Become Kink Informed Certified (KIC) through SHA
Join now & get started!
GET ACCESS TO ALL MATERIALS TODAY. PLUS BE IN ONE OF THE ONLY PROGRAMS THAT HAS A LIVE COMPONENT EVERY MONTH WITH KINK EXPERTS. (THESE WILL ALSO BE RECORDED FOR YOU TO WATCH & LEARN LATER.)
KIC (Kink Informed Certification) is a comprehensive and progressive program will help you feel confident and knowledgeable in working with kinky clients and patients. You will LOVE the community, live trainings, webinars and wealth of resources!
Join SHA and International expert, Midori and more premier leaders in the sexuality field in an exclusive certificate program in kink, BDSM, and alternative sexuality! This program utilizes a Strength-Based Approach to working with these populations.
A FLEXIBLE PROGRAM - 100% ONLINE
Are you a kink-aware therapist or a kink-positive therapist, educator or coach?
Are you a kink-aware therapist, kink positive therapist, educator, coach, or consultant who works with individuals engaging in kink, BDSM, and alternative sexuality? Do you strive to serve your clients’ needs through non-judgmental sex-positivity, while celebrating their diversity in sexual expression?
Even with the best of intentions, many professionals lack access to additional training that would allow for their practice to be truly kink-aware or kink positive. Lack of current education can potentially lead to causing harm to the client by unknowingly introducing sex-negative stereotypes or misinformation into session.
With this training, you will be able to better provide for clients’ needs around sexuality around those that engage in kink, BDSM, and alternative sexuality.
Sexual Health Alliance along with Midori, have created KIC, the Kink Informed Certification Program that educates therapists, coaches, educators, as well as other sexuality experts about kink, BDSM, and alternative sexuality which provides you with all the tools needed to truly become a kink-aware or kink-positive therapist or professional.
Join the next cohort Now!
This program is for all professionals, therapists, educators, counselors, coaches, healers, or anyone interested in learning more about those that engage in kink, BDSM, and alternative sexuality.
All are welcome:
From college/graduate students and lifelong learners to helping professionals and novices, all are welcome.
This program gives you the collaborative tools and background you need to help those that engage in kink, BDSM, and alternative sexuality.
EARN 125 ces & *AASECT CES
You will be able to still receive certification in this program through Sexual Health Alliance even if you do not choose to purchase CEs that can be used towards AASECT certification.
STUDENTS RECEIVE:
A specialized & pace-accessible online learning platform
Including articles, discussions, engaging projects, and media facilitated by SHA
9 live meetings with Q+A led by MIDORI
Held once a month on 4th Tuesday of every month at 12:30 pm Central time (tentative)
Monthly case consultations with MIDORI
Every month directly following the live webinars, stay online to discuss current cases and learn more from example case studies. Don’t have a specific case to discuss? Listen & learn for your future work.
Monthly Special Topic Recorded Webinars with expert guests
Special Guests will challenge your notions on kink and BDSM relationships
A Specialized SHA Certification in Kink
Receive a specialized certificate and extensive knowledge to assist in all forms of kink and BDSM in your work in the helping professions.
WORKING TOWARDS AASECT CERTIFICATION?
Using this program to apply towards your AASECT renewal or AASECT certification application?
Gain 125 AASECT CEs to apply towards their certification or renewal.
Tuition & PAYMENT PLANS:
Submit your tuition now and start SHA’s Kink Informed Certification program today!
WHAT MAKES SHA best in class?
The Sexual Health Alliance (SHA) stands out as a leader in sexuality training because we connect you with the leading experts in the world. We build the most inclusive communities and offer support throughout the program with our original happy hours, mixers, Facebook groups, and in-person events with our sexceptional weekend conferences, study abroad programs all over the world, SARs in Mexico and Jamaica and Sex Nerd Trivia. Finally, our latest specialized programs are accelerated, self paced, and are one of the only programs with the option to attend live monthly events with the leading voices and stars in the field.
Our programs are at the forefront of the field because we focus on progressive and comprehensive content presented through multiple channels so that no matter what kind of learner you are, you will become sexceptional at graduation.
SHA consists of professionals from every walk of life that go on to change the field and make a huge difference in their client’s lives. We support and encourage our students throughout the program and provide a wealth of areas to network. We love offering collaboration with our presenters and through our conferences as well—we want your education to be about you!
Since 2015, SHA has hosted over 5500 people at our events, while certifying sex therapists, counselors, educators, and coaches. We have been lucky enough to collaborate with many of the leading experts in sexuality and relationships. Throughout the year, SHA facilitates communication among sexual health providers through our signature workshops and conferences, special events, and social media. Our events and programming are intended to build community, spark dialogue and encourage collaboration.
