Sex-Positive, Kink Allied Therapists in Minneapolis, MN
Pam McGowan
Pre-Licensed Professional, MA, RN, BSN, BFA
Minneapolis, MN 55428
Waitlist for new clients
To that point I am LGBTQIA+ friendly and am kink and poly informed and affirming.
Art therapy merges the healing properties of artistic work with my deep love for how the mind works and interacts with others. My RN experience and my passion for artistic expression create opportunity to explore and embrace holistic wellness with mind, body, and spirit working together. Art therapy requires no formal art background, just willingness to try!
To that point I am LGBTQIA+ friendly and am kink and poly informed and affirming.
Art therapy merges the healing properties of artistic work with my deep love for how the mind works and interacts with others. My RN experience and my passion for artistic expression create opportunity to explore and embrace holistic wellness with mind, body, and spirit working together. Art therapy requires no formal art background, just willingness to try!
Dan Piñon
Licensed Professional Counselor, LPCC
1 Endorsed
Minneapolis, MN 55407
Waitlist for new clients
My therapy approach is integrative, trauma informed, queer affirming, sex-positive, and anti-oppressive.
My name is Dan Piñon (they/them) and I am a gender queer, mixed, latine (Mexican), neurodivergent therapist. I believe your body is profoundly wise and full of personal resources to support you through healing. Our work together can focus on collaboratively reintegrating your body and mind while exploring more effective ways to support yourself through life. I have had the honor of working with a wide variety of ages, background and needs. Specialty areas of mine include complex grief, neurodivergence, burnout, relational trauma, family wounds, somatic based practices, and identity exploration.
My therapy approach is integrative, trauma informed, queer affirming, sex-positive, and anti-oppressive.
My name is Dan Piñon (they/them) and I am a gender queer, mixed, latine (Mexican), neurodivergent therapist. I believe your body is profoundly wise and full of personal resources to support you through healing. Our work together can focus on collaboratively reintegrating your body and mind while exploring more effective ways to support yourself through life. I have had the honor of working with a wide variety of ages, background and needs. Specialty areas of mine include complex grief, neurodivergence, burnout, relational trauma, family wounds, somatic based practices, and identity exploration.
I also support clients in relationships organized around polyamory, consensual non-monogamy, and/or kink.
As a therapist and witness to your growth, I believe that you have an intuitive and innate capacity for balance. However, ongoing stressors of living in intersecting systems of oppression erode our connection with ourselves and others. Through curious, compassionate awareness in supportive relationships and community, we find our way back to our inner wisdom and wellness. I am here to support and witness your process of uncovering your most authentic self so that you can take actions in your life that align with your values and dreams. Find out more at www.awakenheartsomatics.com.
I also support clients in relationships organized around polyamory, consensual non-monogamy, and/or kink.
As a therapist and witness to your growth, I believe that you have an intuitive and innate capacity for balance. However, ongoing stressors of living in intersecting systems of oppression erode our connection with ourselves and others. Through curious, compassionate awareness in supportive relationships and community, we find our way back to our inner wisdom and wellness. I am here to support and witness your process of uncovering your most authentic self so that you can take actions in your life that align with your values and dreams. Find out more at www.awakenheartsomatics.com.
I use a person-centered approach to ensure a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment where you can share your unique story. I work regularly with the LGBTQAI community and feel strongly about keeping this a safe space for all. My education in sex therapy gives me a different lens to see you through.
I use a person-centered approach to ensure a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment where you can share your unique story. I work regularly with the LGBTQAI community and feel strongly about keeping this a safe space for all. My education in sex therapy gives me a different lens to see you through.
Adulting is hard, life can be difficult, and the whole thing can be overwhelming. Let's talk about it, let's yell at it, or meditate on it. All of the systems that we are a part of can impact the way we think about ourselves and our ability to connect with others. This can severely impact our mental health and our ability to heal. I am here to help you manage issues related to sexuality, severe and persistent mental illness, sense of self, trauma, loss, and life transitions. Note: I have a therapy dog that will be present for in person sessions. Please Email only as I have difficulty responding to voicemails in a timely manner.
Adulting is hard, life can be difficult, and the whole thing can be overwhelming. Let's talk about it, let's yell at it, or meditate on it. All of the systems that we are a part of can impact the way we think about ourselves and our ability to connect with others. This can severely impact our mental health and our ability to heal. I am here to help you manage issues related to sexuality, severe and persistent mental illness, sense of self, trauma, loss, and life transitions. Note: I have a therapy dog that will be present for in person sessions. Please Email only as I have difficulty responding to voicemails in a timely manner.
