Shame, Power, and Desire: A Trauma-Informed Look at Dominance & Submission

Shame, Power, and Desire: A Trauma-Informed Look at Dominance & Submission

From Untethering Shame by Kyira Wackett

May 24, 2026 · 49 min

About this episode

This episode features Mistress Mia discussing the therapeutic aspects of dominance and submission, and how it can aid in emotional healing and self-development.

Stop treating your burnout with toxic habits. Explore the unexpected safety of letting go of control. In this episode, we sit down with Mistress Mia, a therapeutic dominatrix who uses her practice for deep inner work and self-development. We break down the cultural taboos surrounding kink, clarifying that the Hollywood image of leather and whips only makes up a small fraction of her actual profession. Mia details how she helps high-achieving adults, trauma survivors, and people with ADHD break destructive patterns through extreme accountability. By entering into a "sacred power exchange", individuals can release the heavy burden of constant decision-making and find freedom in a completely non-judgmental space. We discuss the psychology behind the Gateway Theory of pain, exploring how a calculated, safe dose of physical pain can successfully silence chronic psychological distress and overactive thoughts. Mia also outlines her strict safety rules, including her hard boundary against heavy play for anyone under the age of 26 to protect brain development. In this episode, we cover: Why the traditional understanding of a dominatrix is mostly a misconception. How taking away the need…

People in this episode

Host: Kyira Wackett

Guest: Mistress Mia

Topics covered

  • dominance and submission
  • kink
  • trauma-informed care
  • emotional healing
  • accountability
  • psychology of pain

Keywords

  • burnout
  • control
  • sacred power exchange
  • Gateway Theory
  • chronic psychological distress
  • emotional aches
  • high-achieving adults
  • trauma survivors
  • ADHD

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