Professional Boundaries

I adhere to the professional codes of ethics of Certified Sexological Bodyworkers and Certified Somatic Sex Educators around the world. 

I wear medical grade exam gloves for any genital touch.

I do not date or have sexual relationships with clients.

I do not work from a place of sexual attraction.

• I am aware of the potential for attraction within the client-practitioner relationship and ensure the focus is always on the client’s growth & learning. 
• I know the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries, including asking permission to touch and stopping touch when students request it. 
• I am conscious, and make my students conscious, of the fact that while we share authentic intimacy, Sexological Bodywork sessions will neither fulfill my, nor my students’, desire for sexual connection.

I keep my clothing on at all times and do not receive erotic touch from clients. 

• In group or individual sessions, I remain clothed when touching students and erotic touching is unidirectional.
• I request that students bring their partners when they wish to learn interpersonal erotic skills.

I refer people to other practitioners when a client’s needs are beyond my scope of practice. I ensure clients have resources for other forms of support as needed. 

• I consider the limits of my skills and experience before accepting requests for, or providing, educational or instructional services to potential students.
• I refuse professional work for which I am insufficiently prepared.

I do not provide bodywork or training sessions, nor do I present any instructional material while I or the client/student is under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, or illegal drugs.  

I recognize the importance of consent and choice in all somatic sex education with groups and individuals.

• I strive to provide a range of options from which the student can actively select that which will serve their own education.
• A student will not be required or coerced to participate in any activity, event or exercise.
• I include education about consent and choice and actively create learning environments where students are empowered to exercise these skills.
• If I use physical touch in an educational context, I touch consciously and with the intent to do no harm. I obtain students’ consent and act with concern for their safety, growth, and awareness of boundaries.

I respect, defend, and preserve the privacy of all information gained during instructional sessions, and preserve the anonymity of students when using information for purposes of teaching, research, and supervision.

I pursue continuing education, receive supervision, and receive personal psychotherapy.

• I seek the advice of colleagues and supervisors as a routine part of my practice and training. In consultations, confidential information that reasonably could lead to the identification of the student is not shared without prior written consent of the student.

I do not exploit professional relationships with my students for personal gain, whether financial, professional, or for research purposes.