couples therapy

Kink — Knowledgeable: I provide affirming, non-pathologizing psychotherapy for adults and relationship systems involved in BDSM, kink, fetish, and consensual power exchange. My clinical knowledge includes Dominant/submissive dynamics; power exchange; negotiation; informed, ongoing, and reversible consent; boundaries and limits; safewords and nonverbal stop signals; sensory and nervous-system responses; attachment; shame; trauma; aftercare; and rupture and repair. I understand that consensual kink is not inherently pathological and do not presume that kink interests or identities originate in trauma. I distinguish consensual power exchange from coercion, abuse, or interpersonal violence by assessing choice, capacity, context, impact, and the ability to pause or withdraw consent. My role remains within the scope of psychotherapy, including assessment, preparation, trauma processing, relational work, and integration. I do not facilitate physical scenes, provide technical instruction for kink activities, or offer professional BDSM services. Poly — Aware: I have specific clinical knowledge of polyamory, consensual nonmonogamy, and multi-partner relationship systems. Relevant areas of care include agreements and renegotiation; autonomy and interdependence; hierarchy and nonhierarchy; attachment responses; jealousy and comparison; time and resource allocation; disclosure and privacy; boundaries; sexual and emotional communication; conflict; betrayal; rupture; and collective repair. I affirm polyamory as a valid relationship structure and do not assume that nonmonogamy is the cause of an individual’s or relationship system’s distress. Treatment focuses on the concern identified by the clients, the functioning of the relationship system, and whether agreements are freely chosen, clearly understood, and consistently practiced. I seek consultation, collaborate, or refer when a highly complex or high-conflict polycule requires expertise beyond my current scope. Swinger/Lifestyle — Friendly: I welcome clients who participate in the Lifestyle and provide respectful, sex-positive, nonjudgmental care without pathologizing consensual adult sexual exploration. I understand foundational concerns involving mutual consent, couple agreements, shared and individual boundaries, privacy, jealousy, comparison, disclosure, sexual-health communication, community stigma, emotional reactions, and processing before and after Lifestyle experiences. I recognize that swinging may be recreational, relational, erotic, identity-relevant, or differently meaningful to each participant, and I do not impose one interpretation on it. My current specialty depth is stronger in kink/BDSM and poly/CNM than in swinger-specific culture. I will seek consultation or provide an appropriate referral when a client’s concern requires more specialized Lifestyle knowledge.

I am a nationally-recognized expert in kink and consensual non-monogamy, as well as an active researcher, author, and clinical trainer in the field.

Heather teaches continuing education courses to other mental health professionals on provided competent services to the kink, lifestyle, and poly communities.