We build communities that are well-informed and all-inclusive. We're dedicated to bringing the brightest minds and biggest game changers in sexual health to every area of the world. Join a program that’s more than watching videos and answering questions, join SHA and transform your career and make lifelong friends.
Expert Instructor - Midori
Midori
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Midori brings a multicultural and holistic approach to the kink and BDSM community. After moving to the United States, she received her degree from the University of California, Berkeley with a BA in Psychology and graduated from the US Army, Military Intelligence, OBC.
Known as the “Supernova of Kink” according to Dan Savage, Midori emerged from the Sex Positive movement in San Francisco in the early 1990s and soon became one of the most highly regarded presenters on sexuality, personal fulfillment, and kinky adventures.
Her reputation as an authority and leading expert on alternative pleasures stem not only from her unique and entertaining process of teaching concrete skills but from her ability to deconstruct and distill complex matters of desire into surprisingly accessible lessons with eloquence and humanity.
She’s known for tackling challenging topics with fresh and relevant insights. She calls this her “head-heart-hands” method to create a space where people are allowed individual self-exploration. Fundamentally, she is motivated by helping people to create authentic and intimate relationships while emphasizing self-actualization, shame reduction, acceptance, and justice.
Known for her ability to teach with equal parts expertise and heart, her intensives and pop-up classes are often booked months in advance. She is best known for her transformative small-group educational intensives, Rope Dojo and ForteFemme: Women’s Dominance Weekend Intensive.
She is the author of The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage, Wild Side Sex, and Master Han’s Daughter. She has also contributed her expertise and voice in numerous articles, columns, works of fiction, and instructional books.
Along with her impressive list of accomplishments, she has presented at many reknowed organizations such as:
- American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists
- Sexual Health Alliance
- Museum of Sex, New York
- San Francisco Public Health Department, AIDS Prevention
- Fetish Fair Fleamarket
- Thunder in the Mountains
- Dark Odyssey
- Seattle Erotic Art Festival
And many more…
When she’s not traveling and teaching, she’s creating provocative and haunting art and performances. For more information about Midori, visit her official website.
More about Midori
A Sample of previous Expert Contributors
Contributors are leaders in the alternative sexuality community including therapists, educators, coaches and writers that will offer a diverse viewpoint on BDSM/kink. We'll learn what is means to be an ally and how to progress the dialogue forward in your community.
Sunny Megatron
Sunny Megatron is sexuality & kink educator and media personality. She’s the host and executive producer of the Showtime original television series, SEX with Sunny Megatron, plus co-hosts the AASECT Award-winning American Sex Podcast and Open Deeply Podcast. Sunny is a Certified Relationship Coach and American College of Sexologists International Certified Sex Educator plus was voted XBIZ 2021 Sexpert of the Year and Kinkly’s Sex Blogging Superhero of 2017. She’s been featured by outlets like Cosmo, Playboy, Buzzfeed, and CNN, plus is a contributing editor of XBIZ Premiere Magazine and a regular columnist for Sexual Health Magazine. Her first book, Customizable Kink: A Strategic Guide to Erotic Play will be released in 2022. In her sell-out sex and kink workshops, Sunny’s unique brand of “edutainment” seamlessly combines her humorous lecturing style, interactive exercises, and the latest sexuality research. Sunny’s passion is helping people become their authentic, sexual selves by learning to overcome shame and shed inhibitions. As a lifestyle BDSM enthusiast, her work focuses on demystifying non-normative sexual practices, amplifying erotic intelligence, and ending stigma.
Joe Zarate-Sanderlin
Joe Zarate-Sanderlin (pronouns: they/them) has a BA and an MA in English from St. John’s University in Jamaica, NY, and an MA in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis on Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Montecito, CA. They are a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and they have a private practice in San Francisco—though currently all telehealth--where they specialize in working with relationships, specifically in the LGBT community and alternative sexuality communities. Since September 2017, they have been working as an EAP counselor serving companies in the Bay Area.
They teach Therapeutic Communication and Counseling Skills, Human Sexuality, and Principles of Couple and Family Therapy at Golden Gate University as well as presenting trainings to therapists about Talking to Clients about Sex, Gender in Psychotherapy, Open Relationships, and BDSM Relationships and they provides consultation on these and other topics. In addition to private practice, their clinical experience includes volunteering at a Catholic elementary school for three years, a continuation high school for one year, and at a low fee clinic for four years. They also worked for the Burning Man Emergency Services Department for ten years, both in the Nevada desert and in the streets of San Francisco. In their spare time, they ski, coach and referee soccer, brew kombucha, and parent 9 year old twins. You can find them at www.jzsmft.com
Zoë Ligon
Zoë Ligon is a Detroit-based sex edutainer, journalist, and artist who is the “Dildo Duchess” and proprietor of progressive online sex toy emporium, Spectrum Boutique, where she has made it her life’s work to blast away the stigmas and misinformation that prevent us from having the amazing sex we all deserve. Her first book, Carnal Knowledge, was released in September 2020 by Prestel Publishing. Zoë has a background in social psychology and inclusive pleasure-focused sex education. Her work has appeared in Vice, Nylon, Allure, Refinery 29, and The Huffington Post.
