Resources · Reading · Referrals

The reading list this practice actually trusts.

A curated set of books, podcasts, organizations, and local resources I send clients toward — chosen for accuracy, inclusivity, and not making things worse.

Books · 01

Couples, Communication & Repair

Where to start when the partnership is the unit of attention.

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work

JOHN GOTTMAN

The foundational text. Still useful for any partnership, not just marriage.

What Makes Love Last?

JOHN & JULIE GOTTMAN

The follow-up; covers trust, betrayal, and repair.

Mating in Captivity

ESTHER PEREL

On erotic life inside long-term partnership. Essential.

The State of Affairs

ESTHER PEREL

For couples in or after an infidelity.

Books · 02

Non-Monogamy, Polyamory & ENM

Read these before you open anything.

Polysecure

JESSICA FERN

Attachment-informed polyamory; the most important polyamory book of the decade.

The Ethical Slut

JANET HARDY & DOSSIE EASTON

The cultural foundation. Some dated language; still useful.

Opening Up

TRISTAN TAORMINO

The most concrete how-to. Pair with Polysecure.

More Than Two

EVE RICKERT

The 2024 revised edition; covers ethics, power, and harm in poly communities.

Books · 03

Kink, BDSM & Erotic Life

Books that take kink seriously as part of a whole life.

The New Topping Book / The New Bottoming Book

DOSSIE EASTON & JANET HARDY

Paired classics. Read whichever side(s) of the dynamic interest you.

Playing Well With Others

LEE HARRINGTON & MOLLENA WILLIAMS

How to enter kink community without making rookie mistakes.

Come as You Are

EMILY NAGOSKI

Sex science for women; foundational for desire-discrepancy work.

The Erotic Mind

JACK MORIN

For tracing the architecture of your own desire.

Books · 04

Queer & Trans Identity

For the exploration, the integration, and the everyday.

Greedy

JEN WINSTON

Bisexual identity memoir; sharp and well-researched.

Trans Bodies, Trans Selves

EDITED BY LAURA ERICKSON-SCHROTH

The reference text. Get the 2022 edition.

Pleasure Activism

ADRIENNE MAREE BROWN

Politically grounded erotic and embodiment work.

Care Work

LEAH LAKSHMI PIEPZNA-SAMARASINHA

Disability-justice framings of care and community.

Podcasts

Listening that's actually worth your time.

Multiamory

PODCAST · WEEKLY

The most consistent ENM podcast going. Practical, evidence-aware.

Where Should We Begin?

ESTHER PEREL

Real couples sessions edited for podcast. Useful for both clients and clinicians.

Why Are People Into That?!

TINA HORN

Kink interviews, sex-positive, journalist-led.

Therapy Chat

LAURA REAGAN, LCSW-C

Trauma-informed clinician conversations.

Albany Area · Local Resources

Local organizations worth knowing.

Pride Center of the Capital Region

ALBANY · COMMUNITY

The longest-running queer community center in the country. Programming, support groups, advocacy.

In Our Own Voices

ALBANY · LGBTQ BIPOC

Direct services, advocacy, and community building for LGBTQ+ people of color in the Capital Region.

Capital District Solidarity Committee

ALBANY · MUTUAL AID

Mutual aid network with active relationship to local mental health and harm-reduction work.

Trans-Affirming Care Coalition (Capital District)

REFERRAL NETWORK

Vetted list of trans-affirming providers in medical, mental health, legal, and gender-affirming care.

Crisis & Safety

If you need more than coaching.

A coaching practice is not a crisis service. If you are in danger, in crisis, or your or another's safety is at risk, the resources below are appropriate — and you can also use these whenever you need them, not only in emergencies.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

CALL OR TEXT 988 · 24/7

National crisis line, English and Spanish, with specialized counselors for LGBTQ+ and veterans.

Trans Lifeline

877-565-8860 · TRANS-RUN

Peer support hotline run by and for trans people. No active rescue without your consent.

Trevor Project

1-866-488-7386 · LGBTQ+ YOUTH

Crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ young people under 25.

NY State Domestic & Sexual Violence Hotline

1-800-942-6906 · 24/7

Confidential. Call, text, or chat at opdv.ny.gov.

Albany County 24/7 Sexual Violence Hotline

(518) 447-7716

Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center — counseling, advocacy, ED accompaniment.

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline

1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

24/7. Anonymous chat at rainn.org. Does not log IP addresses.