In their own words: getting it right for kink clients

Abstract

Individuals in the kink community often report difficulty with finding affirming mental health care. Similarly, providers often report having limited knowledge of how best to support sexual diversity. This study highlights difficulties faced by kink individuals seeking clinical care and how providers can be more affirming. The current study utilized Delphi methodology to elucidate what clients with kink identities need from clinicians and the therapeutic environment. The study consisted of perspectives from 12 leaders in the kink community from across the United States. The culmination of their input is outlined and organized into five themes: Client Needs, Awareness and Understanding, Kink Client’s Perceptions of Therapists, Therapist Education & Training, and Client’s Perceptions of Therapy. These themes guide recommendations for practice that may be utilized in clinical training and guide clinical self-reflection.

Keywords:

• Counseling
• sexuality
• kink
• BDSM
• affirmative therapy
• sex positivity

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the members of the Constructivist Sexuality Research Lab at the University of Memphis for their endless devotion. We would also like to acknowledge the leaders in the kink community who are working hard to destigmatize kink and redefine relationships with mental health providers - thank you for what you do.

Disclosure statement

There are no financial contributions or conflicts of interest to disclose.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christina M. New

Christina M. New, Ph.D., is a graduate of the University of Memphis Counseling Psychology program. She is currently completing a clinical health psychology fellowship at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Her professional interests include LGBTQ+ health care, sexuality, and integrated behavioral health.

L. Chandler Batchelor

L. Chandler Batchelor, M.A., is a third-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Memphis. Her research interests center around identity construction, including asexual identity and mental illness identity. Her clinical interests focus on trauma work with clients of all ages.

Allison Schimmel-Bristow

Allison Schimmel-Bristow, M.S., is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in Counseling Psychology at the University of Memphis. Her research interests include LGBTQ + healthcare, resilience, health disparities in underserved populations, and sexuality.

Erica Magsam

Erica Magsam, M.S., is a fourth-year doctoral student at the University of Memphis Counseling Psychology program. She is currently completing an internship at the Nebraska Internship Consortium in Professional Psychology with Nebraska Medicine in the health psychology track. She will be completing postdoctoral training with the University of Kansas Medical Center. Her research interests broadly include heath psychology, sexuality and sexual health, and training/supervision.

Sara K. Bridges

Sara K. Bridges, Ph.D., is codirector of the Coherence Psychology Institute, associate professor at the University of Memphis, recipient of the 2012 Distinguished Teaching Award, coeditor of the five-volume Studies in Meaning series, former president of the Society for Humanistic Psychology (APA Division 32), and a licensed psychologist in private practice.

Emily L. Brown

Emily Brown, Ph.D., is a licensed staff psychologist working at Counseling and Psychological Services at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Her professional interests include work with members of the LGBTQ + community, sexual functioning and satisfaction, body image and disordered eating concerns, equity and social justice work, and clinical supervision and training.

Tristan McKenzie

Tristan McKenzie, M.S., is a doctoral student in the Counseling Education and Supervision program at the University of Memphis. She currently works as a DBT skills coach at Daybreak Treatment Center and as the Graduate Assistant Case Manager for Office of the Dean of Students’ Student Outreach and Support Services. Tristan serves as the co-president of the Kappa Zeta Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota. Her research explores the intersectionality of privileges among counselor educators, race-based trauma, counselor wellness, counselor licensure portability, and suicide prevention/awareness.