What does kink-aware mean?

Kink-friendly usually means someone is open to talking about kink and won't judge you. Kink-aware goes further: they understand that BDSM and kink can be healthy, they can tell consensual practice apart from abuse, and they know what makes play safer.

Kink-affirming goes a step beyond that. The professional is willing to treat your kink identity as one more part of who you are (assuming that is what you identify with!), the way they would any other part of your identity, and is willing to work with it rather than around it.

If you are looking for a therapist, it is fine to ask directly how they would describe their experience with kink.