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PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS

in somatic sex education

Certificate in Sexological Bodywork, U.K. & Ireland

Presented by The School of Somatic Sexology

in collaboration with the Sea School of Embodiment

Recognised by the Association of Certified Sexological Bodyworkers (ACSB)

WHAT IS A SOMATIC SEX EDUCATOR?

Certified Sexological Bodyworkers (CSB the first year level) and Certified Somatic Sex Educators (CSSE the second year level) are professionals supporting individuals, couples and groups to learn to direct their own erotic development, learn about their bodies, sex and sexuality, or work through sexual concerns.

Both levels involve a variety of instructive modalities, including clean language, empowering embodied consent, breathwork, touch, scar tissue remediation, erotic bodywork, and mindful self-pleasure coaching.

Betty Martin’s Wheel of Consent® is foundational to the School of Somatic Sexology’s trainings. Kian de la Cour and Katie Sarra, co-founders of the Sea School of Embodiment, were the first Certified Wheel of Consent Workshop Facilitators in the U.K.

This is training in embodiment. Whilst this involves learning and developing skills in a range of modalities, the main focus of the training is on learning how to facilitate client agency with their decision-making about how they are touched. As such, Somatic Sex Education/Sexological Bodywork® sessions are co-created with an educational focus.

Somatic Sex Education™ supports new neural pathways firing in the service of exploring new ways of being and wiring them with practice. Embodiment practices are routes to support coming back ‘online’ with the receptive parts of the nervous system which supports agency and choice in decision-making with our bodies. Learning how to feel more of ourselves supports more of us to come online with creating safety and kindness with ourselves and others.

For many people, the only context for intimate touch and discussion has been within a relationship or partner engagement. This is understandable – and there are other contexts; such as education and curiosity. In Somatic Sex Education™ sessions, practitioners intend to work outside of attraction or dis-attraction i.e. partner engagement is set to one side in the service of learning.

One of the somatic realms that Somatic Sex Educators introduce to our students is a state of arousal that is free of fantasy, unfinished emotional business, religious dogma, cultural caveats and habitual sexual behaviours. In this meditative state, an individual can become aware of the body as a source of wisdom and freedom. One of the ways to access this fecund state is by actively receiving erotic bodywork. Helping others access and make use of a variety of erotic states is foundational to the education we offer.

Somatic Sex Educators believe that sexual health and erotic education are basic human rights. The Somatic Sex Education™ professional training is for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, characteristics and expressions.

Working with Trauma

Trauma is prevalent in our society. During the CSB training we explore how our nervous systems can respond to trauma and explore routes that can support clients if encountered during sessions. The Certificate in Sexological Bodywork® is not a dedicated “Trauma training” and specialist training is recommended in order to focus on working with people who are living with the effects of Trauma. Certified Sexological Bodyworkers often work closely with trauma specialists and psychotherapists, supporting the integration between body and mind. Read our trauma statement here

TESTIMONIAL VIDEO FROM PREVIOUS GRADUATES

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HOW IS SOMATIC SEX EDUCATION™ DIFFERENT TO TANTRA?

Tantra offers potential routes into being more receptive and present with our bodies with practices being ritualised to increase sensory receptivity. The main difference is that in Tantra or neo-tantra as popularly taught in the West, boundaries and roles between practitioner and client have a wide scope of variability as there are so many schools and interpretations of this vast Eastern philosophy. Tantra training and individual sessions often involve immersive role-play or sensual experiences.

SEXOLOGICAL BODYWORK® AND SOMATIC SEX EDUCATION

Sexological Bodywork® sessions begin with listening to what the client wants to explore, welcome in or overcome. From this, an educational/therapeutic learning objective is co-created. New ways of being are then explored using sexological bodywork embodiment practices, the Wheel of Consent®, Clean Language and Body Poem.

Somatic Sex Educators operate with a client-led & client-centred approach and with a clear Code of Ethics. Somatic Sex Education™ has an educational focus, meaning that practitioners offer somatic practices that support the learning objectives that the clients bring. This coaching model facilitates clients inhabiting their personal power to make choices in intimate decisions through opening receptivity. This differs from the treatment model where a client chooses and allows a set of techniques to be done to them. For more on this see this clip from Dr. Betty Martin on Why the choosing is more important than the doing.

