Talking Kink with TICK in Mind

Although clinicians, educators, and other practitioners often receive training in trauma-informed practice, few receive guidance on applying those principles to conversations about BDSM and kink. As a result, they may struggle to navigate these conversations while honoring autonomy, pleasure, consent, and lived experience.

This workshop introduces Trauma-Informed Consensual Kink (TICK) as a reflective framework for exploring these conversations. Using two case studies, participants apply the SPACE lens (Safety, Pleasure, Awareness, Communication, Empathy) to explore how each domain shapes understanding of BDSM and kink experiences, including how they may relate to healing, embodiment, connection, and personal meaning. Participants also consider how consent, capacity, and communication shape safer and more intentional experiences, and where gaps in these areas may signal emerging risk.

Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of TICK, experience applying the SPACE lens to case studies, and an expanded capacity to engage trauma-informed conversations about BDSM and kink with greater nuance and curiosity.

Candace "Coach Felyne" Liger (she/they) is the founder and director of the Center for Body Autonomy, an organization specializing in creating safer, pleasurable, and inclusive pathways for bodies to thrive. An award-winning social justice advocate, published academic author, BDSM/Kink practitioner, and consent and harm reduction educator, she has spent over a decade building frameworks that place body sovereignty at the center of wellness, movement, and liberation work.

Candace is a somatic strength and movement coach with over a decade of experience and advanced certifications in corrective exercise, sports performance, and strength training. As former co-host of the Decolonizing Fitness podcast, they have worked to dismantle toxic fitness culture. She currently serves as Director of the Trauma Informed Weight Lifting certifying body and has provided trauma-informed fitness consulting to more than 500 organizations worldwide.