All Tied Up: Perceptions of BDSM and Kink for Mental Health Providers

Abstract

Historically, there has been a question of whether or not BDSM/kink is linked to pathology. The biases and stigma towards BDSM and kink have shown to be detrimental with many BDSM- and kink-identified individuals not being out due to concerns regarding clinician beliefs. The current project broadly explored therapists' understanding and attitudes towards BDSM and kink through semi-structured interviews. From interviews with 10 practicing therapists, half of whom identified as kink-allied, responses to questions about BDSM and kink familiarity and experiences revealed themes of 10 lack of education; 20 communication, consent, and safety; and 3) trauma. This exploratory research allows us to gain an understanding of clinician BDSM and kink knowledge (or lack thereof), which can aid in our work towards normalization to enhance treatment effectiveness and allow therapists to provide more individualized care for their clients.