I use a social justice-oriented, sex and kink positive; trauma, neurodiverse, and environmentally-informed frameworks to create a safe, collaborative, and empowering space for clients to discover and advocate for a life that embodies their values.
I support clients to explore how your lived experiences have shaped your story, and identify how you want to create a life rooted in dignity, competency, and self-acceptance. I love to nerd out on neurobiology, sociology, human growth and development to reduce shame related to experiences of and responses to trauma.
I use a social justice-oriented, sex and kink positive; trauma, neurodiverse, and environmentally-informed frameworks to create a safe, collaborative, and empowering space for clients to discover and advocate for a life that embodies their values.
I support clients to explore how your lived experiences have shaped your story, and identify how you want to create a life rooted in dignity, competency, and self-acceptance. I love to nerd out on neurobiology, sociology, human growth and development to reduce shame related to experiences of and responses to trauma.
Hi! My name is Eloise (he/they). Are you feeling stuck, scared, or hopeless in the face of today's world? I see you and you are not alone! I want to help people do more than just survive in this current hellscape and find sources of strength, hope, and connection. I am passionate about working with the queer and trans community as well as people struggling with mood disorders, substance use, religious trauma, family of origin trauma, intimate partner violence, neurodiversity, and climate grief. Some identities I hold: I am white, neurodivergent, agender, a parent, an atheist, a leftist/anarchist, fat, and disabled.
Hi! My name is Eloise (he/they). Are you feeling stuck, scared, or hopeless in the face of today's world? I see you and you are not alone! I want to help people do more than just survive in this current hellscape and find sources of strength, hope, and connection. I am passionate about working with the queer and trans community as well as people struggling with mood disorders, substance use, religious trauma, family of origin trauma, intimate partner violence, neurodiversity, and climate grief. Some identities I hold: I am white, neurodivergent, agender, a parent, an atheist, a leftist/anarchist, fat, and disabled.
My practice is proudly queer-allied, kink-allied, and sex-positive.
I help people build a healthier relationship with themselves, so they can build healthier relationships with others. I am a certified Sex Therapist and I utilize Dialectical Behavior Therapy to guide insights into relational aspects of your life. I focus on building emotional resilience, managing distress, minimizing urges, and more.
My practice is proudly queer-allied, kink-allied, and sex-positive.
I help people build a healthier relationship with themselves, so they can build healthier relationships with others. I am a certified Sex Therapist and I utilize Dialectical Behavior Therapy to guide insights into relational aspects of your life. I focus on building emotional resilience, managing distress, minimizing urges, and more.
Elena Louise Shaffer
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, MA, LPCC
1 Endorsed
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Waitlist for new clients
I’m Elena and I’m here to help you tackle the darkness that’s dimming your light. I’m ready to work together for the change you need to thrive. I didn’t truly understand what lasting change could look like until I experienced the power of a mind–body–spirit approach to healing. In my practice, I am client-centered, radically non-judgmental, and fully authentic.
My style is strongly influenced by Psychodynamic Therapy, which cultivates deeper self-awareness, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, which explores the connection between our body and our mental well-being.
I’m Elena and I’m here to help you tackle the darkness that’s dimming your light. I’m ready to work together for the change you need to thrive. I didn’t truly understand what lasting change could look like until I experienced the power of a mind–body–spirit approach to healing. In my practice, I am client-centered, radically non-judgmental, and fully authentic.
My style is strongly influenced by Psychodynamic Therapy, which cultivates deeper self-awareness, and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, which explores the connection between our body and our mental well-being.
I provide clinical assessments for folks who suspect they're Autistic and/or ADHD but were never formally diagnosed, often because they masked well, were misdiagnosed, or were told they seemed "too high-functioning" to ever be considered.
Because I also specialize in OCD, PTSD, and anxiety, I'm skilled at parsing out what's really going on to help give you a clear understanding.
I guide you through a collaborative, affirming assessment: interview, standardized testing, and a feedback session. You leave with a clear understanding of, and ways to advocate for, yourself.
I provide clinical assessments for folks who suspect they're Autistic and/or ADHD but were never formally diagnosed, often because they masked well, were misdiagnosed, or were told they seemed "too high-functioning" to ever be considered.
Because I also specialize in OCD, PTSD, and anxiety, I'm skilled at parsing out what's really going on to help give you a clear understanding.
I guide you through a collaborative, affirming assessment: interview, standardized testing, and a feedback session. You leave with a clear understanding of, and ways to advocate for, yourself.
