Themes in the Research

Today will be 2 weeks since I started the blog! Yeeeee! I can't believe it, it feels like yesterday. Do you ever feel so passionate about a project that you don't need to try to engage? This is what it feels like for me. I started this blog because I was intimidated to begin my capstone project which I need to write for the completion of my masters in counselling. This is my 3rd blog and because of my familiarity of writing in this format I thought I'd use it as a tool to trick my brain into beginning the capstone. I feel very clever about my strategy and loving of myself that I know how to get things done even when it's hard.

What you have read thus far may or may not be included in the final draft. I continue to encourage comments, though I have not received any thus yet. Feel free to be the first! This week I am organizing my thoughts to better begin a draft that I may submit to some of the 'higher ups' that will evaluate my work, so today I will discuss themes that I have come across in the current academic research around kink and BDSM in particular. 

At this time there is a lot of exploratory research around defining the edges of what kink is. The first article that pops up is an exploration of pup play. If you're unsure what that is and would like to more here's a video: https://youtu.be/vbjWf_SKoi4 Researchers have looked into the culture of kink, the psychology behind kink, and myths are being dispelled that kinky folks are more likely to be traumatized. Also included are some case studies such as the one I shared in a previous post (https://rosekink87.blogspot.com/2022/01/exploration-ideas-inspiration.html).

Researchers want to know how asexual people engage in kink, how black women or ethically non-monogamous folks engage in kink, how kink is portrayed in pop culture and I even found an article on femme kink memes. On the one hand I feel like an analytic voyeur intruding on the personal lives of others.  On the other hand, this data was, hopefully, obtained consensually and can lead to me being a more understanding and present therapist for my clients.

Which brings me to another theme which is around ethically counselling kinky individuals. One course requirement to become certified as a sex therapist in the United States is called Sexual Attitudes Reassessment. Through this course, which I've taken twice, you are exposed to various forms of sexuality and discuss how we personally respond to the material. What happens in your body when you watch the video on pup play? If you feel tingling on the outsides of your arms and a sense of lightness then it may be something you're meant to explore further. If instead you feel a tightness at the back of your throat and a heaviness in your stomach, then you may need to pay attention to this if you have a client who is exploring this avenue of kink. As counsellors, our reactions to our clients influence how supportive we can be to them. We need to be aware of what we react to.

There were also a couple articles exploring the healing power of BDSM, which is a special interest of mine, as well as a couple on the spirituality of kink. These two themes overlaps to me because I consider getting in touch with my own spirituality incredibly healing. When I use the term spirituality I mean one's own personal definition of how they connect with the purpose of existence. 

If there are any themes or articles that stand out to you as the audience then please post in the comments and let me know. I'd be happy to post further on any of these themes and may post more about all of them :D


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