Management Team

Anna Randall, MSW, DHS, MPH is TASHRA’s Executive Director. She is a clinical sexologist and sex therapist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Anna has over 25 years of experience in both the private and public sectors of health and sexuality and career focus is on the nexus of healthcare and sexual health. She lectures nationally to both professionals and consumers on the special mental health needs of sexual minorities and research focuses on relational power dynamics, self actualization and attachment. Her busy therapy practices in SF and Silicon Valley exemplify the vast interests and personalities of the kink community.

Dr. Kaston Anderson Jr. is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Michigan State University; his PhD is in behavioral psychology, and he has master’s degrees in public health, experimental psychology, and applied behavior anlaysis. Dr. Anderson is a community-engaged scholar and community advocate, and he directs the Advancing Community Empowerment and Social Justice (ACES) Laboratory. His research aims to advance health equity and well-being for marginalized and underserved populations, including LGBTQ+ and kink involved populations.

Steve (he, him) is a Research Scientist at TASHRA and a lead research associate on TASHRA’s International Kink Health Study (IKHS). In addition to IKHS, Steve is currently participating in the development of TASHRA’s Power Exchange Relationships (PER) study and TASHRA’s HIV intervention study. Steve’s research interests including studying various aspects of kink communities and other gender, sexual, and relationship diversity (GSRD) communities. Steve is also a licensed mental health counselor and certified sex therapist serving Florida, New Mexico, and Oregon. In his clinical work, Steve specializes in treating LGBTQ+, Kinky, and Consensually Non-Monogamous (CNM) clients. Steve is also on the board of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) and volunteers for a number of sexuality professional organizations.

Zita Nickeson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in WA, ID, CO and is a Telehealth Provider in FL. She is a Certified Sex Therapist, Certified Sex Educator and a Kink Knowledgeable Professional.

Zita is the owner/director of NW Sexual Counseling, a private practice specializing in sexual, gender and relationship therapy, education, coaching and advocacy. She has maintained her private practice for over a decade, providing sex positive services to many underserved and rural communities. Counselor training and education in inclusive sexual healthcare is one of Zita’s passions. This has led her to supervise Master’s Level Counseling Students and Pre-Licensure Counseling Professionals for the past 7 years. Additionally, as one of the few Certified Sex Therapists in her region, Zita has also been an Instructor for the Healthy Loving Institute as well as providing sex and Kink positive presentations to the local Mental Health, Medical and Kink communities.

Having worked in the Mental Health field for over 20 years, Zita has also seen the significant need and importance of reducing stigma associated with sex and Kink in the healthcare field. With this in mind, Zita delightfully joined the TASHRA International Kink Health Survey team in January of 2019. Since then, she has enjoyed being a part of a larger, interdisciplinary team working towards creating a more Kink inclusive healthcare system!

Aidan A. Sunassee is currently in his final year as a BSc Psychology student at the University of Europe for Applied Sciences. His academic journey led him to volunteer with TASHRA, where he is involved in several research projects, including the ATR Study, Kink and Flourishing Study, and the International Kink Health Study.

Aidan’s specific interests center on BDSM / kink, arousal responses in sexualized violence, retraumatization compulsions, and the use of trauma play for trauma processing. His current thesis aims to explore the healing potential of trauma play through a phenomenological approach, aiming to deepen the understanding of this practice.

Aidan is dedicated to advancing his education in psychology and sexology, with the goal of contributing to the expanding research on the therapeutic uses of kink for personal growth and trauma processing. As a sexuality educator at The Center of Positive Sexuality, he aims to educate and inform others on these topics. His commitment extends to the destigmatization of these practices, striving to enhance understanding and acceptance among medical professionals and the broader public.

Aidan’s work is driven by the aspiration to create a society where individuals can freely process their experiences without shame or guilt, empowering them with resources to make informed decisions about their sexual and psychological well-being.

Dr. Wert (He/His/Him) received his Bachelors in Science from Union College, Schenectady NY with a majoring in biology, with a minor in chemistry. He then attended medical school at Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) graduating in 2000. He completed his medical internship and Internal Medicine Residency at Ingham Regional Medical Center/McLaren Greater Lansing in 2005. Dr. Wert is also Board Certified in Internal Medicine, and is a Fellow in the College of Internal Medicine. Once he graduated from his residency he began practicing Internal Medicine in Lansing, MI. His focus has been preventive healthcare, LGBTQA+ specific healthcare, HIV/HIV Prevention and sexual health care. In 2016 he obtained his Masters in Public Health from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Dr. Wert speaks at Local, State and National levels relative to health inequalities faced by diverse patient population, including the BDSM/Kink community. He is a member of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America and is also a Kink Aware Professional though the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom. Dr. Wert is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at MSUCOM. Dr. Wert is also certified by the American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM) as a specialist in HIV care. He assisted the AAHIVM in re writing their modules on how to take a sexual history, and focusing on educating providers on BDSM/Kink. Dr. Wert serves on the ACOI committee on LGBTA+ Healthcare.