Beyond the Basics: Understanding Kink and its Impact on Mental Health
$120.00
3 CE Hours
Presented by: Elyssa Helfer, M.A., LMFT
Recorded workshop available via video on demand
Through this course, participants will gain knowledge about the basics of kink, both from the lens of understanding kink identity and various forms of kink practice. By discussing the current debates within the kink therapist community and the kink community at large, participants will learn to approach clients from an informed perspective allowing for enhanced therapeutic connection and greater understanding. We will explore the various outcomes that can result from participating in kink and reasons for engaging in kink practice. Lastly, we will discuss the psychological consequences of experiencing negative therapeutic interactions based on conscious and unconscious bias towards the kink community and strategies to address them.
Learning objectives
- Explain mental health outcomes for living in line with kink identity
- Explain sexual and non-sexual BDSM
- Discuss personal and professional bias therapists have towards kink community
3 hour course
20 min- Kink 101
Who practices?
Profile of Kinksters- (research)
Kink terminology
Types of Dynamics (exploring various hierarchical structures)
Sexual v. Non Sexual BDSM
20 min -History
DSM changes
Shifts in kink perspectives
Kink development
Etiological theories
Psychopathological
Radical Feminist
Escape From Self
Psychoanalytic
Guilt Reduction Theory
Disinhibition Theory
Kink identity development- Samuel Hughes
20 minutes -Benefits/Consequences of kink practice
Individual mental health outcomes
Relationship outcomes
20 minutes- Current kink debates
SSC v. RACK v. 4Cs
Power Exchange v. Authority Transfer
Kink as identity v. Kink as leisure
20 Minutes- Healthy kink v. Abuse (Red Flags)
10 minutes-Play/Relationship Negotiation
Pillars of kink negotiation
25 minutes- Pathologizing Kink
Negative therapeutic interactions
Sources of kink shame
Strategies to address bias
20 min- Common issues in therapy/ Case Studies
15 minutes- Questions, discussion
Class originally recorded: 11/27/2020.
Social workers completing this course receive 3 general continuing education credits.
MSTI is an approved CE organizational provider for IBOSP, AASECT, and ASWB. Modern Sex Therapy Institutes is part of the Advanced Mental Health Training Institute. The Advanced Mental Health Training Institute has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No.6901. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Advanced Mental Health Training Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
MSTI is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for Psychologists. The Modern Sex Therapy Institutes maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Modern Sex Therapy Institutes (MSTI), provider #1787, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: [1/7/22-1/7/26].
Attendees must attend the entire course and complete a course evaluation to be eligible for CE credit
For Live Courses: To obtain CE credits, attendees must attend the entire course and complete an evaluation to receive credit.
For asynchronous/recorded courses, Attendees must pass the multiple choice posttest with a minimum score of 80% in 3 attempts to be eligible for CE credit.
Certificates of completion can be downloaded immediately upon course completion.