Random thoughts

Heart of Persephone​(sub female) - Nice question.kink friendly would be amazing I would like one that would understand the D/S dynamics and all the different levels to it.

SirsBabyDoll​(sub female){Pizza+☕} - My social worker is Kink aware and being able to tell her as well as teach her about brats and the kink community with more depth is FUCKING AMAZING and freeing. I don't have to hide that part from her.

HGB​(sub female){Scottish M} - Yes

Literate Lycan​(dom male) - Yes. Not knowing, but at least skilled in relationships, traumatic response, PTSD,

OraclePollon​(sub female){NotYours} - Maybe you specialize? If I was going to see a sex therapist, or kink specialist, I would MUCH rather go to one that was educated and qualified in the non sexual aspects as well. I would seek out a trained professional in kink, long before a guru with experience.

alawey​(sub female){(OWNED BY } - I agree that it would be great if one needed to see such a person that they be kink knowledgeable at least some what.

IceGirl​(switch female) - Kink isn't really something that is related to mental illness itself. So I dont see how being "kink" friendly would actually help your practice if that is where you really want to go into.

Literate Lycan​(dom male) - Many individuals involved in kink wind up having potential trauma in their formative years that causes them concern in their developing desires and relationships. Having a mental care professional respectful of the lifestyle would be a benefit.

SchrodingersDinosaur​(switch female) - Particularly since so many in the nilla world have no idea, nor respect for, the healing/ coping/ growth aspects of our Lifestyle, LL. They see it as ugly, abusive, a wrong-headed way of dealing with our lives, history, and in many cases just expressing our natural desires.

I suppose it works for some folks but it seems to me that if someone is seeking treatment and needing to be open about trauma or child abuse or thoughts of self harm, having to 'hide' your sexuality and likely a big part of yourself from the person who supposed to help you work through your issues seems self defeating.

Kudos for your willingness to help in an area that truly needs it, Palesugarcookie. As to knowledge needed, I'd say the more exposure you have to all the ways we express ourselves in this Lifestyle, including the unsafe and actually damaging vices, the better prepared you would be to assist any who seek you out. But more important than specific kinks is something you've already demonstrated...an understanding that there is a spectrum to that which we do. Some healthy, some not so much. You are already kink-aware, just provide an open mind and a safe place for your patients to be their true selves. - Henna

Palesugarcookie​(sub female) - No it is not....but most often therapists are in the vanilla realm and then you have to take away from sessions to explain this side of you..or just keep it hidden.

No but trying to explain being a little in a poly relationship (example) usually brings up the usual crap of thinking you have daddy/mommy issues...blah blah

It would make it easier to talk to the heart of the issue vs wading through all the vanilla bs.

rosethorn​(sub female) - No, i don't agree it would be helpful either especially with such limited evidence around bdsm to build off. I don't think its the place for it, its possible to go with current evidenced practice, not everything relates to bdsm people have complex lives (from personal experience in counciling, im happy to deal with the issue i am there to discuss, it has zero relevance to this lifestyle choice). Yes people in this community have trauma like people in all communities do, i do not consider the two linked and doing this in therapy with limited evidence greatly concerns me. Would therapists specialize in the gay community and to what aim? I would ask the same of a bdsm or kink related therapist. Im sure members of the gay community have also experienced challenges and trauma but that doesn't mean its automatically associated with being a member of the gay community. I feel the same way with kink bdsm D/s M/s S/m. It has the possibility to do more harm than good.

alawey​(sub female){(OWNED BY } - While I can see what rosethorn is saying. I think that someone has knowledge of any lifestyle that is outside of the box ( sorry to any and all within in the LGBT community but sadly to some in the vanilla world, it's still outside the box) would be helpful.

Look at it this way some one found a mid west small town views things very differently than say a person from NYC or even Philadelphia. I know that while I was married to my asshat ex husband and went to counseling it took me years to find a counselor that I could connect with. That could help me work through things.

Along with the fact that there are many reformed drug addicts as drug counselors . Which can be helpful to those in recovery. .

https://www.intercoast.edu/blog/15-reasons-why-recovered-addicts-make-good-counselors/

rosethorn​(sub female) - Comment deleted by poster.

J o l l y​(sub female){Nillaw♡} - I'm currently going to a kink positive therapist myself. I love her!! She's super open and positive!

