Sex-Positive, Kink Allied Therapists in Cambridge, MA
I offer a sex-positive, affirming space to openly explore sex, sexuality, intimacy, gender, and identity without shame or judgment.
As a queer feminist therapist, I understand that each person's healing journey is shaped by their unique experiences and intersectional identities. I strive to create a safe, inclusive, and affirming space where you can explore your feelings and experiences without judgment. My trauma-informed approach recognizes the profound impact of past experiences on your present. I’m committed to compassionately witnessing your journey and walking alongside you as a fellow traveler, supporting you as you navigate your path forward.
I offer a sex-positive, affirming space to openly explore sex, sexuality, intimacy, gender, and identity without shame or judgment.
As a queer feminist therapist, I understand that each person's healing journey is shaped by their unique experiences and intersectional identities. I strive to create a safe, inclusive, and affirming space where you can explore your feelings and experiences without judgment. My trauma-informed approach recognizes the profound impact of past experiences on your present. I’m committed to compassionately witnessing your journey and walking alongside you as a fellow traveler, supporting you as you navigate your path forward.
Stories have always been important to me, whether through books, music, movies, TV, or the stories we tell about our own lives. I’m especially interested in working with LGBTQ+ and trans people, as well as couples and relationships. I’m interested in the ways our individual experiences interact with and are shaped by larger social structures and systems of oppression. I believe in the transformative power of stories, art, and community to heal even the deepest wounds.
Stories have always been important to me, whether through books, music, movies, TV, or the stories we tell about our own lives. I’m especially interested in working with LGBTQ+ and trans people, as well as couples and relationships. I’m interested in the ways our individual experiences interact with and are shaped by larger social structures and systems of oppression. I believe in the transformative power of stories, art, and community to heal even the deepest wounds.
I work with individuals/partners across the spectrums of gender and sexuality, and specialize in working with folks involved in the polyamorous, CNM/ENM, and kink communities.
Welcome! Congratulations on taking the first steps on your therapeutic journey! I am committed to helping my clients navigate the complexities of life. I strive to create a collaborative, warm, open environment in which clients can explore difficult issues with empathy, compassion, and, perhaps, a bit of humor. I believe that therapy is an opportunity to learn more about oneself, be heard and understood, and share sorrows, joys, and everything in between. It is a privilege to participate in my clients' journeys, and I take care to do so in a supportive, thoughtful manner tailored to each person's needs.
I work with individuals/partners across the spectrums of gender and sexuality, and specialize in working with folks involved in the polyamorous, CNM/ENM, and kink communities.
Welcome! Congratulations on taking the first steps on your therapeutic journey! I am committed to helping my clients navigate the complexities of life. I strive to create a collaborative, warm, open environment in which clients can explore difficult issues with empathy, compassion, and, perhaps, a bit of humor. I believe that therapy is an opportunity to learn more about oneself, be heard and understood, and share sorrows, joys, and everything in between. It is a privilege to participate in my clients' journeys, and I take care to do so in a supportive, thoughtful manner tailored to each person's needs.
I believe healthy relationships are the foundation of mental wellbeing. Are you struggling to maintain healthy, satisfying relationships with friends, partners, or family? Is your relationship with yourself marked by an inner critic, guilt and shame, or emptiness and disconnection? Do scars from previous relationships and trauma hold you back from being your genuine self? Therapy can be a place to learn the tools to build a compassionate and authentic relationship with yourself and others, leading to deep, lasting healing from depression, anxiety, and trauma.
I believe healthy relationships are the foundation of mental wellbeing. Are you struggling to maintain healthy, satisfying relationships with friends, partners, or family? Is your relationship with yourself marked by an inner critic, guilt and shame, or emptiness and disconnection? Do scars from previous relationships and trauma hold you back from being your genuine self? Therapy can be a place to learn the tools to build a compassionate and authentic relationship with yourself and others, leading to deep, lasting healing from depression, anxiety, and trauma.
Therapy often deals with intense feelings and experiences, and I believe it should also be infused with humor, creativity, and a focus on the whole person. I strive to build trusting, safe, and authentic working relationships with my clients to encourage openness and pave the way to lasting growth. I love working with adolescents and adults who are navigating life transitions, dealing with stress around school, work, and relationships, exploring their gender and sexual identity, and those who are looking to uncover and realize their genuine self. I have particular expertise in, and passion for working with LGBTQ+ individuals.
Therapy often deals with intense feelings and experiences, and I believe it should also be infused with humor, creativity, and a focus on the whole person. I strive to build trusting, safe, and authentic working relationships with my clients to encourage openness and pave the way to lasting growth. I love working with adolescents and adults who are navigating life transitions, dealing with stress around school, work, and relationships, exploring their gender and sexual identity, and those who are looking to uncover and realize their genuine self. I have particular expertise in, and passion for working with LGBTQ+ individuals.
