Somatic Sex Education (SSE) as a professional treatment modality is built upon Sexological Bodywork (SB). Those who are certified in SSE are automatically certified Sexological Bodyworkers. By contrast, Sexological Bodyworkers are not automatically certified Somatic Sex Educators.
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In fact, one could say that SSE is an evolutionary development of SB, in which SB is a set of practical tools used in SSE, while SSE offers a broader scientific, theoretical, and practical framework for Somatic Sex Coaching, and additional toolsets to work with clients.
SSE is about understanding our bodies, sexuality, pleasure, and erotic capacities combining a scientific understanding of human sexuality together with spiritual practices of erotic energy cultivation while using elements of neurobiology, neuroplasticity, and polyvagal theory.
SSE also explicitly works and respects the whole gender spectrum, all sexual orientations and all types of bodies, which makes it one of the somatic therapies of choice for individuals who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community.
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Practically, SSE works as a Trauma-Informed treatment modality using an informed consent model that aims at supporting liberation in individuals from the ongoing effects of sexual oppression, repression, suppression, (sexual) trauma, neglect, limiting beliefs and dysfunctions. It also supports practices to empower expression of choice and voice, and the means and techniques to reclaiming one’s body, pleasure, and happiness.
SSE also believes that trauma is stored in the body, which is an alignment with the Body Armoring theories and practice of the psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich. It also means that to heal the body and again experience pleasure, it’s needed to work with the body, hence the somatic approach.
Some examples of the domains SSE works with are:
- discovery of the erotic self;
- somatic awareness;
- experiencing and expanding pleasure;
- connecting to your body in positive ways;
- genital anatomy;
- navigating challenges or desires around relationships, sex, intimacy, desire, orgasm, and / or pleasure;
- (re)discovering and (re)connecting with pleasure and sexuality with a disability, after surgery, injury, or illness, or with changes in an aging body;
- exploring new ways of interacting with your physical genitals, energetic genitals, anus, detatchables, and/or sex toys;
- vaginismus;
- sexual arousal and desire disorders;
- erectile dysfunction and premature/ delayed/ unintentional ejaculation;
- difficulty staying present during sexual engagement;
- difficulty with orgasms;
- sexual shame, fear, and wounding;
- healing from sexual and/or emotional trauma;
- genito-pelvic injuries and pain;
- scar tissue remediation;
- masturbation coaching;
- establishing, communicating and negotiating boundaries;
- gender exploration and gender affirmation;
- top surgery and bottom surgery issues;
- compulsive sexual behaviors;
- exploration of the intersection of sex and spirit.
