Being a kinky woman, working as a Portland dominatrix and having a particular interest in psychology and mental health activism, my interest is often peaked by all of the amazing work that the National Coalition of Sexual Freedom (NCSF) is doing.

The NCSF is an organization, entirely run by volunteers, that focuses on social change for the alternative sexualities populations. The way they do this is by focusing on two key areas; law and mental health.

One such project that they are presently working on is the Kink Clinician Guidelines. This is a community-informed project, which aims to develop clinical best practices for therapist working with people who identify as kinky or who simply have a kinky side. Because the NCSF aims for this to be community-informed, they need our input.

For example, the first guideline is in regards to the very definition of ‘kink’, which they defined thusly:

” Clinicians understand that “kink” is used as an umbrella term to address a wide range of esoteric erotic interests, behaviors, practices, relationships and identities. Aspects of kink include eroticizing intense sensations (including but not limited to “pain”), eroticizing power dynamics and differences, enduring fascination with specific sensory stimuli including specific body parts or inanimate objects (“fetish”), role play or dramatizing erotic scenarios, and erotic activities that induce heightened or altered states of consciousness. “

My response: “I think it would be good to include in the definition, states/behaviors that are psychologically-oriented and are not eroticized.  For many people BDSM behavior/experiences are not sexual, or the sexuality of it is secondary to something else, such as power exchange or physical/emotional sensation.”

It’s important to have input from the entire community. If you like to geek out on kink, psychology and/or mental health, or otherwise have something to say about this, please consider giving them your feedback here. I also welcome your response below and as always, you can contact me with any questions or schedule something. 🙂

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