Mindfulness-based, IFS-informed, EMDR for trauma, anxiety, relationship issues, chronic pain + more. Individuals and couples. Are you feeling overwhelmed, stressed, fearful of what the future holds and weighed down by the past? I am here to guide you in a process of uncovering the inner resources that will allow you to ride the waves of life with more confidence, ease and flexibility. The journey begins with a willingness to look inside and compassionately witness the stories that have shaped you.
Mindfulness-based, IFS-informed, EMDR for trauma, anxiety, relationship issues, chronic pain + more. Individuals and couples. Are you feeling overwhelmed, stressed, fearful of what the future holds and weighed down by the past? I am here to guide you in a process of uncovering the inner resources that will allow you to ride the waves of life with more confidence, ease and flexibility. The journey begins with a willingness to look inside and compassionately witness the stories that have shaped you.
Psychologist Carl Rogers once said, "The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination". It's important to me to be a safe space for those experiencing any range of life shifts, including: personal and professional roadblocks, issues around sexual identity, and intimacy, life transitions, trauma, grief and loss. I hope to work together to create new patterns of thinking, and help guide you towards the goals you wish to achieve.
Psychologist Carl Rogers once said, "The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination". It's important to me to be a safe space for those experiencing any range of life shifts, including: personal and professional roadblocks, issues around sexual identity, and intimacy, life transitions, trauma, grief and loss. I hope to work together to create new patterns of thinking, and help guide you towards the goals you wish to achieve.
For over twenty years I have been helping people heal from the impact of early childhood trauma and challenging life experiences so they can make choices from a more grounded sense of self. I believe in the resilience of every human being and work from a strengths-based perspective. Whether you work with me individually, as a couple, or in a group, we will center the relationship as a tool for new learning. Like riding a bike, as new skills start to form, conscious, self-affirming choices become possible and your life will start to get better.
For over twenty years I have been helping people heal from the impact of early childhood trauma and challenging life experiences so they can make choices from a more grounded sense of self. I believe in the resilience of every human being and work from a strengths-based perspective. Whether you work with me individually, as a couple, or in a group, we will center the relationship as a tool for new learning. Like riding a bike, as new skills start to form, conscious, self-affirming choices become possible and your life will start to get better.
As a therapist, I align best with couples and families eager to work with someone who's "been there" and learned a lot along the way. Clients who usually resonate with me are eager to improve the quality of their relationships through intentional sessions that include restorative discussions about beliefs, assumptions and relationship commitment.
Solution‑Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approaches may be used to identify obstacles and create practical action plans that support lasting change.
As a therapist, I align best with couples and families eager to work with someone who's "been there" and learned a lot along the way. Clients who usually resonate with me are eager to improve the quality of their relationships through intentional sessions that include restorative discussions about beliefs, assumptions and relationship commitment.
Solution‑Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approaches may be used to identify obstacles and create practical action plans that support lasting change.
I work with adolescents and adults navigating OCD, anxiety, depression, and major life transitions who are ready to break free from fear-based patterns and reconnect with what matters most. Many come to therapy feeling stuck by intrusive thoughts, perfectionism, or uncertainty. Using evidence-based treatments including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), ACT, and CBT, I provide a warm, collaborative, trauma-informed, and queer-affirming space where clients build resilience, self-trust, and confidence to live in alignment with their values.
I work with adolescents and adults navigating OCD, anxiety, depression, and major life transitions who are ready to break free from fear-based patterns and reconnect with what matters most. Many come to therapy feeling stuck by intrusive thoughts, perfectionism, or uncertainty. Using evidence-based treatments including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), ACT, and CBT, I provide a warm, collaborative, trauma-informed, and queer-affirming space where clients build resilience, self-trust, and confidence to live in alignment with their values.
People seek psychotherapy for different reasons. You may want to address symptoms of depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem, feelings of distress, vulnerability, or isolation. You may be searching for greater meaning, connection, authenticity, and empowerment in your daily interactions. Therapy can help reveal and change patterns that inhibit or undermine living the life you desire. In a safe and supportive therapeutic relationship, we can create conditions for growth, challenge ways of seeing, process painful experiences, and increase your awareness and acceptance of different parts of yourself.
People seek psychotherapy for different reasons. You may want to address symptoms of depression, anxiety, or low self-esteem, feelings of distress, vulnerability, or isolation. You may be searching for greater meaning, connection, authenticity, and empowerment in your daily interactions. Therapy can help reveal and change patterns that inhibit or undermine living the life you desire. In a safe and supportive therapeutic relationship, we can create conditions for growth, challenge ways of seeing, process painful experiences, and increase your awareness and acceptance of different parts of yourself.
