Lee Harrington (he/they) is a spiritual and erotic authenticity educator, gender explorer, eclectic artist, and award-winning author and editor on erotic and sacred experience. He brings a combination of playful engagement and thoughtful academic dialogue to a broad audience, and they believe we are each beautifully complex ecosystems who deserve to examine the human experience from that lens. They have been traveling the globe teaching and talking about sexuality, psychology, faith, and desire, and believe you deserve passion and connection in your life. His books include “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,” “Traversing Gender: Understanding Transgender Realities,” and “Become Your Own Beloved: A Guide to Delighting In Self Connection,” amongst many others. Lee has been a passion instigator, academic, adult film performer, world class sexual adventurer, outspoken philosopher, polytheist priest/ess, kink/bondage coach, and has been blogging about sex and spirit since 1998. Read more about Lee at PassionAndSoul.com.

Cutting and Kink: Examining Self-Injurious Behavior, BDSM, and Body Modification

Individuals self-injure and cut for many reasons: abuse, depression, attention seeking, pain management, rage, anxiety, and more. However, in kink, BDSM, and body modification communities, activities are explored that resemble self-injurious behaviors. There are also some individuals for whom the same scars born of shame and disgust have become marks of honor and survival. The distinction can be confusing for therapists, councilors, care givers, and medical professionals, especially given that they are not always clear lines.
In this class we will be presenting findings from interviews conducted within the kink and body modification communities among those who have previously been or continue to practice cutting and other self-injurious behaviors. We will examine cases of individuals that have transformed their need for self-harm into other forms of expression, maintained both sets of behavior, and those looking at whether healthy cutting can ever take place in an individual's life.

Bio:

Lee Harrington (he/they) is a spiritual and erotic authenticity educator, gender explorer, eclectic artist, and award-winning author and editor on erotic and sacred experience. He brings a combination of playful engagement and thoughtful academic dialogue to a broad audience, and they believe we are each beautifully complex ecosystems who deserve to examine the human experience from that lens. They have been traveling the globe teaching and talking about sexuality, psychology, faith, and desire, and believe you deserve passion and connection in your life. His books include “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,” “Traversing Gender: Understanding Transgender Realities,” and “Become Your Own Beloved: A Guide to Delighting In Self Connection,” amongst many others. Lee has been a passion instigator, academic, adult film performer, world class sexual adventurer, outspoken philosopher, polytheist priest/ess, kink/bondage coach, and has been blogging about sex and spirit since 1998. Read more about Lee at PassionAndSoul.com.

Are you excited about the THRIVE experience and want to help it continue?
Consider donating to help PK/THRIVE continue to provide education.
PayPal - AffirmingMatters@gmail.com
CashApp - $AffirmingMatters
Venmo - @AffirmingMatters
Please include "THRIVE 2025" in the note.
Get your PK & THRIVE swag! https://www.redbubble.com/people/DevynStone/shop
Check out other events PK is hosting here:
https://www.facebook.com/PragmaticKink
https://fetlife.com/PragmaticKink
Find more info on THRIVE https://THRIVEVirtualCon.com/
Send a quick message if you would like to suggest topics, present, or support in another way. PKinkingEvents@gmail.com