Kinky Mind and Body - Introduction to Therapy with Kinky Clients - Part 1
Nearly half of kinky clients do not come out to their therapist or counselor about being kinky, sometimes because they are anxious about the reaction they might get. How does a clinician create a space for clients to feel safe about disclosing?
To compound the problem, many clinicians don’t quite feel comfortable addressing concerns that might come up around kinky sexuality or relationships when a client discloses their kinky side. Often, when unprepared, therapists and counselors can ignore or skip the topic when a client actually discloses, or they might focus on the disclosure so much that it feels to the client like a derailment of the therapy.
This is the first webinar in a 3 part series, focused on the basics for working with kinky clients as a mental health provider, therapist, counselor or psychologist.
This first part will cover:
Elements 1: Basics of Kink and Therapy
- Identify at least key demographics, motivations, behaviors, and relationship roles common in the kink subculture
- Propose at least three specific issues or concerns that bring kink-involved clients into therapy.
Elements 2: BDSM and the DSM
- Summarize how the field of mental health has pathologized BDSM behaviors and interests.
- Compare three differences between the psychiatric/psychological literature and the sociological literature and how they characterize kink interests and behaviors
Part 2 of the series will be offered on May 3. Part 3 of the series will be offered on June 14.
Part 2 will cover consent and abuse, and healing and personal growth through kink. Part 3 will cover diverse populations and relationship diversity in the kink community, and issues around countertransference for therapists and counselors.
Learning Objectives
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Identify at least key demographics, motivations, behaviors, and relationship roles common in the kink subculture
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Propose at least three specific issues or concerns that bring kink-involved clients into therapy.
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Summarize how the field of mental health has pathologized BDSM behaviors and interests.
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Compare three differences between the psychiatric/psychological literature and the sociological literature and how they characterize kink interests and behaviors
Presenters: Anna Randall, DHS, LCSW, and Richard Sprott, PhD
Presenter name / pronouns
Anna Randall (she / her)
Presenter Bio – Anna
Anna Randall, DHS, MSW, MPH, LCSW (she/her/hers) is Co-Founder & Executive Director of TASHRA – The Alternative Sexualities Health Research Alliance (tashra.org). Over the last 25 years, Dr. Randall has focused on building knowledge and awareness of kink-sexuality as an emerging scientific area of clinical and research specialty. She earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) at Boston University. In San Francisco, at the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, she completed both a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a Doctorate of Human Sexuality (DHS). She is a published author, international lecturer, and content expert on the health and wellbeing of those with diverse sexuality. As part of her leadership role at TASHRA, she coordinates TASHRA’s teams in the creation of continuing education courses for healthcare professionals, and mentors healthcare providers in kink proficient care; establishing and building competencies in this expanding field. She is a Co-Principal Investigator on TASHRA’s International Kink Health Study, the PrEP4Kink Study, Kink and Flourishing Study and the Authority Transfer Research study amongst other developing research projects. She splits her time as a California LCSW in private practice as a sex therapist, where she works with sexually diverse individuals, couples, and other relational configurations. drannarandall.com
Richard Sprott (he/him)
Presenter Bio – Richard
Richard Sprott received his Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from UC Berkeley in 1994. He is currently directing research projects focused on identity development and health/well-being in people who express alternative sexualities and non-traditional relationships, with a special emphasis on kink/BDSM sexuality, and polyamory or consensual non-monogamy. He was the President of the Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity (APA Division 44) for 2021-2022. He is also the co-author of Sexual Outsiders: Understanding BDSM Sexualities and Communities (Rowman & Littlefield, 2013). Along with Dr. Elisabeth Sheff, he is co-editor of a new book series Diverse Sexualities, Genders, and Relationships from Rowman & Littlefield. He is currently the Research Director of TASHRA – The Alternative Sexualities Health Research Alliance. Richard currently teaches courses in the Department of Human Development and Women’s Studies at California State University, East Bay and graduate level courses at various universities, including UC Berkeley and Alliant International University.
