coordinated by OPEN, a grassroots advocacy nonprofit working to advance rights and acceptance for non-monogamous families and relationships.

Celebrate 15 Years of The Pincus Center!
2026-07-20 17:00 - 20:00 | Continues Arcade, 1050 N Fayette Street, VA, 22314, United States
We’ve been doing healing work with LGBTQ+, non-monogamous, kinky, and neurodiverse communities for 15 years. It’s time to rejoice.

Come celebrate the 15th anniversary of The Pincus Center! An evening of festivity alongside colleagues and friends, featuring face painting and arcade games. Part networking and part silliness at the coolest spot in Alexandria, Continues Arcade. Ticket price includes a drink ticket, appetizers, and game tokens. All proceeds go to Safe Space NOVA.
Sign up on our Eventbrite!
The Pincus Center for Inclusive Treatment and Education specializes in working with queer, transgender/nonbinary, kinky, and ethically non-monogamous/polyamorous people. We value sex positivity (including asexuality), body positivity and fat liberation, and racial justice. Our clinicians provide therapy, coaching, and education to people in DC, Maryland, Virginia, and beyond.
Safe Space NOVA is a community-centered non-profit dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ youth ages 13-17 through educational, leadership, and social programming. We strive to create empowering spaces where LGBTQ+ youth can build community, while accessing resources that support their emotional well-being and personal growth. Our programs include monthly social hangs (including a biweekly RPG!), queer sex education workshops, allied provider training, and our annual Pride Prom. Safe Space NOVA also partners with local organizations, families, and advocates to strengthen visibility, representation, and support systems for LGBTQ+ youth across Northern Virginia.

Make a Splash! A Fabulous Fat Pool Party
2026-08-15 14:00 - 17:00 | Private Residence, VA, United States
Come play in the sun with other fab fatties & allies at a private, inclusive party for adults by body-affirming professionals & activists.

Sign up on our Eventbrite!
Bust out your cutest suit and bask in the summer sun with a few dozen gorgeous fat folks at a pool party created just for us! Splash, swim, and luxuriate in the coolness of a totally private pool, make new friends and bring your own, and indulge in summery snacks and cold drinks. It’s a no-judgment zone where you can be at home in your whole body.
(Remember the pool party scene in Shrill? We loved it so much we decided to make it happen!)
We are The Pincus Center for Inclusive Treatment & Education, a queer-inclusive, sex-positive, and body-affirming therapy and wellness practice. We host educational and supportive events to build local community.
The party’s happening in the backyard of a private residence with a very large in-ground pool and plenty of room to socialize. There will be refreshments (snacks and soft drinks) on the back porch. Bring your own towels, coverups, sunglasses, and sunscreen. You’ll get the address in your confirmation email.
Queer, trans, and polyamorous/non-monogamous folks of all genders are encouraged to attend! And yes– your straight-sized partners and friends are welcome as long as they understand that this space centers the comfort and safety of fat folks. 18+ please– while this is pretty innocent fun, we want to make a space for adults to enjoy adult company.
Let the sun shine on your skin and let’s revel in having a place to enjoy summer fun together!
How can I help ensure that this feels like a safe, welcoming space for everyone?
Great question, thanks for asking! A couple tips:

Avoid talking about diets, intentional weight loss, weight loss surgery, or similar topics that could be triggering to others.
Try not to engage in negative self-talk about your body, how you look in a swimsuit, or how much you’re eating. We want to keep the vibe upbeat and stay neutral about our bodies and eating habits today!
Give your pronouns when you introduce yourself to a new friend, and make sure you remember and use theirs.
Don’t touch anyone without their clear and enthusiastic consent unless they need to be saved from drowning.
Be careful how you’re complimenting other people– flirting is great, but fetishizing people isn’t.
If you’re bringing a straight-sized partner or friend with you, please talk to them about what it means to center the comfort and safety of fat folks and make sure they’ve read these tips.

The Pincus Center for Inclusive Treatment and Education specializes in working with queer, transgender/nonbinary, kinky, and ethically non-monogamous/polyamorous people. We value sex positivity (including asexuality), body positivity and fat liberation, and racial justice.
