How did I become interested in working with kinky and poly people?

In 1989, I was a college student, shelving books at the indie bookstore where I volunteered, when The Lesbian S/M Safety Manual fell into my lap. I was fascinated. What was lesbian S/M? And what did it have to do with safety? The book was an eye opener. I learned that there was an entire sexual world about which I knew absolutely nothing. 

When I moved to New York City, I met my first kinky and poly friend who encouraged me to join The Lesbian Sex Mafia with her. I was a member between 1992 – 1995 and I attended safety workshops, educational events, play parties, and social gatherings. I moved to the Bay Area in 1995 and started graduate school in 1996. I spent much of the late 90’s attending play parties, in search of the psychopathology I had read about in my text books. But I couldn’t find it. For the most part, play parties introduced me to a bunch of friendly, lusty, curious, and creative people who wanted to find safe and interesting ways to enhance their erotic lives. 

I was intrigued by the discrepancy between what I had heard in academic settings about psychopathology and BDSM and the reality of my experience and observations in BDSM spaces. I was also fascinated by people who were enthusiastically stepping deeper into finding the keys to unlocking their core erotic selves and sharing that with others. As a result, I decided to study clinician bias in mental health services to the kink community.

That said, don’t worry that becoming my psychotherapy client means we’ll bump into one another at play or sex parties. I haven’t attended one since 2000. But I will know what you’re talking about, and I won’t judge you.

I do occasionally attend events in which there is an educational component and if I know in advance that we may cross paths at such an event, we’ll discuss it together.

Why do I offer kink-aware and poly friendly psychotherapy and counseling services for BDSM and altsex folks?

Because I recognize that sexual diversity is more than just LGBTQ. Because I believe all people deserve to meet with a clinician who understands their identity issues and sexual practices without unnecessarily making that a focus of treatment. Because even though I practice in San Francisco, many local clinicians are still not well-educated when it comes to BDSM, kink, and polyamory. I specialize in working with altsex populations and sexual diversity. I also have found myself continually moved by the people in my life and my practice who work on the practice of ethical and consensual non-monogamy. I have found great inspiration in people who seek expansive relationships of growth vs. restriction. But I also recognize that these relationships are not ideal for everyone. 

How many LGBTQ, kinky, altsex, or poly-identified clients have I worked with?

This is a question I’m often asked by new clients. The following chart shows the sexual orientations that people who have come to my office have written on their intake forms (in their own words). Note that the categories do overlap (e.g. – some may write both queer and poly on the intake form when asked about how they identify, and others may select heterosexual and kinky). This snapshot of my practice stats is from October, 2014 and it includes all people seen since my practice opened in 2008.

Click on the chart below to enlarge it.