Certified Sexological Bodyworkers (CSBs) are somatic sex educators (‘somatic’ meaning ‘of the body’ or ‘the body as experienced from within’) who support individuals, couples and groups to learn to direct their own erotic development, learn about their bodies, sex and sexuality, and work through sexual issues or concerns. Their work is founded on the belief that sexual health and erotic education are basic human rights.
CSBs use a variety of instructive modalities in their work with ‘students’ including: body focusing, breath-work, touch, Taoist bodywork, pelvic release bodywork, scar tissue remediation, anal and genital mapping, Orgasmic Yoga coaching and mindful masturbation coaching. Although CSBs use touch as one of their modalities, the primary focus is on educating students about their own bodies.
In the course of working with students, CSBs aim to introduce people to a state of arousal that is free from fantasy, unfinished emotional business, religious dogma, cultural caveats and habitual sexual behaviours. In this meditative state, an individual is able to become aware of the body as a source of wisdom and freedom.
Sexological Bodywork involves one-way touch, practitioner to client. CSBs always practise clothed and use gloves for genital touch.
The profession began in California in 2003. CSBs are trained sexologists whose certification there is approved by the State of California. Sexological Bodywork is a legal profession in many countries and they are working towards legality in other countries.
Since CSBs have observed that the most profound sex education happens when their students are fully engaged in the learning process, Sexological Bodyworkers act as resources more than teachers for motivated individuals who wish to explore what is erotically possible. Many sexological bodyworkers specialise in guiding individuals, couples and groups into the mystical and shamanic aspects of human sexuality. Although they come from many spiritual and religious traditions, they all acknowledge the spiritual dimensions of sexuality. CSBs also offer assistance to adult individuals who have experienced inadequate sexual education and instruction in self-care from family, religion, school, birth and health care professionals. Some people seek out CSBs because sexual shame has damaged their self-image, interfered with relationships, or even thwarted their ability to love. CSBs consider pleasure a powerful and valuable form of education.
All CSBs have been awarded the Certificate in Sexological Bodywork by a recognised training provider. Providers include: the Institute of Somatic Sexology, Australia, the Institute for Advance Study of Human Sexuality, California, and the International Institute for Sexological Bodywork, Switzerland. There is also a second-level qualification called the Certificate in Somatic Sex Education (CSSE). All practitioners advertised on this site have been certified by a recognised training provider.
You can find out more about Sexological Bodywork in the UK click here http://sexologicalbodywork.co.uk/
UK Certified Sexological Bodyworkers abide by the Code of Ethics of the Somatic Sex Educators’ Association of Australasia (SSEAA).
Sexological Bodywork is a unique form of somatic sex education utilizing a set of principles and the integration of body, mind, and spirit in its application. CSBs may perform in various roles such as teacher, trainer, coach, assistant, organiser, consultant, and supervisor. They work with a common goal of providing education and improving the quality of life for an individual and the world. The Sexological Bodyworker Ethics Code provides a common set of values upon which CSBs continually build their professional work.
This code is intended to provide both the general principles and the rules covering most situations encountered by CSBs. It has as its primary goal the welfare and respect of the individuals and groups with whom CSBs work. It is the individual responsibility of each Sexological Bodyworker to aspire to the highest possible standards of conduct. CSBs respect and value human, civil and sexual rights, and do not knowingly participate in or condone unfair discriminatory practices.
The development of a dynamic set of ethical standards for CSBs work-related conduct requires a personal commitment to a lifelong effort to act ethically; to encourage ethical behaviour by students, supervisors, supervisees, employees, and colleagues, as appropriate; and to consult with others as needed concerning ethical problems. Each Sexological Bodyworker supplements, but does not violate, the Ethics Code’s values and rules on the basis of guidance drawn from personal values, culture, context, and experience.
Duties and Obligations Towards Our Clients and Students
1. CSBs will be professional in attitude and conduct, responsible in relations with clients and students, reliable in agreements and timely in appointment schedules.
2. CSBs recognize the importance of consent and choice in all somatic sex education with groups and individuals. CSBs will strive to provide a range of options from which the student can actively elect that which will serve their own education. At no time shall a client or student be required or coerced to participate in any activity, event or exercise. CSBs include education about consent and choice and actively create learning environments where students are empowered to exercise these skills.
3. CSBs will introduce prospective students to the techniques of somatic sex education, including the use of touch so potential clients and students can make informed decisions about entering into educational sessions. CSBs agree to obtain verbal consent from students before engaging in any form of bodywork.
4. CSBs may use physical touch in an educational context. If they do so, they touch consciously and with the intention of serving the well-being of the client or student within the parameters of pre-established agreements. CSBs agree to obtain students’ consent and to act with concern for their safety, growth, and awareness of boundaries.