Dr. Betty Martin
Dr. Betty Martin, a Chiropractor, a Body Electric School trained Sacred Intimate, Certified Sexological Bodyworker, Foundations of Facilitation trainer, and a self-propelled erotic adventurer and intimacy coach.
Every one of these and more have contributed to her understanding of the nature of touch.
She is one of those lucky people who grew up in the touch-y feel-y hippie years. Then she got serious and went to Chiropractic school and learned to touch with some clear intent.
That makes about 30 years as a hands-on professional, first in therapeutics – Chiropractic, Somato-Respiratory Integration, Educational Kinesiology, Reiki, Neuro-Emotional Integration – and later in body-based erotic education, including sensual massage, Taoist Erotic Massage, Kashmiri tantric massage, and Sexological Bodywork.
She has taught peer counseling, gender liberation, embodiment and empowerment, fantasy play, goddess awakening, and erotic massage. As well as playing with contact improv dance, Authentic Movement, Non-Violent Communication and Shaivic tantra. She is a student of The Work of Byron Katie and is a Board member and train and certify new facilitators for a touch and communication workshop called Cuddle Party.
Shay Tiziano
Shay is a medical professional, author of Tying & Flying: Bondage for self-suspension, creator of bondage safety repository RemedialRopes.com, and prominent self-suspender known for unique, dynamic rigs and prodigious performances. Stefanos is all kink all the time as President of the Legion of Sin motorcycle club and Producer/Steward of The Upper Floor on Kink.com.
Laura A. Jacobs, LCSW-R
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online I am a psychotherapist, activist, public speaker, and author devoted to the exploration of identity and the relationship between individual and society, the diversity of gender identity and sexual expression, and the search for meaning.
As Lawrence Jacobs, I worked in the arts as a musician performing independently and with bands, a composer of solo works and for independent theater, and a photographer exhibiting in galleries, as well as in less glamorous positions such as corporate middle management.
Patrick Califia
Patrick Califia is an elderly, disabled, fat, queer, feminist man of transgender experience. He became aware in childhood that he was a boy. But it was not safe to express this. For many years, his feelings of gender dysphoria would come and go, often for years. As a young adult, he was part of the leather dyke community, and was one of the founders of Samois, the first support group for female, lesbian-feminist kinksters. But at the age of 45, he transitioned with the help of testosterone and top surgery. Patrick is the author of a dozen or so works of fiction and non-fiction as well as hundreds of articles and short stories in anthologies. He was one of the authors targeted by Canadian Customs and eventually testified in the Little Sisters Bookstore obscenity trial. (We won.) In his late 30s, he got a masters degree in marriage and family therapy and maintained a private practice serving sexual minorities for many years. He is now retired.
Laura Antoniou
Laura Antoniou's rambling publishing career started with creating and editing the groundbreaking gaming/ media magazine Gateways, back in the 80s, followed by her work on the People With AIDS Newsline for several years during that previous pandemic. Now, she's better known for her kinky erotica, especially for the Marketplace books, a series of BDSM themed noted for the diversity in the ensemble cast and being well outside the tropes of romance novels. The Killer Wore Leather, her first mystery novel was a thinly disguised tribute to Bimbos of the Death Sun - except the convention being lampooned is a kinky gathering of leather enthusiasts. Her other works include Silk Threads, an erotic fantasy collaboration with fellow perverotti Cecilia Tan and Midori and Avadim Hayinu, aka the Leather Seder, over 20 years old and available free to anyone who wants a copy. A notable public speaker, she's been teaching human sexuality topics for decades including a series of workshops themed "Get Your Freak On With Your Geek On," and "Kinky, Schminky!" because she's also a pretty geeky Jew.
John Pendal
Experienced BDSM educator John Pendal joins us all the way from England, UK.
In 2003 John became the 25th person to win the annual International Mr Leather contest in Chicago. Since then he has traveled extensively leading workshops, giving speeches, hosting events or performing kinky stand-up comedy.
Amongst others, John has taught BDSM workshops at Beyond Leather in Fort Lauderdale; Darklands, Antwerp; Down an Dirty in Melbourne, Australia; Edgeplay Scotland group in Edinburgh; HunCon in Budapest; Kinkferansen in Oslo; Kinkfest in London; Leather Camp in Wichita; Lupercalia in Canada; Minnesota Leather Pride; Mr Leatherman Toronto; Palm Springs Leather Pride; Rome BDSM Conference; SINSations in Leather; SM Bergen, Norway; Spring in the South in Atlanta; Tribal Fire in Oklahoma; and for twelve consecutive years at Thunder in the Mountains in Denver.
