UNLEASHED is guided by lived experience, not theory

Dr. K (she/her) is a trauma-informed psychotherapist who works with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, with a focus on communities of color. She values therapy as a collaborative, relational process and strives to create a compassionate space where clients can explore vulnerability while recognizing their strengths. As a first-generation Indian-American woman, Dr. K brings a culturally responsive lens to her work and has a particular interest in supporting South Asian individuals navigating depression, anxiety, trauma, marginalization, and intergenerational stress.

Nicole Sonnefeldt (she/her) is an alternative relationship coach & consultant & the founder of Freeform Coaching: Relationship Coaching for Conscious Non-Monogamy. A former trauma & couple's therapist with a Master's in Counseling Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, she brings her experience and training in the psychology & physiology of trauma with her to UNLEASHED, along with her pleasure-positive, poly & kink-affirming stance as an alternative relationship coach. She assisted in curating the experiences and workshops at UNLEASHED with this background and knowledge, and looks forward to utilizing these skills to help create a trauma-informed, safe container for exploration and play for all presenters & attendees.

Albe Gutierrez (she/her/ella), Ms. Albe, is a bilingual psychotherapist and art therapist at Chicago Therapy Collective with over a decade of clinical experience within hospitals, community organizations and substance use treatment centers and a decade more of teaching experience as a fine arts, movement and burlesque instructor. She maintains a focus on LGBTQ+ community needs and resourcing, particularly for other trans women of color by providing therapy, surgical readiness letter writing, and arts activism.

Dr. Kres Ashford, PsyD, LCPC, CST (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist, certified sex therapist, and relational wellness expert specializing in intimacy, attachment, and mind–body healing. She is the Founder and Clinical Director of Mind Body Intimacy Studio, a private practice devoted to helping individuals and couples build secure connection, embodied intimacy, and sustainable relational wellness through an integrative, trauma-aware lens. In addition to her private practice, Dr. Ashford serves as Associate Director of Sex & Relationship Programming at Practical Audacity, where she provides clinical leadership, program development, supervision, and curriculum design for innovative, relationship-centered mental-health initiatives. In this role, she supports both clinicians and clients in bridging therapeutic insight with real-world relational change.

Josephine Lauer (she/her) is an Embodiment Guide, trauma-informed Somatic Intimacy Coach, Tantric Practitioner and Food Systems Consultant. She curates bold, brave, safe and sacred spaces for humans to explore their fullest, most authentic expressions, in order to achieve a more embodied existence via the harmonization of the mental, physical and emotional body. She is the founder of CUR8Chicago, a boutique consulting firm for embodied leaders, and Temple of Loha, an esoteric arts production house. Josephine resides in Chicago, IL, is a Mother of 3 sons and travels often. Her podcast, Universal Intimacy, explores connections with the self, others, nature, and the cosmos via the intersection of Science, Spirituality and Sexuality.

Lady Sophia (she/her) is a globally recognized professional dominatrix of 17 years, sex educator and kink lecturer, and the owner of Chicago Dungeon Rentals. She works with men, women, non-binary people, and couples in BDSM sessions designed to support exploration through trust, communication, and skilled, intentional play. Grounded in her Master of Social Work from the University of Chicago, her approach is risk-aware, consent-forward, and trauma-informed. Her expertise and years of experience have led her being featured on Showtime and Netflix, kink consulting roles on film projects, and guest lectures at Northwestern and other universities. She has also advocated for sex workers' rights in Washington, DC, and is internationally recognized for the quality of her client work.