Kink, BDSM, and Fetish Exploration

You’re kinky.  That’s great!

But what does that mean, what does that mean to you?

Kink describes any unconventional sensual, erotic, and sexual behaviors including BDSM, fetishes, roleplaying, and more than one hundred other behaviors.

These “unconventional” behaviors include tickling, massaging, kissing, cuddling, holding hands — really, anything that you find sensual, erotic, or sexual.  The behaviors also include a host of (possibly) taboo activities, such as exhibitionism, voyeurism, bondage, corporal punishment, and humiliation.

We all have a kinky side to ourselves, not necessarily the kink portrayed in mainstream media, but more likely a special kink unique to each one of us. And our sexual needs, desires, fantasies, and behaviors are sometimes so intricate and perplexing that we have difficulties understanding them ourselves.

Many of us want to explore our kink, to share our kink with others, particularly loved ones.  This can have its challenges, from acceptance to understanding to exploration and experimentation.

What is Psychotherapy all about?

The short answer: we provide talk therapy.

The longer answer: Read More

Note: Because we are licensed and registered in California, we are only able to provide our services to clients within the state of California. If you are located outside of CA, you will need to find a therapist who is licensed or registered in that state or country.

Our Therapists

Within the mental health profession, there are various categories of kink awareness, as defined by the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF) Kink-Aware Professionals (KAP) directory:

Kink and Non-monogamy awareness levels.

• • “Kink Friendly” is a minimal level of general knowledge about the chosen field and openness to working with clients without automatically pathologizing behaviors or interests.
  • “Kink Aware” is a level where clinicians have specific knowledge of concepts and practices that are important to the subculture, and experience working with more than one or two identified clients.
  • “Kink Knowledgeable” is a more advanced level of knowledge and affirmative care.

Kink Knowledgeable Resource: Kink Clinical Practice Guidelines

All of the therapists at ATC are Kink Knowledgeable and proudly Kink Identified. We are continually attending trainings and workshops about topics pertaining to Kink, BDSM, Fetish, and Non-monogamy, in order to stay informed about new trends and ideas. In this way, we can provide optimal care and wellness for our clients and our communities — because it is our job to stay culturally aware and informed; it is not your job as our client to teach us.

Additionally, we are active in our kink community. We are professionals who are sensitive to the social, psychological, emotional, and personal aspects of kink, and who have personally experienced the challenges, growth, wonder, and excitement of kink.

Meet our kink knowledgeable therapists who specialize in Kink, BDSM, Fetishes, and more!