Episode 2: Lessons from a Therapist and Pro Domme
What happens when a certified therapist steps into thigh high boots and picks up a flogger? You get Mistress Red—trauma-informed, sadistically skilled, and living proof that the lines between kink and healing are beautifully blurred.
In this enlightening and energetic episode, I sit down with Mistress Red to talk about how her dual roles as therapist and Pro-Domme aren’t contradictory—they’re complementary. We explore how she holds space in both the dungeon and the therapy room, how kink can uncover unmet needs, and how BDSM isn’t just play—it’s a mirror. A spotlight. A pressure point.
We go deep on everything from Reiki and aftercare to the Drama Triangle and domination, from how shame shows up in our desires to how switching between Domme and therapist gives Rachael a uniquely nuanced perspective on power, pain, and growth.
If you've ever wondered whether your kink is rooted in healing or reenactment—or if it's both—this episode will challenge you to look closer.
What We Talk About
How therapy and Pro-Domme work overlap more than you think
Using kink to identify and integrate unmet childhood needs
Why understanding the Drama Triangle can transform your power play
Rachael’s personal journey with switching, shame, and sadism
The difference between holding space and holding power
Using Reiki, intuition, and energy work for aftercare
How she manages emotional safety, client boundaries, and relationship dynamics as a Pro-Domme
Why your kink might be your most powerful therapeutic tool
Big Takeaways
Kink and therapy can be two sides of the same healing coin
Consent and self-awareness are the foundation for transformation
Domination isn’t just physical—it’s psychological, energetic, and sacred
Submissive experiences can trigger emotional breakthroughs
The things we crave in kink often reflect what we didn’t get growing up
You don’t have to choose between being kinky and being conscious—you can be both
Power exchange isn’t just sexy. It’s sacred.
Listen If You’re Into...
Therapy that doesn’t shame your desires
Dominance with depth
Integration, not dissociation
Conscious kink and conscious communication
Stories that are both hot and healing
BDSM as a path to growth, not just gratification
Mistress Red on the mic
“Being able to talk about shame, to be seen and not judged for a kink or a need—that alone can be transformational. That’s the therapy. That’s the magic.”
Meet Your Guest
Mistress Red is a certified Reiki practitioner, therapist-in-training, and professional Domme. She blends somatic awareness, intuitive care, and sadistic skill to offer sessions that are both intense and integrative. Whether she’s helping clients process shame or push their physical limits, her work is rooted in safety, consent, and connection.
Follow her on Fetlife as Dark_Red
Dive Deeper
Explore more on kink and healing in the Buried Alive blog and podcast archive.
→ Read more on kink and the Drama Triangle
→ Explore the Enneagram, power exchange, and shame integration
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to Kink and Therapy
02:35 - The Intersection of Therapy and Kink
07:06 - Personal Experiences and Growth through Kink
08:05 - Navigating Professional Boundaries in Kink
10:46 - The Role of Shame and Acceptance in Kink
13:21 - Building Community and Support in Kink
15:33 - Therapeutic Skills in the Pro-Domme Space
21:37 - Challenges in Embracing Sadism
24:10 - Aftercare and Energy Reading
27:04 - Resources for Exploration
