Culturally Competent and Affirming Counseling with Kink Populations

Title of Event: Culturally Competent and Affirming Counseling with Kink Populations

Description of Event:

BDSM and kink are terms describing a heterogenous set of identities and attractions that often overlap with sexual or erotic physical activities and are not synonymous with sex. These activities may include bondage or restraint, consensually constructed and eroticized power differentials between partners (Dominance and submission), and the giving and receiving of an intense range of sensations. Kink represents a distinct cultural group of sexually diverse individuals that may be as high as 20% of the general population in practices and 96% of the population in fantasies and interests.

Currently, BDSM/kink sexualities are not required or typically taught in graduate clinical and counseling training programs, making it uncommon for clinicians to receive training on issues facing the BDSM/kink community. This population is particularly vulnerable to harm from well-intentioned clinicians due to the long legacy of pathologization and stigmatization by medical and mental health clinicians. Accordingly, this workshop will provide an overview of cultural competence considerations and treatment guidelines for counselor and counselor educators who wish to comply with the cultural competence in the proactive social justice mandates in various codes of ethics, which expects professionals to advocate and promote social change for individuals and groups on both institutional and societal levels to remove systemic barriers and obstacles that inhibit client access or provision of appropriate services to improve the quality of life, growth, and development. In light of the pervasive stigma, health disparities, intersectional stress faced by the LGBTQIA2K+, BIPOC, and gendered BDSM/kink community, it is crucial for clinicians to learn about this marginalized group and build cultural humility and competence.

Learning Objectives:
● Attendees will be able to identify at least 2 reasons people are desire to engage in various BDSM/kink activities.
● Attendees will be able to identify at least 2 ways to distinguish between BDSM and abuse.
● Attendees will be able to identify at least 2 personal challenges that a mental health therapist / counselor may face when working with kink-involved clients.
● Attendees will be able to identify at least 1 culturally competent practice for clinical work with kink / BDSM communities.

Activity Schedule:

Introduction – Why this matters (Stigma → Health Disparities and Iatrogenic Harm)
Common Myths & Stereotypes
Cultural Competence Field Norms (e.g. Cultural Humility and Others)
Kink Culture Introduction
Managing Reactions (reactions do not mean harm)
Definitions & Terms
Kink Identity: Fantasy, periodic behavior, and core identity
Community Norms: Safety, Consent, and Sexual Ethics
History of Pathologization and Stigmatization by Healthcare
Stigmatization Research
Harms
Minority Stress Model
Health Disparities
Research disputing pathologization – kink populations as generally healthy
Clinical practice guidelines
Case Study
Unique Treatment Resources in Kink Populations
Resources
References

Date of Event: Saturday, June 13, 2026

Time of Event: 2PM – 6PM EST

Location: Online Synchronous or Online Asynchronous following the live webinar

Sex Therapy (ST) Training: 

ST1. Theory and methods of sex-related psychotherapy, including several different models.

Presenter/Speaker: Stephen Ratcliff MA, LPCC, LPC, LMHC, NCC, CST

Company/Organization Sponsor: Modern Sex Therapy Institutes (MSTI)

Contact Name: Rachel Needle

Contact Telephone Number: (561) 379-7207

Contact Email: info@modernsextherapy.com

Event Website: https://modernsextherapyinstitutes.com/product/culturally-competent-and-affirming-counseling-with-kink-populations/

AASECT Approved CEs: 4