Empowerment Through Therapeutic BDSM
Join the Therapeutic BDSM Collaborative Network
Become part of a pioneering community dedicated to healing, personal growth, and empowerment through ethical and trauma-informed BDSM practices.
Transformative Healing Awaits
About the TBCN
The Therapeutic BDSM Collaborative Network (TBCN) is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and ethical space for healing and personal growth through BDSM. Our mission is to ensure that all members—clinicians, kink professionals, and consultants—are highly trained and adhere to the highest standards of ethical practice. By fostering a community grounded in consent and therapeutic intention, we aim to empower individuals and support their journey towards healing.
Welcome to the Therapeutic BDSM Collaborative Network Application Page
We are excited that you’re interested in joining the Therapeutic BDSM Collaborative Network (TBCN). Our mission is to create a safe, inclusive, and ethical space for healing, personal growth, and empowerment through BDSM. To maintain the highest standards, all members of the network—clinicians, kink professionals, and educators—must demonstrate mastery in their area of expertise and complete specific training requirements before full acceptance into the network. Are you interested in a dual role? Both clincians and pros are also able to hold the role of Educator provided they meet the qualifications. If your desire is to do both please make sure to fill out the appropriate applications. *NOTE* Statement for Clinicians who also identify as Kink Professionals HERE!
Training Requirements
Before being fully integrated into the TBCN, clinicians and kink professionals must complete specialized training programs designed to ensure the ethical and therapeutic application of BDSM in trauma-informed healing environments. Below, you will find the training requirements specific to each role.
Training Requirements
Clinician Training: Self-Reconciliation Therapy (SRT)
Clinicians who join the network must complete certification in Self-Reconciliation Therapy™ (SRT). This training provides the clinical foundation for working with clients who are navigating trauma, power dynamics, embodiment, and identity within the Therapeutic BDSM™ framework.
The certification includes focused modules on Therapeutic BDSM™, trauma response patterns, ethical collaboration, and working within the tetralogical model. Clinicians learn how to assess readiness, support clients before and after collaborative sessions, and maintain clinical responsibility throughout the process.
Through this training, clinicians develop the skills needed to recognize client needs, coordinate with facilitators and other professionals, and provide grounded therapeutic oversight while the client engages embodied healing work within a structured and consent-based environment.
Certified Faciliatator Training: Applied Therapeutic BDSM
Certified facilitators are responsible for carrying out BDSM scenes within therapeutic contexts as part of the collaborative process. All kink professionals participating in the network must complete certification in Applied Therapeutic BDSM™ to ensure their work is trauma-aware, consent-driven, and aligned with the client’s therapeutic goals.
This training focuses on ethical power exchange, negotiation, scene structure, and the responsibilities of working within a therapeutic framework. Facilitators learn how to collaborate effectively with clinicians, recognize shifts in a client’s capacity during a scene, and maintain clear communication before, during, and after sessions.
Through this certification, facilitators develop the skills needed to create structured and supportive environments where embodied experiences can unfold with intention, accountability, and care.
Consultants: Mentorship/Consultation
Consultants within the Therapeutic BDSM Collaborative Network are trained external resources that clinician-facilitator pairs access by mutual agreement when outside perspective would support their work. The consultant listens to what the pair brings, asks questions grounded in SRT, Therapeutic BDSM, and PERK, and helps them return to the work with greater clarity.
Consultants complete advanced training in Self-Reconciliation Therapy™, Therapeutic BDSM™, and the Principles of Ethical Relational Kink, developing the model knowledge and structured reflection skills the role requires. Clinical licensure and facilitator certification are not required. What matters is the ability to observe without directing and to help two professionals with different functions think clearly together.
Our Trainings
Self-Reconciliation Therapy
SRT training includes:
- Understanding the psychological and somatic aspects of trauma
- Training in BDSM as a tool for trauma integration
- Learning how to facilitate scenes in collaboration with vetted pro practitioners
- Expertise in self-regulation and boundary-setting
- A focus on deep emotional healing and rescripting trauma narratives through therapeutic BDSM practices
Applied Therapeutic BDSM
Applied Therapeutic BDSM training includes:
- Understanding the therapeutic applications of BDSM practices
- Learning how to facilitate consensual, pre-negotiated scenes that align with clinical goals
- Gaining a deep understanding of trauma, triggers, and client regulation
- Developing skills in boundary-setting, aftercare, and emotional integration for clients
- Working collaboratively with clinicians to ensure the safety and efficacy of BDSM practices in therapy
Mastery of Framework
Consultants must have deep working knowledge of the frameworks that guide the TBCN model, including Self-Reconciliation Therapy™, Therapeutic BDSM™, and the Principles of Ethical Relational Kink. This is not background knowledge. It is the foundation from which every consultation engagement operates.