Group Rates and Scholarships
Group Discount Rate:
Tiered
minimum group size: 4
Group size: 4-9 10% off registration for each person
Group size: 10 or more, 15% off registration for each person
For more info or to ask questions, please contact [email protected]
Scholarship
Application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSer0jnLFpFLHv8U0Ysfy6Z2dtlSpBTmWDe8c-IAPlwE2B-eUg/viewform
Why do you want a scholarship for this training?
Do you currently work with kinky clients/patients?
Do you intend to specialize in serving the kink community?
Scholarship covers 50% of registration
Clinical Training Team approves 3-6 scholarships per training depending on level of registration and the types of tickets being requested.
Deadline for applying is one week before training
Only one scholarship per calendar year per participant
Scholarship prices are sent as invoices via PayPal, not as discount codes on the website. These should be sent 1-week before the training begins.
Cancellation Policy and Grievance Policy
Cancellation Policy
You may cancel up to ten days before a scheduled workshop without penalty and receive a credit for another workshop or a refund minus $7 for processing costs. If you cancel less than ten days before, you will be responsible for payment. TASHRA reserves the right to cancel any event that does not meet our minimum registration within 4 business days of the class. If TASHRA cancels an educational event, you will receive a credit toward another workshop.
TASHRA Grievance and Complaint Policy
TASHRA is committed to conducting all activities in compliance with the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) Code of Conduct. TASHRA will adhere to all legal and ethical responsibilities to be nondiscriminatory in promotional activities, program content, and the treatment of program participants. Monitoring and assessment of these standards will be the responsibility of the TASHRA Clinical Training Team ([email protected]).
While TASHRA makes every attempt to assure fair treatment for all participants, occasionally complaints will arise about continuing education programs. This does not include complaints or comments received on course evaluations.
The person with a grievance will first try to informally resolve their grievance by contacting TASHRA with the issue concerning the training, its delivery, the evaluation method, technological issue, other attendee(s), and/or any other concern.
When a participant files a complaint, either orally or in written format, and expects action on the complaint, the following actions and procedures will be taken:
- If the grievance concerns a speaker, the content presented by the speaker, or the style of presentation, the individual making the complaint will be asked to put his/her comments in written format. The Professional Development Services Manager will then pass the comments on to the speaker, assuring the confidentiality of the complainant.
- If the complaint concerns a workshop offering, its content, level of presentation, or the facilities in which the workshop was offered, Professional Development Services Manager will mediate and attempt to resolve the complaint promptly. If the participant requests action, the Professional Development Services Manager is empowered to:
- Attempt to move the participant to another workshop, or
- Provide a credit for a subsequent year’s workshop, or
- Provide a partial or full refund of the workshop fee.
- Actions 2b and 2c will require a written note, documenting the grievance, for record keeping purposes. The note need not be signed by the grieved individual.
- If the complaint is made after the program has occurred or concerns the TASHRA CE programming more generally, the Professional Development Services Manager will address it as follows:
- Request that the complainant submit a written complaint and propose an appropriate remedy.
- Provide the instructor(s) with the opportunity to respond to the complaint and propose an appropriate remedy,
- Review these documents, make a final determination, and decide on any remedy.
- TASHRA’s Clinical Training Committee will then consult regarding this grievance in an effort to find fair methods of resolving the grievance.
- If the aggrieved person is not satisfied with the solutions put forth, then they may put their grievance in writing and contact the American Association of Sexuality Educator, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT). The appropriate AASECT personnel can be reached at [email protected].
- TASHRA will abide by any decisions made by the APA or AASECT regarding resolution of the grievance.
For further information, contact the Research Director of TASHRA, Richard A. Sprott,
at [email protected] or at 510-919-4488. You can also contact us at
TASHRA, P.O. Box 812, Rio Vista, CA 94571.