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COURSE DESCRIPTION
This continuing education course is part 1 of 2 in understanding the kink and BDSM community.
The second session builds on the foundation established in Part 1 and moves into the clinical, psychological, and ethical considerations involved in working with kink-identified clients. Attendees will explore the historical pathologization of kink and the evolution of DSM distinctions between atypical sexual interests and paraphilic disorders, as well as altered states, trauma, healing versus reenactment, and relationship repair.
The session will also examine both the potential risks and benefits of kink, including how clinicians can recognize when BDSM may be retraumatizing or contributing to distress, dissociation, impaired consent, or relational harm. Clinicians will also explore how kink may support connection, empowerment, personal growth, communication, and meaningful relationships. Part 2 is designed as the “201” portion of the workshop, moving beyond foundational knowledge toward clinical application, critical thinking, and more nuanced understanding.
Overall Approach
Throughout both sessions, the workshop uses sexual-health and culturally responsive frameworks to support a nonjudgmental, non-pathologizing approach to kink. These frameworks are woven throughout the material, with attention to understanding clients’ experiences in context, asking informed and respectful questions, and considering their boundaries, relationships, goals, and individual circumstances.
The course also emphasizes ongoing therapist self-awareness and recognizing when consultation, supervision, or referral may be appropriate, particularly when clinicians encounter areas of uncertainty or notice that their own reactions or assumptions may affect their ability to provide kink-informed care.
Why Attend Both Parts?
The two sessions are designed as a progression, with Part 1 establishing a foundation that allows clinicians to engage more fully with the material in Part 2.
- Part 1 establishes the terminology, cultural context, relationship frameworks, and community practices that provide a foundation for the clinical material explored in Part 2.
- Part 2 builds on that foundation by providing additional context and frameworks clinicians can draw on when conceptualizing their own clients’ experiences.
Clinicians who already have significant familiarity with kink and BDSM may find that they can engage directly with many of the topics in Part 2. At the same time, kink is a diverse and evolving community, and even those with substantial personal or professional experience may encounter perspectives, practices, or subcommunities that are unfamiliar to them.
Attending both sessions provides the fullest learning experience and an opportunity to deepen and expand existing knowledge.
Presenter Jennifer Rehor, LMFT, CST, CST-S will be joined by a team of licensed psychotherapists from ATC, including Sandra Koellmann, LCSW, CST (AASECT Certified Sex Therapist); Skyler “Skye” White, LMFT, PATC (Certified Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Provider); and Kelly Goldsteinholm, LMFT. Together, they bring diverse clinical perspectives and offer an engaging, evidence-informed training grounded in real-world practice, supervision, and applied clinical experience.
EDUCATIONAL GOAL
This course is designed to introduce mental health professionals to the foundational concepts needed to better understand and support clients who engage in or identify with kink and BDSM practices and relationships.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Attendees will be able to:
- Describe the historical pathologization of kink and the evolution of clinical perspectives on atypical sexual interests, including the distinction between consensual kink and paraphilic disorders.
- Identify clinical factors that may indicate when kink-related experiences are contributing to distress, retraumatization, dissociation, impaired consent, or relational harm, while distinguishing these concerns from consensual kink that is not inherently pathological.
- Apply kink-informed, culturally responsive principles to clinical practice, including consideration of trauma, therapist self-awareness, ethics, scope of practice, and the use of consultation, supervision, or referral when appropriate.
OUTLINE/OTHER DETAILS
Title: Understanding the Kink Community: A Culturally Sensitive Overview for Mental Health Professionals (Part 2: Clinical Considerations)
When: Monday, October 12, 2026
Location: Virtual Zoom Meeting (link will be sent in registration confirmation and reminder emails)
Time Breakdown:
11:00am-1:00pm: CE Presentation
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TARGET AUDIENCE
This event is for mental health professionals.
COST
$30 for Chapter Members
$50 for Non-Members
$10 for Pre-Licensed and Students
Guests allowed! If a member or interested in becoming a member, please register independently.
Refund/Cancellation Policy
ACCOMODATIONS & GRIEVANCES
Please email the Education Chair and visit our website for policies.
CERTIFICATES
Course Completion certificates will be awarded electronically in exchange for a completed evaluation form. Please make sure the Program Administrator has your correct email.
Course meets the qualifications for 2 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Partial credit will not be awarded.
Participants must be present for the entire length of the workshop to be awarded credit. Participants will not be given CE credit if they are more than 15 minutes late and/or do not stay for the entire length of the workshop.
This course is provided by the San Diego Chapter of the California association of marriage and family therapists (Provider #57330) is approved by the California association of marriage and family therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and LEPs. San Diego chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists maintains responsibility for the program and all its content.
Please email the CE Chair.
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