Depending on the type of Body De-Armoring modality, both physical and emotional intimacy aspects will, can, or may come into play. In such cases, appropriate management of ethical issues and moral values is a requisite when facilitating De-Armoring work.
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De-Armoring is a kind of Somatic Therapy, and in most types of De-Armoring intentionally touching the client or patient is an integral and essential part of the sessions, and touch, massage, or other bodywork comes with the sort of touch that requires closeness, togetherness, trust, and confidence. It involves a kind of touch that is supposed to be gentle, kind, supportive, loving, nurturing, and healing.
In order to help and heal people, it’s important to understand the reasons why they seek treatment. There are a variety of motives, and one of those is the fact that many people just miss to be touched physically — fully and wholly. Some people haven’t been touched kindly or closely for many, many years, and let’s not forget that loving, compassionate, and caring touch can work miracles.
De-Armoring therapists and practitioners need to deal with this type of demand and act carefully, responsibly, sensibly and with integrity when giving sessions. The last thing any client needs is to experience a feeling of abuse. On the contrary, the person needs to feel a safe and trusting space being able to open-up, relax, and genuinely let go of stress, tensions, and trauma.
In addition, it’s advised to ask beforehand if a client has no objections to touching, massaging, or otherwise working with the belly or buttocks, for instance. For therapists this may not seem very “intrusive” and just a normal part of a session, but for a number of clients this may be experienced as quite intimate.
Another issue is that some clients may feel ashamed of their bodies or of certain parts of their bodies. They may have an erroneous idea about the “ugliness” of their bodies or specific body parts, or they may have actual malformations or illnesses. The therapist needs to show respect for this kind of feelings, but at the same time nurture the proper environment for clients.
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Emotional and trauma release is an important part (or even the explicit goal) of De-Armoring sessions, and therefore aspects of confidentiality, privacy, and trust apply here, and what comes up, is said, done, or talked about should stay within the boundaries of the session.
In fact, De-Armoring professionals are often pushed in the role of coach or counselor and — except when they are actually licensed psychologists or trauma specialists — they need to be careful with this, and be aware of where the limits and limitations are with regard to giving psychological advice or guidelines.
Notably in Sexual De-Armoring and Genital De-Armoring treatments, the therapist may (and probably needs to) touch and manipulate the private parts. It goes perhaps without saying that it’s of absolute necessity to have clarity beforehand about the aim of a session, about aspects of mutual consent, and the boundaries for both the client and practitioner.
On the other hand, the client also needs to have the space to a guilt-free experience of natural appearing feelings of arousal or even a sexual orgasm, without getting the feeling that it’s something wrong or to be ashamed of.
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