Consultants complete advanced training in these frameworks, developing the conceptual grounding, ethical orientation, and understanding of the collaborative structure the role requires. That training prepares consultants to listen with precision, ask model-grounded questions, and help clinician-facilitator pairs think clearly about what they are navigating together.
Mastery & Continuing Education
Regardless of the role you’re applying for, demonstrating mastery in your field is essential. Clinicians and kink professionals will need to showcase their expertise through training and practice, while consultants demonstrate mastery through advanced training in Self-Reconciliation Therapy™, Therapeutic BDSM™, and the Principles of Ethical Relational Kink, and through their ability to help clinician-facilitator pairs examine their collaborative work with precision, clarity, and model fidelity.
Why Training Matters
At the Therapeutic BDSM Collaborative Network, we are dedicated to ensuring that every interaction within our community is grounded in ethics, consent, and therapeutic intention. Our training programs not only provide the foundational knowledge you need but also ensure that you are fully equipped to provide safe and effective care to those seeking healing and personal growth through BDSM.
Upcoming Training Dates
Clinician/Consultation Training - HYBRID
Access to training begins August 29th 11am -2pm CST
Live Discussions are scheduled on the following dates
- September 12th and 26th
- October 10th
- November 7th and 21st
- December 12th
Facilitator Training - HYBRID
Access to training begins August 29th 12:30pm – 3:30pm CST
Live Discussions are scheduled on the following dates
- September 12th and 26th
- October 10th
- November 7th and 21st
- December 12th
The Investment in Your Professional Development: Training for the Therapeutic BDSM Collaborative Network
The Therapeutic BDSM Collaborative Network (TBCN) is a professional community of clinicians, kink professionals, and educators committed to integrating the transformative potential of therapeutic BDSM with trauma-informed care. Entering this work requires depth, skill, and a commitment to ethical practice. TBCN provides the training, supervision, and structure needed to do this work with clarity and competence.
Training Investment
The training investment for all TBCN participants is $1,497. This includes:
• a comprehensive training manual
• live supervision
• access to the full TBCN curriculum
• structured guidance in the clinical and applied aspects of therapeutic BDSM
The live component is eligible for 18 NBCC Continuing Education Credits for clinicians.
Eligibility Requirements
Clinicians
Clinicians entering TBCN must already be kink-knowledgeable and able to demonstrate experience working with BDSM-identified clients. Those who do not yet have this foundation will need additional preparation before applying, ensuring clinical readiness and ethical competency within therapeutic BDSM. Power & Praxis may serve as a pathway.
Kink Professionals
Practitioners must demonstrate substantial experience in kink and power-exchange work. For those newer to the field, the CPKP program may serve as a pathway to eligibility. This training prepares practitioners to collaborate with clinicians in rescripting trauma and facilitating embodied transformation with precision and care.
Consultants
Consultants complete the TBCN Consultant Training pathway, which includes advanced training in Self-Reconciliation Therapy™, Therapeutic BDSM™, and the Principles of Ethical Relational Kink. Alongside this training, consultants bring demonstrated experience in areas relevant to the role, which may include observation, mediation, structured reflection, collaborative practice, kink education, or research.
This training prepares consultants to work with clinician-facilitator pairs who bring cases and questions to consultation by mutual agreement, helping them examine their collaborative work and return to it with greater clarity and model alignment.
Equity Rate
To support access for underrepresented and systemically marginalized practitioners, an equity rate of $997 is available.
Applications must be submitted at least two weeks before the training start date.
There is a 25 application fee, with a 5 fee for each additional application.
Join the Therapeutic BDSM Collaborative Network Today
Embark on a transformative journey with the Therapeutic BDSM Collaborative Network. Our community is dedicated to fostering healing, personal growth, and empowerment through ethical and therapeutic BDSM practices. Apply now to become a part of a network that prioritizes safety, consent, and professional excellence. Begin your path to making a meaningful impact in the lives of those seeking healing and empowerment.