Understanding Kink/BDSM Practices Amongst Gay/Bi Men (Part 1 & 2)

Contents and Aim: Increasingly gay and bi men involved in consensual BDSM and Kink feel more comfortable discussing their sexual experiences in therapy. Greater openness may be due to the declassification of many paraphilias within the DSM and ICD. It may also be attributable to increasing research into consensual BDSM/Kink that demonstrates that these sexual practices are a healthy variation of human sexuality. Some therapists can be safe and informed enough to risk discussing this more intimate and controversial part of someone’s sexuality.

However, many sexology supervisors may find themselves groping around in the dark supervising practitioners where their shared lack of information and cultural sensitivity leads to poor therapeutic outcomes.

Alternatively, the supervisor might find themselves working with a Kink-knowledgeable therapist and wanting to ensure they do not struggle to co-create an informed clinical discourse due to their lack of prior training in this area.
Learning Objectives:

1. Explore whether Kink is a sexual orientation
2. Understand more about the associated health disparities in the Kink population
3. Explore some of the emerging trends in gay and bisexual men’s kinky sexual practices.
4. Become more culturally aware of kink practices and the language surrounding them.
5. Explore harm-reduction strategies to maximise pleasure & lessen anxiety.
6. Practice maintaining a dual focus on pleasure and risk in clinical consultations.

Produced in 2021