What is Sexological Bodywork?

Sexological Bodywork (and Somatic Sexology) is a body-based educational modality that supports individuals, couples, and groups to learn to direct their erotic development; to deepen their erotic wellbeing and embodiment; and to overcome sexual challenges and concerns.

Sexological Bodywork includes principles of Conscious Sensuality, supporting us to turn our focus inwards to the sensations we experience in our bodies, including information sourcing from our tissues, structures, trapped emotions and even the stories we hold in our nervous system which contribute to our habits and help shape how we experience ourselves and what is possible.

Certified Sexological Bodyworkers are trained in anatomy, physiology, the brain and nervous system. Sexological Bodyworkers are trained in different types of touch and identifying erotic energy, helping people to feel it and understand their arousal patterns. We support people to connect more with their body, to feel and integrate sensation.

Certified Sexological Bodyworkers can help clients address specific challenges and desires, including:

• Anal concerns.

• Body image, body dysphoria, body hatred.

• Diminished experience of desire and joy.

• Ejaculation control / choice (‘early/premature’ ejaculation)

• Erectile difficulty (erectile ‘dysfunction’).

• Hypersexuality & paraphilia.

• Increasing intimacy skills.

• Lack of access to pleasure.

• Lack of sensation.

• Low libido.

• Orgasm difficulty (‘Inorgasmia’).

• Painful sex.

• Pelvic tension.

• Pleasure anxiety (‘Erotophobia’).

• Scar tissue remediation.

• Substance abuse recovery (linked to sexuality).

• Vaginismus.

Certifed Sexological Bodyworkers use a client-centered approach to empower, educate, and bring attention to the felt experience through movement, breath, touch, sound, and placement of awareness. This approach facilitates the ability to change limiting habits, unwind and release what is no longer supportive, re-sensitise the body, and create a more expansive erotic state that integrates both body and mind.

Certified Sexological Bodyworkers support clients to explore arousal and embodied states of pleasure that are free of societal caveats and habitual sexual behaviors. In this state, an individual becomes aware of the body as a source of wisdom, freedom and belonging; a safe and inspiring ‘home’ within which it is possible to continually evolve and grow.

Unlike counselling, psychological therapy or sex therapy that have a cognitive approach, sexological bodywork is more practically focused and able to employ touch to demonstrate when required. Clients appreciate that there is no performance pressure, no agenda, and that they do not touch the Practitioner. Equally, Certified Sexological Bodyworkers employ a range of non-touch techniques and practices to support the client.

Sexological Bodyworkers are required to follow a strict Code of Ethics that ensures sessions are client-directed, that erotic touch is one-way (practitioner to client), that gloves are used for genital touch, and that practitioners remain clothed and maintain professional boundaries with clients.

Certified Sexological Bodyworkers believe that sexual health, erotic education, and pleasure are not only basic human rights, but basic human requirements for wellbeing.

Ty studied to become a Certified Sexological Bodyworker with the Institute of Somatic Sexology and is a Professional Member of the Association of Certified Sexological Bodyworkers