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Don't Freak Out: Normalizing Diversity in Sexual Interests and Practices (Including Kink)
Don't Freak Out: Normalizing Diversity in Sexual Interests and Practices (Including Kink)
Presenter: Dr. Lisa Diamond
Date: June 23, 2026 | 2:00 PM MST
Format: Live, interactive synchronous webinar | 1 hour
Content Level: Beginner
Target Audience: Clinical Mental Health Providers
CE Credits: 1 continuing education credit
Course Description
Many clinicians encounter clients with diverse sexual interests and practices — including kink — yet feel underprepared, uncomfortable, or uncertain about how to respond in ways that are affirming, ethical, and clinically sound. This one-hour live webinar directly addresses the misconceptions, discomfort, and clinical bias that can get in the way of effective therapeutic work with clients who engage in kink or other non-normative sexual practices.
Through research-informed lecture, guided discussion, case examples, and reflective exercises, participants will review contemporary changes in psychological and psychiatric frameworks — including updates in diagnostic classification that distinguish consensual sexual diversity from pathology or disorder. The course examines how stigma, shame, and provider unfamiliarity can negatively impact assessment, treatment planning, and the therapeutic alliance, and places particular emphasis on clinician self-awareness of implicit bias as a foundation for affirming practice.
Participants will leave with practical strategies for creating therapeutic environments in which all aspects of a client's sexual experience can be acknowledged and affirmed — even when not directly related to the presenting concern — and with increased confidence in working with clients of diverse sexual identities and practices.
This training is grounded in the core social work values of dignity and worth, the importance of human relationships, and a commitment to social justice — affirming that reducing shame-based barriers to care and fostering inclusive therapeutic environments are central to ethical, competent clinical practice.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this training, participants will be able to:
Describe contemporary clinical frameworks for understanding kink and other non-normative sexual interests, including changes in diagnostic criteria and the distinction between consensual sexual diversity and pathology.
Identify common sources of stigma, shame, and clinician bias that may affect work with clients who engage in kink or alternative sexual practices, and explain how these factors can influence the therapeutic relationship.
Implement strategies to create an affirming clinical environment that supports disclosure, reduces shame, and strengthens the therapeutic alliance for clients with diverse sexual interests, regardless of whether these interests are the presenting issue.
Limitations, Risks, & Benefits
This online training presents foundational and intermediate-level clinical information and may challenge previously held assumptions or personal beliefs about sexuality, which could create temporary discomfort as participants reflect on implicit bias and professional practice. The virtual format may not fully replicate in-person interactivity; however, no significant risks are anticipated beyond the reflective discomfort that can accompany professional growth. Benefits include increased clinical confidence, improved ability to distinguish consensual sexual diversity from pathology, enhanced competence in assessment and treatment planning, strengthened therapeutic alliance with clients of diverse sexual identities and practices, and a deeper capacity to provide compassionate, inclusive, and ethically sound care.
About the Presenter
Dr. Lisa Diamond is a professor of Psychology and Gender Studies at the University of Utah, where she has worked since 1999. Her research focuses on mental health among LGBTQ+ populations, sexual and gender identity across the life course, sexual and gender fluidity, and childhood and adolescent trauma exposure — including religious trauma — among LGBTQ+ individuals. Dr. Diamond collaborates frequently with clinicians and brings a research-informed perspective that emphasizes the critical role of social safety and unconditional belonging on the health of marginalized populations.
Course Details
Delivery method: Live interactive webinar via the Institute learning platform
Course interactivity: Interactive — participants will engage in guided discussion, case examples, reflective exercises, and Q&A
Posttest/quiz: Because this is a live interactive course, a standard posttest is not required. Participation will be monitored throughout the session.
Certificate issuance: Certificates of credit will be issued immediately after course completion to participants who attend the full session and complete the course evaluation.
Contact for questions: institute@thehealinggroup.com
Accessibility accommodations: To request accessibility accommodations, please contact institute@thehealinggroup.com prior to the event. We are committed to making our trainings accessible to all participants.
ASWB ACE Statement:
The Healing Group Institute, provider number 2716, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 3/31/26 – 3/31/27. Social workers completing this course receive 1 continuing education credit.
AASECT CKA:
C. Socio-cultural, familial factors (e.g., ethnicity, culture, religion, spirituality, socioeconomic status, family values) in relation to sexual values and behaviors.
F. Diversities in sexual expression and lifestyles including, but not limited to, polyamory, swinging, BDSM, and tantra.
O. Professional communication and personal reflection skills.
AASECT ST:
A. Theory and methods of sex-related psychotherapy, including several different models.
This presentation has been reviewed by Kristin Hodson, LCSW, CST, CSTS to ensure it meets AASECT standards.