I’m currently accepting new Telehealth clients who live in Massachusetts and Vermont. Contact Info: I reply to all emails, so please note that replies to Psychology Today inquiries sometimes go to spam folders. In your inquiry email, please include your insurance provider (I accept BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, Medicaid, Tufts, Harvard Pilgrim, MVP or self-pay) and week or weekend days that work best for you between 8 AM and 8 PM. Who I Work With: I work primarily with adults and couples.
I’m currently accepting new Telehealth clients who live in Massachusetts and Vermont. Contact Info: I reply to all emails, so please note that replies to Psychology Today inquiries sometimes go to spam folders. In your inquiry email, please include your insurance provider (I accept BCBS, Aetna, Cigna, Medicaid, Tufts, Harvard Pilgrim, MVP or self-pay) and week or weekend days that work best for you between 8 AM and 8 PM. Who I Work With: I work primarily with adults and couples.
Emma Bedford
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LICSW
1 Endorsed
Online Only
Waitlist for new clients
Let's be real - nobody prepared us for 'gestures at everything.' But that doesn't mean you have to figure it out alone. I help you navigate the stuff that matters—career pivots, relationships, identity, and that constant pressure to have your shit together—so you can build a life that actually feels authentic to you. I believe everyone deserves a life full of joy, connection, and a solid sense of self. We’ll work through the uncomfortable feelings, the doubts, and the unknowns—together. Because real growth doesn’t come from staying in our comfort zones, and I’m here to help you become the person you’re meant to be.
Let's be real - nobody prepared us for 'gestures at everything.' But that doesn't mean you have to figure it out alone. I help you navigate the stuff that matters—career pivots, relationships, identity, and that constant pressure to have your shit together—so you can build a life that actually feels authentic to you. I believe everyone deserves a life full of joy, connection, and a solid sense of self. We’ll work through the uncomfortable feelings, the doubts, and the unknowns—together. Because real growth doesn’t come from staying in our comfort zones, and I’m here to help you become the person you’re meant to be.
Major life transitions can leave you feeling unsure of who you are or how to move forward. Decisions that once seemed black or white can become muddled. Constantly being reminded of the past may make it seem impossible to navigate your present. It might be unclear if you're on the brink of real change or caught in the same old patterns. It's easy to feel lost and alone if you don't have anyone who can really understand and empathize with your situation.
Major life transitions can leave you feeling unsure of who you are or how to move forward. Decisions that once seemed black or white can become muddled. Constantly being reminded of the past may make it seem impossible to navigate your present. It might be unclear if you're on the brink of real change or caught in the same old patterns. It's easy to feel lost and alone if you don't have anyone who can really understand and empathize with your situation.
Accepting new clients! I’m Katrin Otterness (she/her), a licensed mental health counselor. I seek to create a holistic and inclusive approach to therapy. I work primarily with women who are navigating anxiety, depression, neurodiversity, and/or trauma, but I am open to working with anyone who is a good fit. I also work well with over thinkers, people-pleasers, and high-achievers who are self-aware, but still feel disconnected.
Accepting new clients! I’m Katrin Otterness (she/her), a licensed mental health counselor. I seek to create a holistic and inclusive approach to therapy. I work primarily with women who are navigating anxiety, depression, neurodiversity, and/or trauma, but I am open to working with anyone who is a good fit. I also work well with over thinkers, people-pleasers, and high-achievers who are self-aware, but still feel disconnected.
You deserve help and care. I have a few openings in my practice for clients who are wrestling with self-doubt, anxiety and shame. My primary area of expertise is ADHD, and the big feelings that come with it, as well as relationship issues and shame. My goal is to help you build trust with yourself. You are the expert on yourself. You can do this. I can help.
You deserve help and care. I have a few openings in my practice for clients who are wrestling with self-doubt, anxiety and shame. My primary area of expertise is ADHD, and the big feelings that come with it, as well as relationship issues and shame. My goal is to help you build trust with yourself. You are the expert on yourself. You can do this. I can help.
Suffering takes so many forms and has so many causes. Issues with school, work, relationships, or transitions take their toll. Acute mental illness causes intense emotions, hopelessness, and overwhelm. If nothing else, we all experience the suffering that comes from impermanence; the anticipation or reality of aging, illness, and death. I specialize in helping people whose anxiety manifests as obsessions, compulsions, intrusive thoughts, avoidance, or perfectionism. My approach is effective for depression, substance/process addictions, overuse of phones or media, relational or self-concept issues, and dealing with chronic pain.
