The Association of Somatic and Integrative Sexologists
(ASIS)
ASIS Ethical Codes of Practice
1. Professionalism and Reliability
Member-Practitioners will be professional in attitude and conduct, responsible in relations
with Clients and colleagues, reliable in agreements and timely in appointment schedules.
2. Commitment to the Ethical Codes
Member-Practitioners agree that they have read and understood the provisions of the
ASIS Ethical Code. They represent the minimum standards to which Member-Practitioners
aspire and will abide to the best of their ability. Further, Member-Practitioners agree to be
held accountable to their colleagues for any actions that deviate from its standards.
3. Consent
Member-Practitioners recognise the importance of consent and choice in all professional
interactions with Clients. Member-Practitioners will strive to provide a range of options
from which the Client can actively elect that which will serve their own growth. At no time
shall a Client be required or coerced to participate in any activity, event or exercise.
Member-Practitioners inform and educate their Clients about consent and choice and
actively create learning environments where Clients are empowered to exercise those
skills.
4. Touch in Practice
Member-Practitioners may use physical touch if they deem it appropriate. If they do so,
they touch consciously and with the attitude to do no harm, with concern for the Client’s
growth; for the safety of both/all parties; and to honour the agreed boundaries established.
Member-Practitioners agree to co-create clear agreements with Clients before engaging in
practices involving touch. ASIS recommends the use of written intake forms where consent
is given in writing as best practice
5. Altered States of Consciousness
Member-Practitioners recognise that their work can result in altered states of
consciousness in Clients, agree to be mindful of this possibility during sessions, and offer
advice for Client self-care if appropriate. Member-Practitioners understand that an altered
state of consciousness can impact a Client’s capacity to give informed consent (see also
point 3: Consent).
6. Maintaining Boundaries in Professional Relationships
Regarding Sexual Contact and / or Conduct with Clients:
6 a. Sessions are Client-centred, and Clients’ boundaries are of primary importance
6 b. Member-Practitioners recognise the importance of maintaining and respecting agreed boundaries. Boundaries are to be discussed, agreed and set at the
beginning of each session; including the stipulation that boundaries may not be
renegotiated or changed during that session. Maintaining the agreed boundaries
also includes stopping touch whenever Clients request it
6 c. Member-Practitioners understand the inherent inequality of power they hold
relative to Clients in their role of practitioner/teacher and agree not to use this
power for the sexual exploitation of Clients
6 d. Member-Practitioners agree that they will not seek to meet their erotic
appetites through their Clients. Member-Practitioners are conscious that, and make
Clients aware that, sessions will neither fulfil the Member-Practitioner’s, nor their
Client’s desire for romantic and sexual connection
6 e. If attraction occurs within the professional relationship (either from Client
towards Member-Practitioner or from Member-Practitioner towards Client),
Member-Practitioners agree to discuss this at professional supervision with the aim
of maintaining clear professional boundaries and protecting the Client’s ability to
access the work. This may mean terminating the work and making an appropriate
referral
6 f. Member-Practitioners agree not to begin a romantic-sexual relationship with
any Client for a minimum of 6-12 months after any professional services have
terminated. The length of time is to be considered, relative to the duration and
nature of the services that have been provided. In addition, the impact on the client,
the vulnerabilities and client’s original intentions/issues must be considered. If a
situation like this occurs, Member-Practitioners are expected to discuss the case
with their Supervisor and come to an agreement about appropriate conduct before
taking any action.
This includes:
persons from previous sexual relationships who wish to now engage the
Member-Practitioner in professional services
workshop participants; except where there is a pre-existing romantic or sexual
relationship, or a professional peer-level relationship, between the MemberPractitioner and workshop participant
6 g. This clause, 6g., applies only to Member-Practitioners and sessions in Certified
Sexological Bodywork® (CSB); Certified Somatic Sex Education (CSSE); Certified
SOMA Intimacy® (CSI); Psychosexual Somatics Therapy (PSST): and
Transformational Tantra Massage (TTM).
In these sessions, the Member-Practitioner remains clothed. Touch is generally
one-way, Member-Practitioner to Client. In some circumstances, two-way touch may
be appropriate, for example, when exploring Wheel of Consent®
practices,
emotional regulation, exploring boundaries or teaching ways to touch, the MemberPractitioner and client might engage in exercises that include non-erotic two-way
touch. ‘Non-erotic two-way touch’ in this context means it does not involve genital
touch nor touch with the specific intention to create arousal.
As the scope of CSB/SSE, CSI, PSST and TTM sessions does not include
surrogate partner work, if Clients wish to learn genital touch or interpersonal sexual
skills, an additional practice partner will be required.
When appropriate and available, Member-Practitioners may also work in a triadic
model with a Client and a sexual surrogate whose scope of practice does include
working in a sexually interactive capacity (usually including the goal of penetrative
sexual intercourse) with their Clients.
7. Health, Safety and Hygiene Protocols
Member-Practitioners acknowledge the importance of physical, in addition to emotional,
mental, spiritual and sexual well-being. To protect the health of both Client and Member-Practitioner, Member-Practitioners recognise the need for risk-reduction and professional
protocol in all individual and group sessions. Member-Practitioners take steps to minimise
any harm, in active collaboration with all Clients. It is the responsibility of the MemberPractitioner to ensure adequate precautionary measures against the transmission of
communicable diseases and infections have been taken and to ensure that the Client has
taken similar precautions.
