Word Version of the Guide still available from BACP link below:
(extract)
3.7 Sexual practice: BDSM, kink, and beyond
Definitions
BDSM stands for Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, Sadism and Masochism. The umbrella terms ‘BDSM’, ‘kink’, and sometimes ‘fetish’ or ‘leather’, encompass a range of consensual erotic, sexual, or sensual practices which may involve heightened sensations or pain, and/ or the exchange of power, and/or some form of restraint or role-play, and/or watching other people (exhibitionism) or being watched (voyeurism). Role-playing such as being an animal (furry) or being older or younger (age-play) are also common, although not always considered part of kink/BDSM. Some people regard their BDSM status or kink to be an identity, e.g. being a top or dom/me (dominant), a bottom or sub (submissive), a switch (who tops and bottoms), or a kinkster or sadomasochist. Others regard it as a practice they engage in which is not an identity. Some may keep their kink in the realm of fantasy and/or erotic reading/writing/viewing, while some engage in kink practices in solo sex and/or with others." (continues)
"Common concerns
While a person’s kink identities or practices will often be irrelevant to their presenting issues, they may well be nervous about working with a therapist – or revealing these interests – due to the continued pathologisation of BDSM (1.6), and the likelihood of having bad prior experiences with therapists (Kolmes, Stock and Moser, 2006; Kelsey et al., 2013). Kinky people are no more psychologically unhealthy than anyone else. Indeed the most recent research suggests that they may even be more healthy (Wismeijer and Assen, 2013). Nor do their childhoods differ in any meaningful way from non-kinky people (Nordling, Sandnabba and Santtila, 2000).
If people do want to discuss their kink practices or identities in therapy it may be because they are struggling due to cultural kinkphobia or people in their life who are unaccepting of their kink. Kink-affirmative therapy can be very helpful under such circumstances, as is an awareness of the various online and offline kink communities that people might find useful and supportive. Some people find their kink practices to be healing and/or therapeutic, for example as a form of stress reduction, as a way of dealing with past shame or trauma, or as a way of accessing different sides of themselves. In such situations therapy working in parallel with kink play can be very useful"
www.bacp.co.uk/events-and-resources/ethics-and-standards/good-practice-across-the-counselling-professions/