This 9-month program trains and certifies somatic sex educators. Certified Sexological Bodyworkers and Certified Somatic Sex Educators are certified sexologists who focus on somatic sex education. Somatic Sex Educators have the scope of practice to include touch in sessions, however, the term “bodywork” in this context refers to the fact that we focus on embodied (somatic) awareness; it does not mean bodywork in the sense of massage. Massage may or may not feature in sessions and massage experience is not a requirement to train. We prioritise active receiving with empowering choice and voice with what happens over the treatment model approach. Sessions are client-led and are somatically focused even if they include little or no touch.

The training emphasises session structure, embodied skills, professional practice, and group facilitation.

The School of Somatic Sexology CSB training includes and expands upon the Institute of Somatic Sexology (ISS), Australia, curriculum and the original course of studies accredited by the State of California and taught by the Institute for the Study of Human Sexuality, San Fransisco.

“This has been the single most empowering and integrative experience I've had both for my professional and personal practice.“

“The inclusivity is one of the major attractions of for me and I felt the trainers & everyone connected with it really walks the talk.“

"I would say that it is the most comprehensive and well thought-out program I have attended and would advise that it is the 'one' to do should they wish to develop more skills in this field of work. Material grounded, training solid.”

"Do it! Perhaps the single most valuable training experience I've had. Anyone doing hands-on work with clients in the realm of tantra, sacred/conscious sexuality needs this training. This is exactly what I've said to several people who have asked me what I thought."

“Be ready for an amazing experience, but think 'professional'. Prepare well, dive deep into the experience and work hard and you'll gain more than you thought possible."

“'Do it!' Even if it is purely for personal development. You have no idea what doors it can unlock and open. Expect the unexpected and it will surprise you."

“If you are new to this work as I was, you will gain in abundance. This has been one of the most positive, life-affirming and exciting experiences on any sexual journey I have ever taken. By the end, you really know yourself, you really know your passion and you really know that this choice 'is right'."

“This is a fantastic piece of CPD for the sexuality professional, life coach or bodyworker, pulling together the strands of embodied sexuality, empowerment and self-directed practice for a truly self-created life."

Kian de la Cour

Founder & director of training

Kian is a Certified Somatic Sex Educator and Sexological Bodyworker; Certified Wheel of Consent® Workshop Facilitator and Cuddle Party™ Facilitator; board member of the Association of Certified Sexological Bodyworkers (ACSB); co-founder and Chair of the Association of Somatic and Integrative Sexologists (ASIS); Chair of Judges for the Sexual Freedom Awards; structural integration bodyworker and nutritional therapist with 30 years of professional practice, having first studied many of the modalities taught in sexological bodywork in 1994 with the Body Electric School, USA.

“I create a world of safety and connection through touch and open-hearted communication, so that my clients can access open-hearted choice in manifesting their sexual life potential” kiandelacour.com

Kian follows the Code of Ethics of the Association of Certified Sexological Bodyworkers (ACSB).

Kian is the founder and Director of The School of Somatic Sexology where he choreographs and teaches The UK & Ireland Somatic Sex Education professional training, with an international team of leading-edge educators.

He offers Clinical Supervision and Continuing Professional Development for Certified Sexological Bodyworkers and Somatic Sex Educators.

The School of Somatic Sexology is part of the Sea School of Embodiment which Kian co-founded with Katie Sarra and which hosted the first UK & Ireland Certificates in Sexological Bodywork (CSB) and Somatic Sex Education (CSSE) in 2014; the first Euopean workshops in the Wheel of Consent® with Betty Martin; the first UK training of Cuddle Party facilitators in 2015; and the world’s first comprehensive training in Women’s Pelvic Health: Scar Tissue Remediation, Education and Management (STREAM) taught by Ellen Heed & Kimberly Ann Johnson in 2016. The School has attracted participants from across Europe as well as from Africa, America, Australia & Switzerland and has certified over 200 Somatic Sex Educators & Sexological Bodyworkers.