ABSTRACT

In 2005, Margie Nichols wrote, “in many ways the BDSM community of the early 21st century resembles the gay community of the 1970s, and individuals who struggle with BDSM desires experience a similar internalized shame about their sexuality” (2005, p. 292). However, the general and professional population unwittingly accept the media’s depiction of alternative sexualities as fact without critical analysis or accurate information. This acceptance may commonly occur because it validates therapist’s own normative views about sexuality and sexual expression (Kolmes et al., 2006; Powers, 2007; Van Der Walt, 2014).