5. Regarding Sexual Contact and / or Conduct with Students
a. We acknowledge the importance of maintaining the agreed boundaries. Boundaries are agreed at the beginning of the session and will not be expanded in that session. This also includes pausing or stopping touch when our students request it.
b. CSBs understand the inherent power we hold in our role of teacher and will not use this power for sexual exploitation of our students.
c. We are conscious that and make our students conscious that Sexological Bodywork sessions will neither fulfil the CSBs, nor their student’s desire for sexual connection. When attraction occurs within the professional relationship (either CSB towards student, or student towards CSB) we agree to discuss the attraction at professional supervision with the aim of maintaining clear professional boundaries and protecting the client’s ability to access the work.
d. In individual sessions we remain clothed when touching our students and erotic touch is unidirectional, practitioner to student. We request that our students bring their partners when they wish to learn interpersonal erotic skills or invite them to share and learn with other students when appropriate.
e. CSBs agree not to begin any other form of sexual contact with our students for a minimum of one year after Sexological Bodywork sessions have terminated.
6. CSBs acknowledge the importance of the well-being of the whole person, including all aspects of mind, body and spirit. To protect the health of both student and professional, CSBs recognize the need for risk-reduction and professional protocol in all individual and group somatic sex education. CSBs take steps to minimize any physical or emotional harm, in active collaboration with all students. Professional protocol includes the use of medical-grade examination gloves and quality lubricants. All group classes shall include education about group hygiene protocol, with sufficient facilities / supplies provided to students to maintain appropriate hygiene.
7. CSBs will refrain from providing bodywork, training sessions and / or presenting any instructional material while either the Sexological Bodyworker or the client / student is under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.
8. A CSB will consider the limits of their skills and experience before accepting requests for or providing educational or instructional services to potential students. Further, a CSB will refuse professional work for which they are insufficiently prepared.
9. CSBs are encouraged to seek the advice of colleagues or supervisors as a routine part of their practice or training. In general, this will happen at least monthly. In consultations, confidential information that reasonably could lead to the identification of the student is not shared without prior written consent of the client or student.
10. CSBs will terminate professional services to and relationships with students when such services are no longer required or no longer serve the needs and interests of the students.
11. CSBs may unilaterally terminate services, on just and reasonable grounds after careful consideration of all situational factors and any possible adverse effects. CSBs are responsible to make appropriate referrals and to provide support to students during this transition.
12. CSBs will refrain from the exploitation of professional relationships with our students for personal gain, whether financial, professional, or for research purposes. Duties and Obligations Regarding the Preservation of Confidentiality
13. CSBs will respect, defend, and preserve the privacy of all information gained during instructional sessions.
14. CSBs will release professional obligations for confidentiality only by written authorization from their students, statutory requirement or court order; a general, nonspecific, or verbal authorization is not sufficient.
15. CSBs will preserve the anonymity of students when using information for purposes of teaching, research, and supervision.
16. CSBs will require all persons attending classes or private tutoring sessions reach written or spoken agreement that respects and maintains the confidentiality of information shared during such sessions.
17. CSBs will maintain appropriate professional records of all Sexological Bodywork classes and sessions to maintain continuous care.
18. CSBs will obtain informed, written permission from students before taping or filming-any session, explaining the intended use of the tape or video and the limits of confidentiality. Duties and Obligations Towards the Profession
19. CSBs are co-creating the profession of somatic sex education, which intends to fill the public need for accurate information and embodied learning opportunities. Any public representation by a CSB of the Sexological Bodywork profession shall be respectful, in integrity with this Code and shall have the intention of furthering the profession.
20. CSBs will represent with honesty and accuracy the scope of their training, qualifications, and experience with Sexological Bodywork in all spoken or written forms.
21. CSBs will monitor all oral and written statements used in the advertisement, description, or explanation of services and the principles of Sexological Bodywork, determining that those statements will not:
a. create unjustified expectations regarding outcomes or benefits;
b. make false claims about level of competence, training, or certification;
c. state or imply superiority to other methods or educational opportunities;
d. state or imply superiority to other Sexological Bodywork practitioners.
e. suggest that we diagnose, treat or prevent any medical or psychological condition.
22. CSBs will not represent other modalities as Sexological Bodywork, and will distinguish between Sexological Bodywork and other professional services they may offer.
23. CSBs will understand and practice Sexological Bodywork within the spirit of the principles and letter of this Code. CSBs further agree to request supervision and guidance when experiencing ambiguity or difficulty with interpretation of what constitutes ethical behaviour.
24. CSBs may directly contact in a constructive and positive manner, any CSB community member about whom the Sexological Bodyworker has ethical concerns. Alternately or additionally CSBs may contact the SSEAA representative regarding their concerns.
25. CSBs will aid the SSEAA in upholding this Code and co-operate fully with an investigation of possible violations. Duties and Obligations to Colleagues
26. CSBs will refrain from solicitation of colleagues’ clients and students.
27. CSBs will encourage appropriate communication between students and their current or recent therapists.
28. Should conflict arise amongst CSB colleagues, 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 students or the educational setting.
CSBs agree that they have read and understood the provisions of this Code. They represent the standards to which CSBs aspire and will abide to the best of their ability. Further, CSBs agree to be held accountable to their colleagues for any actions that deviate from its standards.
