What Is Somatic Sexology?

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In this article, we’ll explore what is meant by Somatic Sexology, and how this treatment modality is used to help people in the sexual domain.

But first this: the word “somatic” comes from the Greek root word “soma” (meaning “body”), and when used in relation to healing, alternative medicine, or massage and bodywork it typically refers to the human body, bodily movement, and bodily sensations as opposed to the mind, psyche, or emotions.

Now, you may find Somatic Sexology referred to with different labels, which include Somatic Sex Coaching, Somatic Sex Education, Somatic Sex Therapy, or Somatic Sex Counseling, among other denominations.

Although each individual practitioner or therapist typically has a different background and training, the work can be defined as a more “embodied practice,” one that approaches domains like Sexology, Sex Therapy, and Sex Coaching from a more “holistic” viewpoint, trying to bridge the body-mind dichotomy to help people overcome difficulties in their sex lives.

In practice, it means that sessions not only include talking and thinking about mental and psychological inner processes with regard to one’s sexuality, but are also focused on actual bodily sensations and bodily experiences. In fact, the somatic sex coach or somatic sex therapist will try to bring mind, emotions, and body into renewed connection, intimacy, communication, and balance.

Somatic Sexology aims at improving sexual health, sexual fulfillment, relationships, intimacy, and sexual pleasure for individuals and couples, typically following a trauma-informed approach. Coaches and therapists may use a wide range of methods and techniques to achieve these goals, such as Talk Therapy, exercises, massage, breathwork, mindfulness, movement, and touch, all depending on their specific background and training.

Different embodied concepts and practices may be brought into sessions, such as Sexological Bodywork, Tantra, Surrogate Partner Therapy, Body De-Armouring, massage, Body Mapping, Genital Mapping, yoga, breathwork, and Taoist Bodywork, to give some examples.

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