Somatic-Concentric Sex Therapy Training

Ready to learn Somatic Sex Therapy?

Somatic-Concentric Sex Therapy Training
for Counseling Students and Professionals

*This training has been approved for 20 AASECT CE's!

Generally, learning about sex/ual/ity and its integral importance in intimate relationship is not a part of general counseling or even couples therapy curriculum. As a result, many therapists risk perpetuating misinformation in their clinical work, missing the opportunity to provide a safe-enough, curious, and holistically informed space to rewire their relationship with sexuality toward a more life-affirming and securely attached dynamic.

This model offers an inclusive and trauma-informed model to guide you in working with clients sexual issues with a method that integrates the body, the mind, the social self, and emotional attachment styles. With the foundation of Sex Therapy with Somatic Psychotherapy and Dance/Movement Therapy, this method engages the many layers of the somatic and social self to uncover the shame and misinformation that creates wounds, stalling mind-body integration so that you can support them in total body connectivity and a securely attached relationship with their sex/ual/ity.

This learning experience is strength-based, emphasizing embodied consent to support moment to moment body autonomy and self-advocacy. It will show you how to assess and map out the exciting and easeful aspects of sexuality with the unconscious and fractured aspects, activating resilience to open exploration and discovery of a whole-bodied erotic self.

In level 1, you will learn how to theoretically and experientially incorporate somatic sex therapy into your work with clients through presentation of the model, numerous experientials, group discussion, and practice. In the level 2 training in the S-CST model, you will learn how to apply the S-CST model to your work with couples and people in intimate relationships.

*This model does not include touch, except for direction on how to facilitate consensual, non-sexual touch between members of a couple as a part of in-session experientials.

At the end of level 1, you will be able to:

* Understand and articulate a somatic and dance movement therapy approach to sex therapy * Support your clients to develop a practice of secure attachment with their body
* Learn the Erotic Bodyfulness practice, a body-based contemplative awareness & movement practice to use as both an assessment tool, an intervention, and a practice clients can incorporate into their daily lives.
* Understand arousal anatomy as a part of total body connectivity to address arousal non-concordance as well as other often misunderstood expressions and body-to-body dynamics.
* Learn a model of Whole-Person Sexual Response
* Assess a client's sexual problems using an integrated clinical somatic tool that incorporates body movement observation and assessment which also integrates the impact of their sociocultural location.
* Address common presenting sexual problems such as desire difference, arousal non-concordance, anorgasmia, or arousal anatomy difficulties.
* Apply this inclusive somatic model to a diversity of client experiences and presentations.
* Navigate ethical dilemmas that arise in therapy
* Support your clients to craft their own supportive community & therapeutic team

At the end of level 2, you will learn:
- Embodied consent in committed relationship
- Relational somatic sculpturing to bring the underlying dynamic into the workable space
- Body movement assessment & interventions for experiential clinical work that also teaches practices for clients to take home.
- Combining Erotic Maps to support the couple with how they shift from challenging aspects of their sexual intimacy into easeful and exciting ways of relating.
- Applying Erotic Bodyfulness practice to both affection and sexual intimacy
- How to support a rhythm of secure attachment within relationship
- How to help clients meaningfully engage with the structure of their monogamous or non-monogamous relationship to support their connection and growth.

*See below for dates & registration

Testimonials

Here's what participants are saying about the training:

The greatest thing I am taking with me from the training:

"I don't know if I can pick one. I use so many of the tools in my daily practice now. My clients and I find them to be invaluable in the work."

Kristen Crowe, LPCC, BC-DMT

The greatest thing I am taking with me from the training:

"Besides the very clearly structured tools we can implement right away with clients and ourselves…. Just the motivation and relief that there is a somatic whole person centered and socio/culturally-informed approach to sexuality!"

Susy Potter, LMHC, BC-DMT

Hands down the best sex therapy training I’ve had. I am newer to somatic approaches, and I found the training super inspiring, informative, approachable, supportive, and helpful. The tools and techniques were applicable and accessible. Since completing the training, I have integrated much of the learning and my clients are responsive to the exercises. I’m enjoying the meaning this approach has brought to my work as a sex therapist.

Elizabeth Harles, LPC, CST

To say I had a transformative experience during my Level 1 training would be an understatement. As an AASECT certified sex therapist, I have completed many trainings that have helped shape me into the empathetic, sex positive clinician I am today. I had always heard of somatic sex therapy and how it can be helpful for clients, but never sought out an official training as I already felt confident in my skillset working with individuals and those in relationships. After feeling stuck in my creativity, I decided to take the plunge and found Melissa and the Embodied Relationships Counseling Center.

After my Level 1 training, I finally feel like I understand what erotic and sexual embodiment means and how important it is for all of us as we navigate our sexuality. The way Melissa presented her model and helped guide me through experiencials allowed me to access the information not only in a logical way, but also in an embodied one. I cannot wait to take Level 2 and learn more about this work.

Matt Lachman, M.Ed., M.S., LPCC-S, CST
Owner, Cleveland Sex Therapy

An excellent training for not only sex therapists, but for anyone interested in incorporating more body-centered work into their practice with patients/clients or in their own lives! This training helped me reframe the way I conceptualize my work with clients and I think will help get some people get out of "stuck" spots by getting out of their heads and more into their bodies.

Julie Labanz (DiNuoscio) MA, LPCC-S, CST
Be Known Therapy