By ONIKA HENRY
A few months ago, I wrote about the critical role somatic sex education (SSE) plays in sexual healing, wholeness and wellness. Somatic sex educators teach through body-based experiences designed to nurture, deepen or awaken the sensual self. This kind of sex education goes beyond 'talk' and combines interpersonal neurobiology with anatomical knowledge, touch skills, and practices to empower choice and voice. The goal is to guide clients in using the most effective tools for liberating themselves from the ongoing effects of sexual trauma, neglect, limiting beliefs and sexual dysfunctions.
SSE vs other body-based healing modalities
SSE is not the first field to include body-based approaches in healing and therapeutic environments. Fields like bioenergetic analysis, body psychotherapy, somatic experiencing, sensorimotor psychotherapy, massage therapy, Hakomi, bodynamics and others have all placed particular attention on the body. However, what all of these modalities have in common is an avoidance of and lack of attention to sexuality and the genitals. Even professional massage therapy avoided the genital area. In this sense these, healing modalities have become disembodied.
Those of us in the somatic sexology field, often refer to these modalities as The Donut Therapy. This is a metaphor for these fields since their therapeutic approach has focused on everything else about a person but not their genitals. The genitals/sexuality/sensuality/desire are left invisible and unattended. Yet our genitals, sexuality, sensuality and desire are an essential part of our humanity. It is our life force energy. This is where SSE and sexological body work comes into the picture.
As somatic sex educators, we are bringing the whole body into the picture and we are including the genitals. In doing so, we can support people to engage in conversation that includes every aspect of themselves. Clients can feel that their sensations of pleasure and arousal are welcome. This sense of allowing deepens client's experiences of themselves. They can talk about their sensual and erotic experiences if they choose to.
Although SSE can include touch and touch of the genitals, that is not the goal. The intention is to support the unfolding and perhaps even the expansion of pleasure and sensation in the body that includes the genitals, desire and arousal in a non-shaming, non-judgemental and supportive way. When we are given safe enough space and permission to speak to our desires, sensations, and thoughts and feelings, an even deeper conversation can emerge. In this sense, treatment becomes more complete. Embodiment becomes possible.
SSE and trauma
SSE is grounded in the science of neuroplasticity and informed by polyvagal theory. The modality is trauma-informed, and able to embrace the incredible diversity of neurology, gender and gender expression, with awareness of the impact of the dominant or normative culture and privilege on people'