Suffering takes so many forms and has so many causes. Issues with school, work, relationships, or transitions take their toll. Acute mental illness causes intense emotions, hopelessness, and overwhelm. If nothing else, we all experience the suffering that comes from impermanence; the anticipation or reality of aging, illness, and death. I specialize in helping people whose anxiety manifests as obsessions, compulsions, intrusive thoughts, avoidance, or perfectionism. My approach is effective for depression, substance/process addictions, overuse of phones or media, relational or self-concept issues, and dealing with chronic pain.
Bet has long experience in a wide range of communities: GBLTQAI, poly, kink, ASD/ADHD, artists, performers, engineers, academics and educators.
Currently NOT accepting new clients (June 2026). Available for Consultation and Clinical Supervision of Licensed Therapists. Telehealth appointments except by special arrangement for in-person meetings. Ms MacArthur was Director of Inpatient Admissions and Emergency Diagnostics for a DMH/MA hospital. 45+ years' experience in private practice, she is reflective, down-to-earth, pragmatic, and client-centered.
Bet has long experience in a wide range of communities: GBLTQAI, poly, kink, ASD/ADHD, artists, performers, engineers, academics and educators.
Currently NOT accepting new clients (June 2026). Available for Consultation and Clinical Supervision of Licensed Therapists. Telehealth appointments except by special arrangement for in-person meetings. Ms MacArthur was Director of Inpatient Admissions and Emergency Diagnostics for a DMH/MA hospital. 45+ years' experience in private practice, she is reflective, down-to-earth, pragmatic, and client-centered.
In our process, we explore what's been difficult to be with on your own. As painful recurring patterns from your everyday life emerge in the therapy room, we listen together to what your symptoms are attempting to tell you, and we work to make sense of your unique experience. New ideas and ways of responding can become available when you tend to your inner world in the presence of a skilled and attentive therapist, whether you're dealing with a known, ongoing concern like depression or anxiety, or a new one you don't quite have words for yet.
In our process, we explore what's been difficult to be with on your own. As painful recurring patterns from your everyday life emerge in the therapy room, we listen together to what your symptoms are attempting to tell you, and we work to make sense of your unique experience. New ideas and ways of responding can become available when you tend to your inner world in the presence of a skilled and attentive therapist, whether you're dealing with a known, ongoing concern like depression or anxiety, or a new one you don't quite have words for yet.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 25 years of experience helping clients to overcome challenges, cultivate self-awareness, deepen relationships, and live with a greater sense of personal freedom. My approach, grounded in attachment theory and psychodynamic principles, assumes that our way of experiencing ourselves, others, and the world around us is shaped by our earliest relationships. In the context of an empathic, nonjudgmental relationship, I help my clients explore their ways of moving through the world, examining habitual patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior to open up new possibilities and choices.
I am a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 25 years of experience helping clients to overcome challenges, cultivate self-awareness, deepen relationships, and live with a greater sense of personal freedom. My approach, grounded in attachment theory and psychodynamic principles, assumes that our way of experiencing ourselves, others, and the world around us is shaped by our earliest relationships. In the context of an empathic, nonjudgmental relationship, I help my clients explore their ways of moving through the world, examining habitual patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior to open up new possibilities and choices.
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Sex-Positive, Kink Allied Therapists
Why might an individual want to see a sex-positive, kink-allied therapist?
A sex-positive or kinky individual may want to see a sex-positive, kink-allied therapist because the client may feel safer and more supported discussing their experiences and challenges. A therapist who identifies as kink-friendly will have experience with clients having diverse sexual preferences and will likely be nonjudgmental and supportive about issues brought to the table. It is important to note that sex-positive, kink-allied individuals may find equal success with therapists who do not have such specialized knowledge and background. The most important factor in the success of therapy is for the client and practitioner to form a strong, trusting bond.
Do therapists have special training to gain expertise in sex-positive, kink-allied treatment?
Generally, no. There are limited training programs and unofficial accreditations that therapists can pursue, but a therapist’s expertise will ultimately come from their previous experience with similar clients, their engagement with organizations that promote sex positivity or kink-allied lifestyles, and the importance they place on safety and cultural sensitivity.
How can individuals recognize a good sex-positive, kink-allied therapist?
An experienced therapist is able to help clients explore their sexual identity and expression and relieve any discomfort or stigma attached to discussing such matters and the client’s overall challenges. A therapist who is sex-positive and kink-allied is able to create an environment that honors a client’s experience and sexual preferences. To recognize a good therapist, clients can simply ask directly about topics and issues important to them and gauge their comfort level and connection with a clinician based on the responses.
Can clients benefit from having a therapist with a focus on sex positivity and alternative sexual lifestyles?
Some individuals may feel most comfortable knowing that the clinician they’re working with has a commitment to creating an atmosphere of sex positivity and has experience with relationship diversity and alternative relationship structures. Working with a sex-positive, kink-allied therapist may help clients respect their own challenges and improve identity-affirming treatment.