Boundaries and Beyond: Playing with Triggers

In this thought-provoking workshop, we will delve into the essential skills and knowledge necessary to navigate sensitive and high-stakes scenes ethically and in a trauma-informed manner. Attendees will learn how to effectively negotiate, ensuring all parties feel heard and respected before, during, and after play. We will emphasize the importance of mental preparation, trust-building activities, and readiness to engage in this type of edge play successfully. Our time will guide you through recognizing when to pause or stop a scene and incorporate comforting, grounding exercises to support emotional stability. Expect in-depth discussions on the psychological effects of these experiences, including how to handle complex emotions and trauma responses such as dissociation, fight, flight, fawn, or freeze. We will explore how to identify and discover personal boundaries, as well as how to incorporate triggers intentionally and responsibly within scenes to enhance the impact without causing damage. There will be conversations about how to approach these topics with sensitivity, ensuring someone isn’t coming from a place of self-harm. This class aims to empower folks with the tools, awareness, and confidence to create a space for exploration that prioritizes emotional and physical safety.

Explore with more topics including:

• How to face fears and understand motivations behind playing in this realm
  
• Recognizing signs of distress and other nonverbal cues
  
• Importance of informed consent when flirting with the edge
  
• Toeing the line between pushing limits and crossing boundaries
  
• Shadow play; what it is and how it can foster growth and connection
  
• Navigating reactions including the risk of being triggered as a top
  
• Addressing the emotional aftermath and ensuring comprehensive aftercare
  
• Ways to express empathy and compassion during these experiences
  
• Exploring emotional masochism within this type of play
  
• Interactive Q&A to ask your burning questions
  
• And much more

Trigger warning: conversations will include talk of SA, trauma, and self-harm.

Running Time:
1 hour 45 minutes

This workshop is meant to be an inclusive environment that is accommodating for all types of people.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Mackenzee@MissMackenzee.com