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Kink-Positive Abuse Assessment

Title of Event: Kink-Positive Abuse Assessment
 
Description of Event:
This live streaming course will be recorded. Participants are not required to keep cameras on for the duration of the streaming. Participants may also rename themselves as anonymous.
 
While intimate partner violence is a phenomenon that cuts across all socioeconomic demographics, assessing for and identifying such dynamics in BDSM relationships can be especially fraught. Well-meaning sex therapists may sometimes be hesitant to bring up abuse with kinky clients, for fear of coming across as judgmental or BDSM/kink-negative. 
 
Drawing on frameworks of coercive controlling violence, consent, power, and coercive controlling violence, this course is designed to help clinicians assess for abuse dynamics in BDSM while maintaining a client centered and Kink affirming disposition. 
 
Participants will learn to identify underlying power dynamics that may by coercive, multisystemic influences that can can protect or expose kinksters to coercive controlling violence, and how to bring these discussions into the therapy room.
 
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
 
1. Distinguish between the performance of power in BDSM play from the dynamics of Coercive controlling violence
2. Recognize the systemic factors that inform a Kinkster’s experience with coercive controlling violence
3. Evaluate potential screening questions for IPVA that are specific to Kinky clients
 
Samantha Manewitz, is currently a PhD student (PhD candidate as of April 2023) at University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash School of Social Work, with a graduate specialization in Sexual Diversity Studies. She is also on the faculty of the Institute for Sexuality Education and Enlightenment, where she has presented on a broad range of topics related to sex therapy and sexual diversity. She is an educator and AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, who is working towards certification as a sex therapy supervisor. Prior to pursuing her PhD, Samantha was a licensed independent clinical social worker, providing client centered and gender/sexuality affirming therapy to individuals and couples in the greater Boston area.
 
As an Educator, Samantha has trained mental health professionals, sex educators, and alt-sex communities on healthy communication, abuse prevention, sexual diversity, and neurodiversity. Her research interests center on understanding and assessing abuse and non-consensual coercive control in BDSM.
 
Date of Event: Monday, July 15, 2024
 
Time of Event: 5:00 PM- 7:00 PM ET
 
Location: Online Synchronous
 
Sex Therapy (ST) Training:
ST3. Theory and methods of approach to intervention in relationship systems experiencing sex and intimacy problems.
 
Presenter/Speaker: Samantha Manewitz, MSW
 
Company/Organization Sponsor: Institute for Sexuality Education and Enlightenment
 
Contact Name: Rosalyn Dischiavo
 
 
 
AASECT Approved CEs: 2