Don't Freak Out: Normalizing Diversity in Sexual Interests and Practices (Including Kink)
Presenter: Dr. Lisa Diamond
Date: June 23, 2026 | 2:00 PM MST
Format: Live, interactive synchronous webinar | 1 hour
Content Level: Beginner
Target Audience: Clinical Mental Health Providers
CE Credits: 1 continuing education credit
Course Description
Many clinicians encounter clients with diverse sexual interests and practices — including kink — yet feel underprepared, uncomfortable, or uncertain about how to respond in ways that are affirming, ethical, and clinically sound. This one-hour live webinar directly addresses the misconceptions, discomfort, and clinical bias that can get in the way of effective therapeutic work with clients who engage in kink or other non-normative sexual practices.
Through research-informed lecture, guided discussion, case examples, and reflective exercises, participants will review contemporary changes in psychological and psychiatric frameworks — including updates in diagnostic classification that distinguish consensual sexual diversity from pathology or disorder. The course examines how stigma, shame, and provider unfamiliarity can negatively impact assessment, treatment planning, and the therapeutic alliance, and places particular emphasis on clinician self-awareness of implicit bias as a foundation for affirming practice.
Participants will leave with practical strategies for creating therapeutic environments in which all aspects of a client's sexual experience can be acknowledged and affirmed — even when not directly related to the presenting concern — and with increased confidence in working with clients of diverse sexual identities and practices.
This training is grounded in the core social work values of dignity and worth, the importance of human relationships, and a commitment to social justice — affirming that reducing shame-based barriers to care and fostering inclusive therapeutic environments are central to ethical, competent clinical practice.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this training, participants will be able to:
Describe contemporary clinical frameworks for understanding kink and other non-normative sexual interests, including changes in diagnostic criteria and the distinction between consensual sexual diversity and pathology.
Identify common sources of stigma, shame, and clinician bias that may affect work with clients who engage in kink or alternative sexual practices, and explain how these factors can influence the therapeutic relationship.
Implement strategies to create an affirming clinical environment that supports disclosure, reduces shame, and strengthens the therapeutic alliance for clients with diverse sexual interests, regardless of whether these interests are the presenting issue.
Limitations, Risks, & Benefits
This online training presents foundational and intermediate-level clinical information and may challenge previously held assumptions or personal beliefs about sexuality, which could create temporary discomfort as participants reflect on implicit bias and professional practice. The virtual format may not fully replicate in-person interactivity; however, no significant risks are anticipated beyond the reflective discomfort that can accompany professional growth. Benefits include increased clinical confidence, improved ability to distinguish consensual sexual diversity from pathology, enhanced competence in assessment and treatment planning, strengthened therapeutic alliance with clients of diverse sexual identities and practices, and a deeper capacity to provide compassionate, inclusive, and ethically sound care.
About the Presenter
Dr. Lisa Diamond is a professor of Psychology and Gender Studies at the University of Utah, where she has worked since 1999. Her research focuses on mental health among LGBTQ+ populations, sexual and gender identity across the life course, sexual and gender fluidity, and childhood and adolescent trauma exposure — including religious trauma — among LGBTQ+ individuals. Dr. Diamond collaborates frequently with clinicians and brings a research-informed perspective that emphasizes the critical role of social safety and unconditional belonging on the health of marginalized populations.
Course Details
Delivery method: Live interactive webinar via the Institute learning platform
Course interactivity: Interactive — participants will engage in guided discussion, case examples, reflective exercises, and Q&A
Posttest/quiz: Because this is a live interactive course, a standard posttest is not required. Participation will be monitored throughout the session.
Certificate issuance: Certificates of credit will be issued immediately after course completion to participants who attend the full session and complete the course evaluation.
Contact for questions: institute@thehealinggroup.com
Accessibility accommodations: To request accessibility accommodations, please contact institute@thehealinggroup.com prior to the event. We are committed to making our trainings accessible to all participants.
ASWB ACE Statement:
The Healing Group Institute, provider number 2716, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 3/31/26 – 3/31/27. Social workers completing this course receive 1 continuing education credit.
AASECT CKA:
C. Socio-cultural, familial factors (e.g., ethnicity, culture, religion, spirituality, socioeconomic status, family values) in relation to sexual values and behaviors.
F. Diversities in sexual expression and lifestyles including, but not limited to, polyamory, swinging, BDSM, and tantra.
O. Professional communication and personal reflection skills.
AASECT ST:
A. Theory and methods of sex-related psychotherapy, including several different models.
This presentation has been reviewed by Kristin Hodson, LCSW, CST, CSTS to ensure it meets AASECT standards.