rosethorn​(sub female) - rosethorn​(sub female) - I understand what your saying about mid west and nyc. I also don't expect people to agree with me either but i stand by it. Im not going into counciling because im in a bdsm dynamic so i don't see a need for any connection to the lifestyle. The other thing is anyone can say they are kink friendly it doesn't mean they are. It could mean they find members of our community interesting to study one i know said weirdos freeks and perverts are fascinating. This is why i point to a lack of evidence in research when evidence based practice is there to insure no harm is caused. Things are supposed to be evidence driven an unintended consequence could be bowlby attachment theory being used in a context and a diagnostic tool that it simply wasn't intended or designed for as its being viewed through a bdsm prism its never intended for and thus misapplied/ ill-applied to practice. This is one example of many that could be ill fitting diagnostic tools applied to relationship dynamics purely because its bdsm. Now if im there for trauma (which i have been) for me i find no connection to this lifestyle and was able to be delt with as it would be for anyone else. Its almost like putting a hat on a hat when diagnosing. Mental health is in our community like many other communities the evidence is there to support but if bdsm analysis is being factored into a diagnosis this is using evidence in a way it was not designed for. Im concerned this could occur which is why i said no. I don't find it necessary. I see the two separately. Now would it be nice to mention it without judgement yes, but ethics are already in place for this to be the case, you don't like your Therapist find a new one, many do this anyway and it can take a while normally. I personally don't really care what others think and am happy as i am so. Alawey i do understand where your coming from with the lifestyle being more open and accepted in general and i hear you. I am cautious of the mistakes misunderstandings and bad practices based of no knowledge of the actual community and assumptions instead mixed with evidence never designed to be seen through this prism. Everywhere has different views on everything im half irish catholic from north Wales and travel to London every so often its the way of the world and nature of people (from my experience especially in small towns lol). I live life how i want to so im happy, its not possible to please everyone its easyer to stop trying lol. Im not expected you to agree with me hun and i appreciate where your coming from too.
Im concerned many will use the kink friendly without knowing how the community actually works and use it as an excuse to study 'freaks perverts and weirdos' they find fascinating.... quote from someone i know, in a similar vocation and friend .... who could easily slap kink friendly on what they do with zero oversight, marvelous, so they are out there. Yes she knows im into this lifestyle, this was a conversation i was trying to educate.
Its important to check who your seeing and your not considered a research meal ticket x

Palesugarcookie​(sub female) - I am not asking for a research ticket. I asked simply because I have been wanting to make the career change...and was curious to see what others thought about going to someone if they needed it if they were kink friendly.

rosethorn​(sub female) - I didn't say you where. I am saying its a possibility because everything is supposed to be evidence based you cant have evidence based without research, which means studies in the community (not saying you). And if its not evidence based .... there is no professional reasoning to do it, which you have to have. Its interesting that research is the only aspect you have commented on, i didn't say you were ... evidencebasd practice doesn't exist without research. I have also noticed some individuals who appear too already be doing this (again not you) seeing how much i know but based of really really bad assumptions. I don't believe (personally) that someone needs to be 'kink aware' in therapy or counselling, especially as i can already tell a therapist if i choose to. If Im in counciling to address an issue surrounding my mental wellbeing my chosen lifestyle has nothing to do with that. There is very little to no research, per-existing research has no relevance to this lifestyle and could be used unintentionally as a mis diagnostic tool, very easily. These are my thoughts on the topic i don't expect you to agree, each to there own. But its worth noting there may be ethical issues due to the potential lack and misuse of theory not to mention blending these things together when
you are in the lifestyle and trying to explain to non bdsmers. If any complaints came forward (not saying they would) but you would have to explain to a bunch of vanilla people at panel how being kink aware wouldn't impact on current evidence based practices or how theories are being adhered to as intended. What kink aware even means .... and i genuinely wise you luck if this ever happens.... and why the two are even relivent together in current practice given there is virtually no evidence especially if its not related to diagnosis or treatment why is it related to your practice, again with virtually no evidence (im giving an example of what might happen). The reason i bring this up is not to be a beep ... but its worth considering for the future. I believe this wouldn't work because others would then be able to state the same thing with no idea about the lifestyle and no credentials. You would be asked how you are kink aware, why its relivent and how this ethically doesn't involve bdsm power dynamics within the context of treatment (of course it doesn't... so why is it relivent... given no evidence? Would be a question you would have to answer) and how as a member of this community you would maintain professionalism when working with members of your own community (of course you would and should but again this is explaining to others outside of the lifestyle, they may not even know it exists and have many misunderstandings). I don't expect you to like or agree with what i say but i am sharing because i think its something for you to be aware of, you asked me to share so i have.
Personally, i would view a 'kink friendly' therapist if i needed a therapist as well.... not relivent .... i would also be concerned that everything would be viewed through power dynamics and bdsm which is not something i want in a therapist and would find again not relevant to any treatment, i would have concerns over possible mis use or limited evidence based practices, for reasons priviously mentioned and would seriously put me off seeing that Therapist. i would view it as concerning and would see someone else because of the possibility that they don't actually know anything about the lifestyle... not because you don't.... but because you can't evidence it and there is a reason evidence based practices exist, that reason would also concern me that something is being claimed that can't be evidenced. I suspect you won't like or agree with that either but again you asked for my opinion, you don't have to like it. I would be very concerned as a potential client and would never go to one because if i asked for credentials they don't exist for kink aware or kink friendly Therapists there is no way of me knowing if you actually have any knowledge of the community and lifestyle or not (evidenced, as it is ethically required) so i can make an informed decision.
I do wish you luck and hope i haven't put you off, im sharing my thoughts on the topic because i believe its important that your aware of these. It might be worth looking at ethics, professional standards and the law before you make any decisions. Im based in the uk not usa and i know they are not the same... i have stuck my neck out to write this because i do think these things are important for you to consider before you make your decision. It may not seem like it but I do wish you the best.