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Selected Writing

psychotherapist London, therapy sessions London, counselling London, EMDR therapist London, trauma therapy London, LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist, queer therapy London, couples therapy London, relationship counselling London, disability and neurodivergence affirmative therapy, sex-positive therapy London, Beyond Labels Therapy London

"Masc Only by Yann Phesans (he/they) examines how demands for masculinity and “gender legibility” operate as subtle yet powerful forms of social policing. Using the phrase “masc only” from dating apps as a starting point, Phesans shows how such language reinforces hierarchies that privilege normative masculinity while devaluing femininity and gender non-conformity.The essay highlights the psychological costs of these expectations, from internalized shame to the pressure of perfectionism, and situates them in a wider history of queer and trans regulation. Drawing on Édouard Glissant’s idea of “opacity,” Phesans frames the refusal to be fully legible on normative terms as an act of resistance—opening space for identities that resist assimilation.Ultimately, Masc Only calls for rethinking “preferences” as tools of enforcement and advocates honoring the right not to be fully known or made to conform."

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Link to essay: https://publicseminar.org/2025/09/masc-only/

Not Like Them by Yann Phesans (they/he) explores how psychoanalytic concepts like transference must be rethought when viewed through queer, immigrant, and minoritised perspectives. Classical ideals of neutrality and universality often erase the therapist’s embodied identity, positioning difference as deviation. Drawing on Édouard Glissant’s opacity and José Esteban Muñoz’s disidentification, Phesans reframes therapy as a space where refusal, ambiguity, and non-legibility can be honored rather than pathologised.Through a vivid clinical vignette, they illustrate how a client’s transference collided with their refusal to perform normative masculinity, producing both rage and possibility in the encounter. Instead of collapsing into assimilation or opposition, they practiced disidentification—containing the client’s projections without erasing their own queer identity. This approach demonstrates how opacity and disidentification can transform therapy from a site of coercive recognition into one of radical listening and relational possibility.The essay argues that psychotherapy is never politically neutral: every silence, interpretation, and act of containment is shaped by race, class, gender, sexuality, and history. By embracing opacity and disidentification, therapists can resist prescriptive norms, foster environments of ambiguity, and honor the right not to be fully known.

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Link to essay: https://thepolyphony.org/2025/10/02/not-like-them/

Yann Phesans
psychotherapist London, therapy sessions London, counselling London, EMDR therapist London, trauma therapy London, LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist, queer therapy London, couples therapy London, relationship counselling London, disability and neurodivergence affirmative therapy, sex-positive therapy London, Beyond Labels Therapy London
psychotherapist London, therapy sessions London, counselling London, EMDR therapist London, trauma therapy London, LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist, queer therapy London, couples therapy London, relationship counselling London, disability and neurodivergence affirmative therapy, sex-positive therapy London, Beyond Labels Therapy London

This piece examines the psychological, relational, and sociocultural dynamics of kink through a queer-affirming clinical lens. It clarifies that practices such as financial domination, chastity play, BDSM, pegging, and bottoming are not fixed identities or simple power binaries but co-created erotic structures built on consent, communication, and attunement.


The article challenges essentialist readings of dominance and submission by showing how power is actively negotiated, not passively given. It explores how kink intersects with wider social forces such as gender, race, class, and historical oppression, and how these contexts shape meaning within scenes. It also highlights the reparative potential of kink, where individuals can rewrite internalised scripts, reclaim agency, and engage with vulnerability in ways that feel safe, chosen, and empowering.
 

Alongside psychological analysis, the piece attends to practical considerations, including boundaries, financial ethics, bodily safety, risks linked to shame and compulsivity, and the importance of reflective aftercare. Across all practices, the emphasis is on clarity of agreements, ongoing consent, and the dignity of opacity — the right not to be fully legible.
 

Ultimately, the article positions kink as a space of creativity, freedom, and relational depth. It invites readers to approach their erotic lives with curiosity, responsibility, and an informed understanding of how power, identity, and desire are shaped and reshaped through connection.
 

Link to Article: https://www.attitude.co.uk/main-stories/attitude-uncut-kink-explored-alexander-skarsgard-pillion-504975/

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Couples Therapy, Couples Counselling, Couples Therapy London, Therapy Services, Mental Health Support, Professional Counsellor, Counselling in South East London, Therapy Services South East London, Online Therapy UK, Local Counsellor South East London, Anxiety Therapy, Depression Counselling, Trauma Therapy, Grief Counselling, Illness Counselling Support, LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy, Kink-Positive Therapy, Sex-Positive Counselling, Therapy for Polyamorous Individuals, Counselling for Sex Workers, Neurodiverse Therapy Support, Counselling for Ethnic Minorities, Therapy for Religious Minorities, Counselling for Foreign Nationals, Nonjudgemental Counselling, Inclusive Therapy, Trauma-Informed Counselling, Empathetic Therapist, Safe and Confidential Therapy, Introductory Counselling Call, Improve Mental Health, Increase Self-Esteem, Manage Anxiety, Overcome Depression, Navigate Life Changes, Queer Counselling, ENM Counselling, Disability Affirmative Therapy
Couples Therapy, Couples Counselling, Couples Therapy London, Therapy Services, Mental Health Support, Professional Counsellor, Counselling in South East London, Therapy Services South East London, Online Therapy UK, Local Counsellor South East London, Anxiety Therapy, Depression Counselling, Trauma Therapy, Grief Counselling, Illness Counselling Support, LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy, Kink-Positive Therapy, Sex-Positive Counselling, Therapy for Polyamorous Individuals, Counselling for Sex Workers, Neurodiverse Therapy Support, Counselling for Ethnic Minorities, Therapy for Religious Minorities, Counselling for Foreign Nationals, Nonjudgemental Counselling, Inclusive Therapy, Trauma-Informed Counselling, Empathetic Therapist, Safe and Confidential Therapy, Introductory Counselling Call, Improve Mental Health, Increase Self-Esteem, Manage Anxiety, Overcome Depression, Navigate Life Changes, Queer Counselling, ENM Counselling, Disability Affirmative Therapy
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