He has been part of panel discussions on BDSM at Leather Leadership Conferences in New Orleans, Minneapolis and Atlanta; the Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend; the Victorian AIDS Council in Melbourne, Australia; and at Lupercalia in Edmonton, Canada.
John was the closing keynote speaker at the Leather Leadership Conference in Minneapolis (2007). He received two Pantheon of Leather awards in 2004: the International Award and the Community Choice Award for Men. He’s also been interviewed on-screen for two feature film documentaries: ‘Kink Crusaders’ (2011) and ‘Age of Consent’ (2014).
He has spent the last year in lockdown completing a diploma in life coaching and a qualification in First Aid for Mental Health. He now works online with English-speaking clients anywhere in the world, both directly and as an Associate Coach with “Thriving Autistic”.
Lee Harrington
(he/him) is an internationally known spiritual and erotic authenticity educator, gender explorer, eclectic artist, and award-winning author and editor on erotic and sacred experience. He has been teaching and talking about sexuality, psychology, faith, desire, and more, and brings a combination of playful engagement and thoughtful academic dialogue to a broad audience. A nice guy with a disarmingly down to earth approach to the fact that we are each beautifully complex ecosystems, he examines the human experience from that lens. Lee has been a passion instigator, delighted academic, world class sexual adventurer, outspoken philosopher, and has been blogging about sex and spirit since 1998.
Lee's books include “Traversing Gender: Understanding Transgender Realities,” “Playing Well With Others: Your Guide to Discovering, Exploring and Negotiating the Kink, Leather and BDSM Communities” (with Mollena Williams), “Sacred Kink: The Eightfold Paths of BDSM and Beyond,” “Shibari You Can Use: Japanese Rope Bondage and Erotic Macramé,” “More Shibari You Can Use: Passionate Rope Bondage and Intimate Connection,” the “Toybag Guide to Age Play,” and “Shed Skins: Journeying in Self-Portraits.” He has also worked as an anthology editor for “Queer Magic: Power Beyond Boundaries,” “Rope, Bondage, and Power” and “Spirit of Desire: Personal Explorations of Sacred Kink,” while contributing actively to other anthologies, magazines, blogs and collaborations. Check out Lee's work, as well as his podcast, event schedule, free essays, videos and more over at PassionAndSoul.com.
Dr.Richard Sprott
Richard Sprott received his Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from UC Berkeley in 1994. His early work was on social and language development in early childhood. Throughout the 1980s, he conducted program evaluations for educational programs for migrant farmworker families and worked in other areas of migrant farmworker education. As a researcher he has examined in detail the relationship between professional identity development and the development of professional ethics in medical doctors, ministers and teachers, and professional identity development in emerging fields of work. He is currently directing research projects focused on identity development and health/well-being in people who express alternative sexualities and non-traditional relationships, with a special emphasis on kink/BDSM sexuality, and polyamory or consensual non-monogamy. He is the President of the Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity (APA Division 44) for 2021-2022. He is also the co-author of Sexual Outsiders: Understanding BDSM Sexualities and Communities (Rowman & Littlefield, 2013). Along with Dr. Elisabeth Sheff, he is co-editor of a new book series Diverse Sexualities, Genders, and Relationships from Rowman & Littlefield. He is currently the Research Director of TASHRA – The Alternative Sexualities Health Research Alliance. TASHRA is a community-based research organization, with a focus on the health of kink-identified and BDSM-involved people. In 2016, TASHRA implemented the first National Kink Health Survey, which resulted in the first snapshot of the health status and experiences in the healthcare system of kink-identified communities in the United States, including injury rates, impact of stigma, and issues around mental health. TASHRA is currently conducting the International Kink Health Study.
MsK
MsK (she, her) is a black, bi, goth, cis-gendered fat female from Nashville, TN. She is an active
member of The Mark by CPI in Nashville, TN. She has served on the Board of Directors as the
liaison/advocate and as outreach to other communities like ours. MsK is co-chair of the
education committee. She has taught CPI foundational educational series called the Welcome
series. Welcome to Kink talks about basic kink, Welcome to The Mark which talks about our
history and rules, and Ready, Set, Play which focuses on the different roles people use in our
community, how to find fellow kinksters, and the basics of negotiations. She has also acted as a
facilitator with Adventure in Kink series which focused on more specialized topics that wouldn’t
be in our twelve-month series of BDSM Basics but are on things that are fascinating and take
advantage of the expertise of our local community. She also serves as party host and organizer
for Femdom and POC play parties.
AASECT CREDITS
*This program meets the requirements of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and is approved for 64 AASECT CE credits. These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification. Completion of this program does not ensure or guarantee AASECT certification. For further information please contact ce@aasect.org