Who We Are
Established in 2014, Kink and Polyam Aware Chicago Therapists (KPACT) is an online discussion group open to psychotherapists, healthcare professionals and graduates students of these disciplines who value gender, sexual and erotic diversity and seek to connect with like-minded colleagues in the greater Chicago metropolitan area for the purpose of learning and better serving our clients.
KPACT member clinicians serve clients who identify as kinky, as BDSM practitioners and/or as non-monogamous as well as those who are curious about sex-positive expressions of gender, eroticism, other forms of consensual sex and/or diverse relationship constellations.
We are LGBTQIA+ and sex worker-friendly, affirming and knowledgeable. We prefer not to pathologize or stigmatize those who seek diverse consensual relationships or erotic experiences. We strive to consider each person we work with holistically, taking into account how each identifies, power disparities in their relationships, abuse and trauma history, role conflicts, their experience in the coming out process, internalized oppression, anxiety, depression, and a host of other sexual, psychological, social, spiritual, and interpersonal issues.
What We Believe
We believe that becoming culturally competent is a life-long learning process that is best practiced through a combination of continuing professional education, evolving sex-positive attitudes and ongoing experience-based growth and development. Together, we think these elements provide a sound foundation for therapeutic relationships that can promote well-being, reduce stigma and marginalization and help clients to live more fully and joyfully who they authentically are.
Who We Serve
We educate, train and support a community of Chicago-area psychologists, social workers, counselors, sex therapists and educators as well as psychiatrists who want to deepen their understanding of issues facing people who identify as or are exploring kink, BDSM and non-monogamy and want to connect with like minded helping professionals. Our clinical approach emphasizes individual consent and celebrates the spectrum of human sexual desires, relationship structures, behaviors, and presentations, including but not limited to:
- polyamory and other forms of non-monogamy
- fetishism
- leather
- diverse sexualities
- all gender orientations
- bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, and masochism (BDSM)
- sex work
What We Do
KPACT provides a learning space for clinicians to share ideas and discuss professional and ethical issues related to psychotherapy with kink- and polyam-identified clients. We host professional presentations, networking and dialogue events quarterly. To view upcoming KPACT events, click here.
Additionally, we provide an online home for kink and polyam-aware therapists to find healthcare, medical, legal, psychotherapeutic and financial professionals for clients, to share and request relevant resources, to announce position openings, training or meetings, and to engage in private conversations with other helping professionals. To join the KPACT Google group, submit a request using our contact form.
KPACT Events
KPACT events are open to students and professionals in the helping professions who share a desire to deepen their understanding of issues facing people who identify as or are exploring kink, BDSM and non-monogamy and want to connect with like minded clinicians. KPACT events are appropriate for psychologists, social workers, counselors, sex therapists and educators, psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals.
Click here for our calendar of upcoming and previous KPACT events.
KPACT Google Group
This online network is open to kink & polyam aware psychotherapists and is intended to be a vehicle for building a professional community, networking, training and discussion purposes. Examples of how this string might be used include:
- To introduce yourself or your practice
- To find appropriate polyam & kink aware therapists for clients you may want to refer out
- To request resources or information relevant to the issues and concerns of clients in polyam & kink communities
- To announce relevant professional trainings or events
- To discuss professional or ethical issues related to the treatment of kink and polyam identified clients
The membership of this Google group is by invitation only. Please contact us if you are interested in joining.
KPACT is an online discussion group hosted by LifeWorks Psychotherapy Center.