This workshop is a conversational exploration of kink, designed to educate and inform mental health therapists about various aspects of kink culture and practices. The session will delve into physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of kink,  and address the importance of negotiation, consent, and aftercare. It will also feature a special focus on the experiences and perspectives of Black women in kink communities, acknowledging the unique challenges and opportunities they encounter. This workshop is relevant to any mental health professional seeking to broaden their understanding of kink and better support their clients who engage in kink practices. Sign up and expand your knowledge and understanding. 

Educational Goals

• Help learners understand the importance of negotiation, consent, and aftercare, especially within the context of kink for Black women.
• Help learners recognize the unique challenges and opportunities encountered by Black women in kink, due to the intersectionality of their identities.
• Help learners identify common assumptions and biases about Black women in kink, such as pain tolerance and emotional expression, to better support their Black female clients who engage in kink.

This course is aimed to appeal to clinicians from all levels of experience. 

Measurable Learning Objectives

• Describe four elements of kink negotiation, consent and aftercare, especially within the context of Black women.
• Learn three unique challenges and opportunities encountered by Black women in kink.
• Identify three common assumptions and biases about Black women in kink, such as pain tolerance and emotional expression.

Outline with Main Points 

1. Intro (5 min)
1. Welcome
2. Introduction
3. Overview of the training
2. What’s Kink? Nuances, strengths and complexities (20 min)
1. Reflective exercise
2. Physical kinks
3. Emotional Kinks
3. Three Pillars of Eros and The Sacred Energy of Kink, as Related to Black Women (20 min)
1. Negotiation
2. Kink
3. Aftercare
4. Question and Answer (10 min)
5. Closing (5 min)

Suggested Reading/Supported Readings (optional)

• Cruz, A. (2017). The color of kink: Black women, BDSM, and pornography. New York University Press. 
• Williams, M. (2010). The TOYBAG Guide to playing with taboo. Greenery Press. 
• Johnson, V. M. (1999). To Love, to obey, to serve: Diary of an old guard slave. Mystic Rose Books. 
• Hargons CN, Dogan J, Malone N, Thorpe S, Mosley DV, Stevens-Watkins D. Balancing the sexology scales: a content analysis of Black women's sexuality research. Cult Health Sex. 2021 Sep;23(9):1287-1301. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2020.1776399. Epub 2020 Aug 3. PMID: 32744470; PMCID: PMC7855161. 
• Davis, Jennifer & Slayton, Anna & Petersen, Joseph & Hyams, Hannah & Howard, Lori & Sharp, Shane & Sagarin, Brad. (2022). Challenge at the Intersection of Race and Kink: Racial Discrimination, Fetishization, and Inclusivity Within the BDSM (Bondage-Discipline, Dominance-Submission, and Sadism-Masochism) Community. Archives of Sexual Behavior. 51. 10.1007/s10508-021-02102-9. 

CA BBS CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM POLICIES

David F Khalili, LMFT is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs licensed through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. CEPA Provider # 1000132. David F Khalili, LMFT maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.  Contact him at www.rousetherapy.com, phone 415-448-6743, 4053 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94114, or [email protected].  

To receive your CE certificate: Pay the ticket price, complete a brief evaluation.  Please note, you must complete both the quiz AND evaluation.  A SCORE OF 70% OR MORE ON THIS TEST IS REQUIRED FOR CE CREDIT.  After passing your quiz, you will receive your certificate within five business days.  

Grievance Policy: For this course, “Instructor” refers to Tijanna Eaton and David Khalili Marriage and Family Therapy, Inc.

1. If there is a grievance, the participants will be asked to put their concerns in writing to David Khalili [email protected].
2. If the grievance concerns the instructor, the content presented by the instructor, or the style of presentation, the individual filing the grievance will be asked to put his/her comments in written format. The participant will receive a written response in 1-2 business days. When necessary, the participant will receive a full refund.
3. If the grievance concerns a workshop offering, its content, level of presentation, or the facilities in which the workshop was offered, the instructor will mediate and will be the final arbitrator. If the participant requests action, the instructor:
         a. attempt to move the participant to another workshop or
         b. provide a credit for a subsequent year's workshop or
         c. provide a full refund of the workshop fee.
         Actions 4b and 4c will require a written note, documenting the grievance, for record keeping purposes. The grieved individual need not sign the note.

Refund Policy: Refunds are not available on all items, especially live webinars (see individual promotional materials). Refunds are always available if CE item was purchased in error.  Full refunds for CE test payment itself will be granted when the request is submitted in writing and a post-test has not been submitted and graded. Refunds will be issued within 7 days of request to the payment method used to pay for the original purchase.  

Disability Accommodations:  Arrangements can be made for those with disabilities or special needs; please contact David F Khalili, LMFT at 415-448-6743, [email protected] or the address above.

One continuing education unit available for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs in California. Outside of California, check with your states licensing board.

Continuing Education Units: One Units.

Learning Objectives

After the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Describe four elements of kink negotiation, consent and aftercare, especially within the context of Black women.
• Learn three unique challenges and opportunities encountered by Black women in kink.
• Identify three common assumptions and biases about Black women in kink, such as pain tolerance and emotional expression.

About the presenter:

Tijanna O. Eaton (Tə-zha-na; she/her) is a Black butch writer whose work appears in Panorama Journal, Honey Literary, Noyo Review, and Yellow Arrow Vignette. She is a 2024 Soros Justice Fellow, the nonfiction judge for the 2024 Best of the Net contest, and a 2023 Rooted & Written Fellow. Tijanna enjoys floggers, impact, hook pulls, and sarcasm; has been a card-carrying member of the Exiles since 1998; and has topped, bottomed, and switched mid-scene.  

Format and Length:

Live zoom meeting. Total running time 60 minutes.

Topic Area:

Clinical practice, Theoretical Foundations

Instructional Level:

All levels

Completion Requirements:

Live viewers must complete an online evaluation at the end of the course to obtain their CE certificate via email. Those viewing the recording must watch the entire workshop, complete an evaluation, and obtain a score of 70% or higher on a course completion quiz. You are allowed to take the quiz as many times as you need.

Completion Quiz and Course Evaluation:

After the workshop, the course completion quiz will be available to complete, followed by the course evaluation.

Who Should Attend:

Counselors, masters or doctoral level clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and licensed professional counselors. Other wellness providers who work with couples, especially queer couples.

Course Date:

February 21, 2025

Conflict of Interest Statement:

There is no potential conflict of interest or outside commercial support for this course.

Refund Grievance Policy:

 Click here for the full refund and grievance policy.

Contact Information:

For any inquiries related to subject matter guidance, correction, grading, comments, or problem resolution please contact us at [email protected]

David F Khalili, LMFT is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for MFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs licensed through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. CEPA Provider # 1000132.