Professional protocols for intimate touch include:
7 a. The use of medical-grade examination gloves and quality lubricants
7 b. If the Member-Practitioner has any break in the skin of their hand (abrasions,
infection, rash, cut etc.), it is highly recommended it be covered by gloves or a
plaster for the Member-Practitioner’s and Client’s protection
7 c. All group classes shall include education about group hygiene protocol, with
sufficient facilities/supplies provided to Clients to maintain appropriate hygiene
7 d. Sexual surrogates (Band 3 insurance) are required to have sexual health
screenings every three to six months, must keep evidence of their sexual health
screening tests and must make them available to ASIS upon request
7 e. It is recommended that Member-Practitioners maintain a current first aid
qualification
8. Supervision and Continuing Professional Development
Professional Member-Practitioners are required to have regular supervision as a routine
part of their practice to maintain their ability to serve clients ethically and effectively. This
can be peer/group supervision and/or expert supervision/mentoring or, optimally, both.
Member-Practitioners agree to request supervision and guidance when experiencing
ambiguity or difficulty with interpretation of what constitutes ethical behaviour. MemberPractitioners commit to their own self-care, personal growth, and continuing professional
development (CPD).
9. Use of Mind-Altering Substances
Member-Practitioners will refrain from providing any professional services while either the
Member-Practitioner or the Client is under the influence of alcohol or drugs,
entheogenic/psychedelic therapy excepted (see also point 10: Competence and
Referrals).
10. Competence and Referrals
Member-Practitioners are honest and accurate in all representations of their training,
qualifications, competence and experience including being transparent about costs,
session rates, and any additional fees. Member-Practitioners will consider the limits of their
skills and experience before accepting requests for or providing educational or
instructional services to potential Clients and will refuse professional work for which they
are insufficiently qualified and may recommend another modality or practitioner. It is
recommended that Member-Practitioners who have competency in different modalities
distinguish between these modalities in their agreements with Clients.
11. Dual Roles
Member-Practitioners recognise the potential complexity of dual roles/multiple
relationships which occur when they have more than one role with a Client.
Examples of dual roles include (but are not limited to):
a Member-Practitioner engages in a different business activity with a Client
a Member-Practitioner encounters a Client in a public environment
a Member-Practitioner is present at workshop, event or play party where a Client is
also present
Where there is a possibility of a Member-Practitioner meeting a Client outside of their role
as a Somatic Sexologist, Member-Practitioners take responsibility for raising this with
Clients, discuss what meeting in different spaces might mean for both parties, how this
could influence the Member-Practitioner-Client relationship, and assess whether an
ethical professional relationship is possible. In dual role situations, Member-Practitioners
recognise that training and supervision are important to better understand the complexity
of dual roles and how to handle them with Clients.
12. Termination of Services
Member-Practitioners will terminate professional relationships with Clients when such
services are no longer required or no longer serve the needs and interests of the Clients.
Member-Practitioners may unilaterally terminate services, on just and reasonable grounds
after careful consideration of all situational factors and any possible adverse effects.
Member-Practitioners are responsible for making appropriate referrals and to provide
support to Clients during such transitions.
13. Assessment of Suitability
Member-Practitioners will assess whether Somatic Sexology is appropriate based on a
potential Client’s physical and mental capacity. This assessment to include whether the
Client needs are within the Member-Practitioner’s scope of practice and offer
recommendations for additional support or referral to alternative professionals.
14. Avoidance of Exploitation
Member-Practitioners will refrain from the exploitation of professional relationships with
Clients (whether current or past) for personal gain, whether financial, professional,
emotional, sexual, or for research purposes.
15. Client Confidentiality
Member-Practitioners will respect, defend, and preserve the privacy of all information
gained from Clients. Member-Practitioner will preserve the anonymity of Clients when
using information for purposes of teaching, research, and supervision.
Member-Practitioners will maintain professional boundaries in all public and social media
interactions. They will avoid discussing client cases publicly, unless agreed otherwise.
Client information will be stored in a secure and confidential manner and in accordance
with local privacy laws such as GDPR.
16. Professional Representation
Member-Practitioners are co-creating the profession and reputation of Somatic Sexology,
which intends to fill the public need for accurate information and embodied learning
opportunities. Any public representation by a Member-Practitioner of the profession shall
be respectful, in integrity with these Codes and shall have the intention of furthering the
profession.
17. Ethical Concerns
Member-Practitioners may directly contact, in a constructive and positive manner, any
ASIS Member-Practitioner about whom they have ethical concerns. Alternatively, or
additionally Member-Practitioners may contact the ASIS board regarding their concerns.
18. Investigations
Member-Practitioners will aid ASIS in upholding this Code and co-operate fully with any
investigation of possible violations.
19. Non-Solicitation of Clients
Member-Practitioners will refrain from solicitation of colleagues’ Clients.
20. Communication with other Professionals
Member-Practitioners will encourage appropriate communication between Clients and their
current or recent therapists and other professionals where appropriate.
21. Termination of ASIS Membership
If a Member-Practitioner chooses to cancel association with ASIS and free themselves
from any provision of the ASIS Ethical Code, they agree to provide immediate written
notification to ASIS.
22. Conflict Resolution
Should conflict arise amongst ASIS Member-Practitioners, whether as part of a training
session or within a personal context, the parties agree to seek resolution to their conflict,
including but not limited to mediation, in such a way as the conflict and the resolution
thereof does not adversely affect Clients or the profession.
23. Use of ASIS Logo
Member-Practitioners are permitted to show the official ASIS logo as provided by ASIS to
promote their individual practice (for example on their website or headed stationery) as
long as their membership remains up to date.
Association of Somatic and Integrative Sexologists Ltd. Company number 08706373
Code of Ethics 1st January 2025 http://www.the-asis.org/ethics