I joined the SSEAA
Some of you may be aware that I recently received my certification in Sexalogical Bodywork (Or Somatic Sex Education) which I’ve spoken about in a previous blog post. Well, now that I’m certified, I’ve joined the SSEAA!
The Somatic Sex Educators Association is the industry organisation for certified somatic sex educators; a group of professionals working with clients interested in learning about their sexuality through embodied practice.
All Members are trained, certified, and insured, work under mandatory codes of practice and ethics, providing unique education and support to clients on issues of shame, sexual dysfunction, consent and boundaries, curiosity and self-expression.
Being a member of the SSEAA means that I am bound by a code of ethics which is the Somatic Sex Educators' Association’s Code of Professional Conduct when I am performing Sexological Bodywork and also means that I am insured with Civil Liability Professional Indemnity & Public and Products Liability as an Allied health Professional.
One of the important things that applies to me in the code of ethics is the undertaking that I will not provide sexual services (Full Service) to my Somatic Sex Education students.
This means that as a practitioner I am bound by the SSEAA code of ethics to not transition a client from a Somatic Sexology client to a full service sexwork client. For example, as a full service sex work client, I can perform both modalities with someone, as a Somatic Sex Education client I can only ever perform bodywork/education. This is due to how sexological bodywork may affect someone’s sexuality and increase the likelihood of a client forming a romantic bond with me after sessions are performed, allowing a transition of modalities unfairly allows a client to explore and form that bond further through transitioning to full service… which isn’t healthy or in a client’s authentic consent.
So if you are reaching out to me for a service, it pays to be really clear on what your end goal is. Somatic Sex Education is not a gateway or “taster” into full service sex work with me - it is a completely separate modality but can be included in full service as erotic expansion.
If a Somatic Sex Education client wants to explore full service sexwork after commencing sessions with me, then I’m more than happy to refer them on to one of my peers but unfortunately they will not be able to continue that journey with me.
The SSEAA offers a unified voice for our industry, promoting the benefits and legitimacy of this important work and I’m thrilled to be apart of it.
If you would like to check out my SSEAA profile click here