Case Illustration · Applied Exercise

The Assessment of Harm

Two questions are available in this case. Only one of them is clinical.

The presentation

A client presents for individual therapy following the end of a long-term BDSM relationship. They describe the relationship as having involved significant dominance and submission dynamics, including scenes that involved restraint and impact play. They describe ending the relationship because their partner repeatedly violated negotiated limits.

Estimated time to complete this exercise: 10 minutes

1The question
2The evidence
3The record
4Consultation
5Close

Part 1 of 4

Which question is the clinical assessment?

References

  1. American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
  2. Richters, J., de Visser, R. O., Rissel, C. E., Grulich, A. E., & Smith, A. M. A. (2008). Demographic and psychosocial features of participants in bondage and discipline, “sadomasochism” or dominance and submission (BDSM): Data from a national survey. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 5(7), 1660–1668. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2008.00795.x
  3. Wismeijer, A. A. J., & van Assen, M. A. L. M. (2013). Psychological characteristics of BDSM practitioners. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 10(8), 1943–1952. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsm.12192