The Kink Consultant The Pleasure Protocol: BDSM, Coaching, and the Psychology of Power with Shelby Devlin
Oct 8, 2025
Shelby Devlin, a Somatica-certified sex and relationship coach, shares her fascinating journey from fetish boutique worker to BDSM educator. She discusses the intriguing concept of 'Barbie bondage' during her youth and how her personal experiences led her to Somatica training. Shelby emphasizes the importance of shame-free exploration, communication, and safety in BDSM practices. With practical tips for beginners and insights into her book, The Pleasure Protocol, she sheds light on how BDSM can foster self-awareness and deeper connections.
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Barbie Bondage To Formal Education
- Shelby Devlin began exploring power play as a child by tying up Barbies and later discovered Anne Rice's BDSM fantasy as a teen.
- She then experimented in San Francisco, worked at Stormy Leather, and assisted in BDSM classes which deepened her learning.
Career Reset Led To Somatica
- After leaving Stormy Leather, Shelby became a housewife, divorced, then discovered Somatica which she called the perfect path forward.
- She combined Somatica training with her massage therapy skills to start trauma-informed, somatic BDSM coaching.
Protocol Combines Somatic Arc With BDSM
- Shelby adapts Somatica's client-arc model to BDSM, sequencing skills to build safety, confidence, and insight.
- She designed a protocol that combats fear and shame while building erotic confidence before scene work.
