Shalimar is a Leather boy, service pupper, bootblack, and service leader who has been involved in the kink community for the last nine years. They are a lifelong student who strives towards building aware communities that address ethics, equity, and safety. Their goal as a community member and LCSW is to address issues of accessibility and oppression within our communities and increase the dialogue around issues such as racism, abuse, gatekeeping, and sexism.

Thank you for your interest and your support of THRIVE! Because THRIVE is 100% free, we ask that you pay it forward by donating to our speakers. 

Shalimar accepts support through CashApp ($kalishali8) and PayPal (shaliboulos@yahoo.com)
If you enjoyed Shalimar, you can follow them on Instagram (@thekinkyhooker) or Twitch (kalishali)

If you would like to support THRIVE’s efforts, consider picking up THRIVE swag at https://www.redbubble.com/people/DevynStone/

The bootblack stand can be a space buzzing with excitement and energy for a lot of bootblacks. Other times, folks will walk into a stand with heavy emotions or vulnerable stories about themselves or their leather. Have you felt lost in those moments, or terrified that this will happen to you and you’ll freeze? This class will help address those moments, how to hold space, and how to care for yourself during and after those moments.

Your client tells you that they suffer for their partner or kink. What is suffering? Why would our clients do it, and should we as professionals be worried? In this class, we will discuss what it means to suffer, the different ways people suffer in play and dynamics, how to assess safety, and what to keep in mind during therapy.