The Practice of Kink Informed Psychotherapy: from Elemental Kink Readiness to Innovative Kink Specialist (4 CE Hours)

Whether kink has been a client’s lifelong attraction or has been recently kindled by an episode of “Bonding”, more therapists are encountering clients who want to understand and make meaning of erotic thoughts, fantasies, fetishes, and behaviors. Therapists are facing client situations around high sensation seeking, authority transfer and the navigating of consent. TASHRA’s creation of core competencies provides the framework to build the proficiencies needed for the inclusive care of the mental and physical health of kink interested individuals. Centering on th­e importance of self-reflection and honesty, this workshop will explore attitudes, biases, and clinical needs of kink and fetish clients, especially within social locations; to facilitate the clinical alliance and client growth in therapy. With case presentations and discussions, this course will offer opportunities to practice clinical skills and self-reflection on the kink client/therapist relationship and treatment.

When completed, participants will be able to…

· Describe the social and philosophical framework that promotes cultural humility when approaching issues involving kink.

· List five important domains of kink core knowledge, including drawing distinctions of possible pathology or abuse.

· Discuss your personal and societal kink biases, values, attitudes, and feelings and identify how they might affect interaction with kink attracted clients.

· List two ways the flow of power between kink interested client and therapist frames case conceptualizing, modalities selection and treatment process.

Speaker bio:

Anna Randall is a sex therapist and Clinical Social Worker licensed in the state of California. She is trained in the multidisciplinary sexual science of Sexology and in do clinical therapy work as a sex therapist.