A heuristic inquiry into becoming a kink-aware therapist working with transgender and gender diverse clients.

17 July 2025

Abstract

In 2025, LGBTQ+ communities face rising hate and political hostility. This decade, there has been an increase in visibility of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people and BDSM/kink practices and identities have also become more visible.  This research sits at the intersection of these two stigmatised identities. Recent legal changes are fuelling a controversy in wider society and the counselling professions relating to gender-affirming therapy.

This study’s objectives were to explore the experiences of kink-aware therapists and their TGD clients to advance knowledge, and to create performance poetry to encourage counsellors and other audiences to reflect on experiences of marginalisation, gender and sexuality. The lead researcher’s experiences were included.

Data was collected using interviews and self-dialogue, and analysed using heuristic theme illumination and identification. This culminated in a creative synthesis poem called Unconditional Possible Girl, which explores the following themes: danger; safety; thinking about kink; knowing and learning; trans joy. Sub-themes included: professional threat; neurodiversity; perception; marginalisation; advocacy.

Key insights included: TGD clients feeling increased threat due to legal changes that contravene TGD best practice, leading to increased marginalisation; cis therapists reflecting on their gender and sexuality marginalisation can enable deeper connection with TGD clients; nuanced gender identity can be experienced by clients that do not identify as TGD; LGBT communities, including kink communities, can offer great support to people who are marginalised; a potential link between neurodiversity and TGD and kink identities. The implications, findings and limitations of this study, including suggestions for future research are discussed.

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