Kink, BDSM, and Mental Health

About the Course

Kinky sexual behavior has been brought into the mainstream through depictions like those in Fifty Shades of Grey. However, such fictional depictions can be misleading. This course details how therapists can work effectively with members of the kink community, as well as those who may not identify as part of the community but engage in kinky sexual behavior. Topics include common roles, identities, and behavior; supportive and educational organizations; identifying and addressing potential dangers; and most importantly, how to identify and set aside personal biases and beliefs that can make it challenging to provide a nonjudgmental, safe environment in which clients can share their whole selves.

1 hour CE. Recorded video format (non-interactive)

Content advisory: This course includes discussion of sexual topics and sexual behavior.

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Course Overview

ESTIMATED COURSE LENGTH: 1.3 hours 

CE CREDITS: 1.00 continuing education/contact hours for social workers, psychologists, counselors, and marriage and family therapists

TARGET AUDIENCE: Mental Health Practitioners

LEVEL OF INSTRUCTION: Intermediate

PREREQUISITE(S): None

INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD: Recorded video format (non-interactive)

ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS: Closed captioning of audio components. In order to request further accessibility accommodations, please email support@psychhub.com.

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS: To obtain your CE certificate, learners must complete a pre-test (not scored), progress through all course segments, complete a participant evaluation, and obtain a score of 80% or higher on a post-test. Learners are expected to complete the quiz within 3 attempts. If unable to do so, the learner will need to re-review the course segments.

FINANCIAL/COMMERCIAL SUPPORT STATEMENT: This course has no commercial support.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:  This course has no potential conflict of interest or outside commercial support. Psych Hub's conflict of interest statement is found in the footer of the training center.

GRIEVANCE AND REFUND POLICIES: Grievance and refund policies are found in the footer of the training center.

PARTICIPATION COSTS:  The cost to participate in this CE activity is included in the subscription registration fee.

COURSE CREATION DATE: 11/14/2020

 

 

 

 

Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Explain at least two ways in which mental health professionals have historically done a disservice to sexual minorities
  • Describe at least two key components of the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for a paraphilia
  • Describe at least four roles or behaviors common within the kink community
  • Differentiate between healthy and abusive relationships within the kink context

Course Outline

  1. Kink and BDSM in media
  2. Basic terms and concepts
  3. Kink and BDSM in the previous versions of the DSM
    1. Previous criteria
    2. Lobbying efforts to change
    3. Simply engaging in a paraphilia is not enough for a diagnosis
  4. Understanding kink
    1. Relationship dynamics
    2. Relationship themes, roles, and identities
    3. Overlap with polyamory/consensual non monogamy
  5. Applying knowledge of kink and BDSM in therapy
    1. Impact of personal values
    2. Client reluctance to acknowledge kink/BDSM behavior
    3. Research findings
  6. Consent
    1. Surface consent vs. informed consent
    2. Different frameworks on consent and BDSM

CE Information


American Psychological Association (APA)
Psych Hub is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Psych Hub maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Psychologists completing this course receive 1.00 continuing education credits.

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
Psych Hub, #1750, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.00 clinical continuing education credits.

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
Psych Hub is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. Psych Hub maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. CAMFT Approval #1000074. Course meets the qualifications for 1.00 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
Psych Hub has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7051. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Psych Hub is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Counselors completing this course receive 1.00 continuing education hours.

New York State Education Department - Licensed Mental Health Counselors (NYSED-LMHC)
Psych Hub, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0257. New York State licensed mental health counselors completing this course receive 1.00 contact hours.

New York State Education Department - Marriage & Family Therapists (NYSED-MFT)
Psych Hub, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0109. New York State marriage and family therapists completing this course receive 1.00 contact hours.

New York State Education Department - Psychology (NYSED-PSY)
Psych Hub, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0208. New York State licensed psychologists completing this course receive 1.00 contact hours.

New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work (NYSED-SW)
Psych Hub, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0699. New York State social workers completing this course receive 1.00 contact hours.

Experts


Maria Carrington, MSW, LICSW, CST
Maria Carrington is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Certified Sex Therapist in Lakewood, Washington. She has extensive experience working with people in the poly and kink communities. She has training and experience working with clients who identify as LGBTQ, transgender, non-binary, and other non heteronormative identities and orientations.