Kink-Aware Therapy With Therapists in the Kink Community
Therapy is one place you don’t want to have to educate someone about the basic aspects of your sexuality.
One of the most important components of good therapy is to feel safe enough to express yourself without feeling judged. When you know that your therapist has had personal experience in the kink community, it’s easier to feel more comfortable. And that leads to better therapy.
Most people feel anxious talking about sex or kink with a therapist. Our therapists will make it easier by affirming you, not pathologizing you.
Kink-Affirmative Therapy: Common Issues
Whether you’re new to kink or have been part of the community for years, we’re here to support your journey towards self-discovery, healthy relationships, and authentic self-expression. Our goal is to help you embrace your desires while fostering emotional well-being and strong connections with others.
Our therapy sessions provide a compassionate space for individuals and couples to explore and address issues such as:
- Communicating desires and boundaries with partners—whether they are kinky or not
- Processing shame or guilt related to kink interests
- Balancing kink dynamics with everyday life
- Exploring power dynamics in relationships
- Dealing with kink-related anxiety or trauma
- Negotiating consent and safety in BDSM practices
- Integrating kink into long-term relationships
Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Only Serve Gay People?
We have lots of heterosexual clients as well as clients from the entire LGBTQ+ spectrum.
What is Kink Therapy?
Kink therapy is a specialized form of psychotherapy that addresses the unique needs and concerns of individuals and couples interested in BDSM, fetishism, and other alternative sexual practices. It provides a non-judgmental space to explore kink-related issues, improve communication, address relationship dynamics, and promote overall well-being while respecting and affirming diverse sexual expressions.
When Might Kinky Behavior be Re-traumatizing?
Kinky behavior can potentially be re-traumatizing if it triggers unresolved past traumas or if it’s practiced without proper consent, communication, or emotional safety. Signs that a kinky activity might be re-traumatizing include:
- Experiencing intense, unexpected emotional reactions during or after a scene
- Feeling unable to use safe words or communicate boundaries
- Having flashbacks or intrusive thoughts related to past trauma
- Feeling emotionally disconnected or numb during kinky activities
- Experiencing persistent anxiety or depression following kinky encounters
If you’re concerned about re-traumatization, it’s important to work with a kink-aware therapist to process past traumas, establish healthy boundaries, and develop strategies for safe, consensual play.
Do I Need to be Actively Practicing BDSM to Benefit from Kink- Informed therapy?
No. Kink therapy can be helpful for individuals who:
- Are curious about kink and want to explore it safely
- Have kink fantasies but are unsure about acting on them
- Are navigating relationships where kink interests differ between partners
- Are struggling with shame or guilt related to their kink interests
- Want to better understand their sexual desires and identity
Kink therapy provides a safe space to explore these topics regardless of your level of experience or involvement in BDSM practices.
How is Kink-Positive Therapy Different From Regular Therapy?
While kink therapy employs many of the same techniques and approaches as traditional therapy, it differs in several key ways:
- Kink-aware therapists have specialized knowledge about BDSM, fetishism, and alternative sexual practices
- The therapy environment is explicitly kink-affirming and free from judgment or pathologization of consensual kink
- Therapists are familiar with kink-specific issues such as power dynamics, negotiation, and aftercare
- There’s an understanding of the intersection between kink and other aspects of identity (e.g., gender, sexuality, relationship styles)
- Kink therapy often involves education about safe, sane, and consensual BDSM practices
Are Kinks Common?
Research suggests that interest in or practice of kink activities is more common than many people assume. Various studies have found approximately 10-20% of adults report engaging in some form of BDSM or kink activity. A larger percentage, often estimated at 30-50%, report having fantasies about kink-related activities, even if they don’t act on them.
Kink-Affirmative Therapists Near You
We have many kink-aware and kink-identified clinicians on staff. Reach out to us and we will match you to the one who is best for you, based on your specific needs. We match by human, not algorithm.
