Della Dane is one of the hottest new adult entertainers on the scene, and comes from a unique background of sex therapy.  With degrees in English and Couples & Family Therapy, Della was a practicing therapist when she made the career move to the porn industry.

We were honoured and excited to have the opportunity to pick her brain on the transition from sex therapist to porn star, how her experiences influence her work, and how the move has been perceived by fellow therapists.  She even had advice for readers also considering the move to the adult film industry!

What encouraged you to make the career move from a sex therapist to an adult entertainer?

I had been doing sex work (stripping, camming, et cetera) for a while to supplement my income and I realized that I wasn’t passionate about being a therapist any longer. I had considered doing adult film work for a long time, but I knew that it was an irrevocable decision. I was hesitant to take that leap. Through stripping in L.A. I crossed paths with some adult film performers, and it just seemed like the right time for me. I made a very conscious decision, and I’m glad I did!

What has the transition been like?



I’ll be honest, it’s been challenging at times, but I’m a very free-spirited and independent person, so the freedom that adult work has offered me is very liberating. It certainly causes some anxiety at times, not knowing when the next booking will be, but it’s also been a long time since I’ve had a steady/guaranteed paycheck. I’ve learned to be a hustler and make my money in a variety of ways, not just on set, but by selling my own videos and getting paid followers on other sites.

During your therapist days, you also danced at a well-known topless bar. What similarities have you found between doing porn and stripping?



There’s the aspect of performance in both porn and stripping that I really love. I’ve been a performer (singing, acting, dancing) my whole life, and it really allows me to indulge that part of myself. Of course, there is also the fantasy element that is inherent in both professions – whether that is for one song for a lap dance or for half an hour on camera.

What do you love most about working in the adult industry?

The freedom to be uninhibited! I’m also grateful for the community that I’ve built for myself.

You’re still relatively new to the industry, but in what ways has being a porn star empowered you?

I grew up in a very sex-negative environment, where shame and secrecy were associated with sexuality in all forms. Throughout my personal journey and sexual discoveries over the years, I have been able to break that for myself. Being in the adult industry feels like a full embodiment of all that work and allows me to express myself without fear of judgment or shame.

How does your education and experiences as a sex therapist influence your work as
a performer?

I feel that every experience I have had up to this point, whether that is education, professional, or relationships have influenced my work as a performer. I don’t necessarily feel there is a direct correlation, but certainly, I try to learn from all my experiences and integrate them into my own self-awareness and insight into who I am as a sexual being. The one direct influence I feel has been my work with the LGBTQ+ community when I was a sex therapist and how much I have learned about sexual fluidity, gender fluidity, and how I can honor each person’s experience as well as be a voice for those who may be marginalized or discriminated against.

Have you gotten any feedback from other sex therapists or industry workers about your transition to the adult industry?

I actually ran into a couple of therapists I knew here in L.A. at an industry event earlier this year and they both were very supportive as well as being excited for me. I am grateful to have connected with a very sex-positive, sex-worker positive community here, and I hope that I can continue to be a voice for sex positivity in this new role.

What’s the one most important piece of advice you’d give to someone interested in getting into the porn industry?

Be very sure that this is what you want to do. This is the internet age, and what you put out there will never disappear. Unfortunately, our culture is still very sex-negative and the work that you do as sex workers impacts you for the rest of your life. Think long and hard about how this might impact your future and if you feel hesitant, start with camming or stripping first to see how it feels.

Do you see yourself going back to being a therapist in the future? And if so, how would you use your experiences from the adult industry to inform your therapy practice?

Possibly, but for now, I would like to stay in the adult industry for the foreseeable future, even if that is not in a performer role. If I did return to working as a therapist, I certainly would choose to be transparent with my clients about my past and would probably choose to focus on working with sex workers and other marginalized/judged populations.

Do you have any upcoming projects we can look forward to?



I have my first box cover coming out on March 5th, which also features my first gang-bang! It’s called Interracial Playground and is produced and directed by Savana Styles.