Sexological Bodywork Certificate Training -
Course Description

You too can be a Somatic Sex Educator!

This somatic training provides direct experiential learning opportunities that emphasize erotic embodiment. Participants learn a variety of Sexological Bodywork modalities. Furthermore, participants experience how humans learn erotic and sexual embodiment—through mindful practice over time. This course will prepare practitioners to teach somatic sex education to individuals, couples and groups. This Sexological Bodywork training makes use of online learning, home erotic practice sessions, video demonstrations, and communal erotic practice. During the 14-day Intensive, participants and instructors gather to hone erotic skills, to explore communal erotic trance states, and to connect with their colleagues in the new profession of Sexological Bodywork. This training welcomes diversity in sexual identities, gender, and age.

Learning Objectives

• Participants study somatic learning theory, which teaches that the most profound sexual education is found through mindful practice over time. Students learn to be a resource and guide for others' erotic practice sessions.
• Participants use touch, breath, and focused attention to become familiar with, articulate about, and competent in the uses of profound ecstatic and erotic states.
• Using Silvan Tomkins' affect theory, students learn body-based interventions to deal with sexual shame in themselves and in others. Using Donald Mosher's depth of sexual involvement theory, students learn to assist others in achieving profound levels of sexual intimacy with themselves.
• Students learn about transference and how to respond to client’s emotions.
• Participants learn how to present themselves professionally to prospective clients and to other professionals.
• Students learn when to offer referrals to doctors, psychotherapists and other health care professionals as well as working in conjunction with these professionals.
• Participants experience and understand the communal nature of embodiment and sexuality, making use of their relationships with others in their learning.
• Students learn to assess embodiment and mindfulness as indicators of sexual health and well-being.
• Participants learn the basics of beginning a successful Sexological Bodywork practice, including marketing, networking, presenting yourself, ethics, and how to launch your practice.

Course Structure

Students participate in six weeks of home study before attending a 14-day intensive. Upon completion of all requirements, students will receive a Certificate in Sexological Bodywork.

Graduates from this professional training can become members of The Association of Certified Sexological Bodyworkers (ACSB). www.sexologicalbodyworkers.com.

Prerequisites for Enrollment

The basic prerequisite for this training is a heartfelt commitment to serve others. This training was designed to build on the experience of individuals who are already working as bodyworkers, sex educators, yoga instructors, psychotherapists, or health care providers or others who are inspired to work with people around their sexuality.

Students must have a high-speed internet connection in order to access the group discussions, the video demonstrations, and other course materials.

Home Study

Mindful somatic practice over time is the core of the home study program. Online video demonstrations and important sexological readings provide a survey of the new field of somatic. Each student reports to the group twice a week about his or her erotic practice and learning.

A private forum at The New School of Erotic Touch (www.eroticmassage.com) facilitates the sharing of homework assignments, while providing a place for online discussions and communications with the instructors.

The online home-study directs practice sessions, course readings and video viewing. Students are encouraged to divide their home schooling evenly between erotic practice sessions and study of video and texts. Students who have not completed the home study requirements cannot attend the Embodiment Intensive.

Embodiment Intensive

After six weeks of group online learning, students and faculty come together to practice communally. The 14 days of the Intensive include instruction and practice in breathwork, movement, sensate focus, and bodywork. Special emphasis is placed on learning to work with others and guide their erotic practice sessions. Every person touches and coaches every other person in the training. Additionally, you learn professional aspects including marketing, networking, presenting yourself, ethics, and how to launch your practice.

During the Intensive, students deepen the erotic practice begun in the home study, learning a form of sex coaching, which involves taking on the role of erotic educator. Participants help others to overcome shame and erotic sensory-motor amnesia, allowing both personal and communal erotic embodiment. They also facilitate learning and erotic mindfulness in others.

The California Faculty

Dr. Danielle Harel is a clinical sexologist, a pleasure activist and a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. She has devoted the last fourteen years to counseling and empowering couples, women, men, and teaching somatic group workshops. She graduated with a Ph.D and a Doctor of Human Sexuality (DHS) degree from the the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco. Danielle has a graduate degree in Clinical Social Work (MSW) and a Bachelors (BA) degree in Psychology and Educational Counseling. Harnessing her extensive training as a sexologist and her background in psychology and body-based modalities, she leads students and clients into the depth of their eroticism to support them in reaching their fullest potential.

Celeste Hirschman, M.A. has made a lifelong study of sexuality, intimacy and relationships both inside and outside of the classroom. She is an assistant professor at the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality and she received an MA in Human Sexuality Studies from San Francisco State University. She draws on multiple perspectives, including sexual healing, celebrating eroticism, Tantra, and BDSM, to help her clients and students realize their full potential and deepen their experiences of pleasure and embodiment.

To Enroll

Contact Danielle or Celeste at info@celesteanddanielle.com to arrange for an interview. Enrollment forms and procedures can be found at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality's website.

Contact the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality at 415-928-1133 or registrar@iashs.edu for enrollment and other logistical information.
Also feel free to contact Danielle and Celeste at info@CelesteAndDanielle.com with questions about the course content.

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