I believe good therapy involves having a positive healing experience that includes your whole self and can be translated to your everyday life. I utilize creative approaches along with concrete tools to assist your body, mind and spirit with building a greater sense of safety and calm, leading to growth and connection with self and others. I especially welcome families or individuals navigating growth and change; parents of children with chronic health needs; couples seeking greater connection in their relationship; or individual adults seeking body-centered care for trauma, anxiety, or depression.
I believe good therapy involves having a positive healing experience that includes your whole self and can be translated to your everyday life. I utilize creative approaches along with concrete tools to assist your body, mind and spirit with building a greater sense of safety and calm, leading to growth and connection with self and others. I especially welcome families or individuals navigating growth and change; parents of children with chronic health needs; couples seeking greater connection in their relationship; or individual adults seeking body-centered care for trauma, anxiety, or depression.
My approach integrates cognitive behavioral (CBT), person-centered, strengths-based, and solution-focused therapies. I am also trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), an eye-movement-based intervention for processing traumatic and distressing experiences. I work with depression, anxiety, gender identity and sexual orientation, body image, life transitions, self-esteem, and substance use. As someone with lived experience of chronic illness, I also bring an understanding of the ways health can shape identity, relationships, and our sense of ourselves.
My approach integrates cognitive behavioral (CBT), person-centered, strengths-based, and solution-focused therapies. I am also trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), an eye-movement-based intervention for processing traumatic and distressing experiences. I work with depression, anxiety, gender identity and sexual orientation, body image, life transitions, self-esteem, and substance use. As someone with lived experience of chronic illness, I also bring an understanding of the ways health can shape identity, relationships, and our sense of ourselves.
I work with people who are feeling overwhelmed, disillusioned, or fearful about the current state of the country and the world. Perhaps the ongoing climate crisis, combined with the stress you are carrying in your personal life, weigh heavily on you, leaving you feeling unsettled or even paralyzed by grief and anxiety. In our work together, we won’t pretend there are simple solutions—there rarely are. But I am deeply experienced in navigating through grief, panic, and the search for resilience in uncertain times.
I work with people who are feeling overwhelmed, disillusioned, or fearful about the current state of the country and the world. Perhaps the ongoing climate crisis, combined with the stress you are carrying in your personal life, weigh heavily on you, leaving you feeling unsettled or even paralyzed by grief and anxiety. In our work together, we won’t pretend there are simple solutions—there rarely are. But I am deeply experienced in navigating through grief, panic, and the search for resilience in uncertain times.
Ann Steely
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MSW, LICSW, LADC
1 Endorsed
Minneapolis, MN 55417
Waitlist for new clients
My name is Ann Steely and I am a clinical social worker and owner of Heartland Psychotherapy. I specialize in working with adolescents/adults in individual and family therapy. My focus in therapy is on my relationship with you, understanding what you need as an individual, and using this understanding to help you find insight into how to make the changes you want to make in your life. Psychotherapy is a process of working together towards healing and change. I will help you understand yourself authentically and find greater ease through the exploration of your emotional experience, thoughts, behaviors, and relationships.
My name is Ann Steely and I am a clinical social worker and owner of Heartland Psychotherapy. I specialize in working with adolescents/adults in individual and family therapy. My focus in therapy is on my relationship with you, understanding what you need as an individual, and using this understanding to help you find insight into how to make the changes you want to make in your life. Psychotherapy is a process of working together towards healing and change. I will help you understand yourself authentically and find greater ease through the exploration of your emotional experience, thoughts, behaviors, and relationships.
Trauma, grief, and chronic illness can weigh heavily on both body and spirit. For those who care deeply about the world, sensitivity can feel like a gift and a burden, especially when it’s carried alone.
I work with individuals, couples, families, and children.
We’ll use a holistic approach to help your body feel safe again, nurture your spirit through creativity, and ease the mental weight you carry each day. Healing often begins with radical self-compassion and meeting unmet needs. Practices like creativity, play, storytelling, and movement can help your nervous system find greater peace and balance.
Trauma, grief, and chronic illness can weigh heavily on both body and spirit. For those who care deeply about the world, sensitivity can feel like a gift and a burden, especially when it’s carried alone.
I work with individuals, couples, families, and children.
We’ll use a holistic approach to help your body feel safe again, nurture your spirit through creativity, and ease the mental weight you carry each day. Healing often begins with radical self-compassion and meeting unmet needs. Practices like creativity, play, storytelling, and movement can help your nervous system find greater peace and balance.
I work virtually with LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals and couples of all ages. I use narrative therapy to help clients explore the stories shaping their lives and draw from Internal Family Systems (IFS) to better understand the parts within them. I have a special interest in ADHD, religious deconstruction, racial and cultural identity, and queer experience. My goal is to offer a supportive space where you can question what no longer fits and move toward a life that feels more grounded, authentic, and your own.
