What is somatic sex education? How about sexological bodywork? These experiential modalities are ground-breaking in the field of sex therapy & Intimacy coaching and can provide profound sexual healing and practical applicable education. Learn more about what this type of therapy entails and whether it might be right for you.
What It Is
Sexological bodywork (SBW) is a practice that sits under the umbrella of somatic sex education. “Somatic” means pertaining to the body, especially as distinct from the mind. Basically, its aim is helping people “get out of their heads” and into their sensate bodies! Sex incorporates body, mind, and spirit; and SBW in a hands-on practice to help integrate the three in a safe, consensual and therapeutic way. It is sometimes described as a combination of massage (pleasure-based) and physical therapy (clinically based).
What sets this work apart from other somatic therapies is that it can include certified one-way conscious sensual/sexual touch, from the practitioner to the client (not the other way around and there is no mutual touch).
How it Works
In SBW, the intention is for you to connect with yourself and your experience of pleasure through different physical sensations. A session might include breathwork, movement, guided visualization, one-way touch (practitioner to client), and verbal feedback. Increasing your awareness of what feels good to you in the present moment and practicing asking for what you want to experience. SBW offers a professional, trauma-informed space to help clients learn about embodied sexuality and pleasure in a safe space.
A common challenge in creating connected sexual experiences is getting out of our heads and letting our bodies do what feels good and natural to do. This unique work can be profoundly helpful for people with trauma, helping to gently support and guide people safely back to pleasure and self-love.
If you would like a general overview of what this kind of therapy can look like, check out “Sex, Love, and Goop on Netflix Season 1, episode 4 provides an exceptional example of what one-way touch, consent, and verbal feedback looks like. It also follows up with the client and shows how the therapy impacts the client’s relationship to herself and her partner.
Ethics
Sexological bodyworkers are trained and certified sexologists who practice within a specific code of values and ethics that can be found here. It’s a common set of values for all certified sexological bodyworkers to abide by. If you’re considering SBW, it will help you understand what to expect and which questions you may want to ask in determining your therapeutic goals. Your therapy takes place within the clear and ethical boundaries of SBW which the practitioner will explain to you. It’s important that clients are well informed about what SBW does and does not include and understand that SBW is not sex work, it’s an educational somatic therapeutic modality.
SBW certification is currently only available in California and internationally.
How I use it
As a certified trauma-informed sex coach, sexological bodywork is one of the modalities that I may include in conjunction with sex coaching. It can be deeply transformative and healing in supporting adults with minimal sex education, sexual trauma, physical sexual challenges, performance anxiety, sexual shame, or negative self- or body-image. Initial sessions may center around consent, communication and boundaries in order to create a safe container for comfort, receiving touch, education, and growth.
There are times when having a more experiential, real-time approach can be more helpful for a client than simply talking about their issues. Because this modality is hands-on, it can often be a more direct form of support and allows me to witness how someone’s body is responding to sensation and touch as well as evaluate their emotional responses.
SBW might be suggested in conjunction with sex coaching when a client:
- Is struggling with their responses to touch
- Is experiencing challenges with a body that has changed
- Has physiological responses to trauma
- Is still learning about their own capacity for pleasure
- Is struggling with body dysmorphia
- Is experiencing early or delayed ejaculation ( ED)
- Has limited sexual experience
SW will help evaluate how a client responds to touch, but also assesses arousal regulation which is very helpful in working with erectile dysfunction/disappointment, premature ejaculation, or difficulty with orgasm.
As with surrogate partner therapy or acupuncture for sexual health, sexological bodywork is not recommended for all clients yet can be a very useful adjunct to sex coaching.
Get in touch and we can determine together whether Certified Sexological Bodywork may be of help to you on your journey towards sexual health and embodiment.