I work virtually with LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals and couples of all ages. I use narrative therapy to help clients explore the stories shaping their lives and draw from Internal Family Systems (IFS) to better understand the parts within them. I have a special interest in ADHD, religious deconstruction, racial and cultural identity, and queer experience. My goal is to offer a supportive space where you can question what no longer fits and move toward a life that feels more grounded, authentic, and your own.
Satisfying relationships, personal fulfillment, and vocational flourishing are essential components to a joyful life. Insecurity, self-doubt, anxiety and avoidance often stand between us and all of the above. Depending on who you are, being in therapy might be a practical and strategic process, for others a deeply emotional and interpersonal one. As I enjoy working with clients from all walks of life, I take a flexible and curious approach to attend to my clients' specific needs in the therapy process. Ultimately, my goal as a therapist is to support you in feeling calm, grounded, deeply happy and in-control of your life.
Satisfying relationships, personal fulfillment, and vocational flourishing are essential components to a joyful life. Insecurity, self-doubt, anxiety and avoidance often stand between us and all of the above. Depending on who you are, being in therapy might be a practical and strategic process, for others a deeply emotional and interpersonal one. As I enjoy working with clients from all walks of life, I take a flexible and curious approach to attend to my clients' specific needs in the therapy process. Ultimately, my goal as a therapist is to support you in feeling calm, grounded, deeply happy and in-control of your life.
*Please email about availability* Therapy is not surgery; you don't go to sleep and wake up with all of your problems solved. The sweat and strain and heavy lifting are mostly yours. But with this, however, you can feel more satisfied with therapy when actively involved in the sessions. It is my role to work with your motivation & continue to foster this growth towards positive change. I operate from a person-centered approach, which emphasizes being genuine, providing unconditional positive regard, and empathic understanding in the efforts to foster our therapeutic connection to enhance this emotional & powerful relationship.
*Please email about availability* Therapy is not surgery; you don't go to sleep and wake up with all of your problems solved. The sweat and strain and heavy lifting are mostly yours. But with this, however, you can feel more satisfied with therapy when actively involved in the sessions. It is my role to work with your motivation & continue to foster this growth towards positive change. I operate from a person-centered approach, which emphasizes being genuine, providing unconditional positive regard, and empathic understanding in the efforts to foster our therapeutic connection to enhance this emotional & powerful relationship.
The human experience can be a complex and confusing burden to exist within at times. We can lose confidence in trusting ourselves, in the choices we make, in understanding our thoughts and feelings, and while navigating all sorts of relationships. I know this all too well, and I am sure you can relate to some degree. I identify as a gay/queer cisgender male, as an addict/alcoholic in long-term recovery, and as a therapist with over 15 years of experience in the mental health profession. I would be honored to share space, listen, and provide guidance while you traverse your own life’s highs, lows, and everything in between.
The human experience can be a complex and confusing burden to exist within at times. We can lose confidence in trusting ourselves, in the choices we make, in understanding our thoughts and feelings, and while navigating all sorts of relationships. I know this all too well, and I am sure you can relate to some degree. I identify as a gay/queer cisgender male, as an addict/alcoholic in long-term recovery, and as a therapist with over 15 years of experience in the mental health profession. I would be honored to share space, listen, and provide guidance while you traverse your own life’s highs, lows, and everything in between.
I work with individuals seeking affirming support around kink, BDSM, sexuality, relationships, identity, and emotional well-being.
I specialize in sex therapy and offer affirming support around kink, BDSM, consensual non-monogamy, identity, and relationships. I work with sex workers and queer, trans, non-binary, gender-expansive, and neurodivergent adults. Together, we address shame, stigma, discrimination, communication, boundaries, and the ways oppression can become held in the body.
I work with individuals seeking affirming support around kink, BDSM, sexuality, relationships, identity, and emotional well-being.
I specialize in sex therapy and offer affirming support around kink, BDSM, consensual non-monogamy, identity, and relationships. I work with sex workers and queer, trans, non-binary, gender-expansive, and neurodivergent adults. Together, we address shame, stigma, discrimination, communication, boundaries, and the ways oppression can become held in the body.
See more therapy options for Minneapolis
Nearby Sex-Positive & Kink-Friendly Therapists Searches for Minneapolis
- Bloomington
- Brooklyn Park
- Edina
- Fridley
- Golden Valley
- Hopkins
- Minnetonka
- New Brighton
- New Hope
- Plymouth
- Richfield
- Saint Louis Park
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.