Somatic Sex Therapy

Somatic Sex Therapy is a body-based approach to sex therapy that supports people in exploring sexuality, intimacy, embodiment, sexual trauma, boundaries, pleasure and self-trust in a safe, consent-led and trauma-informed way.

People often come to this work because sex or intimacy has become difficult, painful, overwhelming, numb or disconnected, particularly following sexual trauma or experiences that have affected their relationship with their body.

Rather than working only through talking and thinking, somatic work also pays attention to the body and nervous system. Including sensation, tension, activation, shutdown, numbness, emotions, boundaries and embodied responses.

Somatic Sexology does not have to involve physical touch or practitioner bodywork. We can work somatically through conversation, awareness of sensations and embodied responses, movement, creative practices and other forms of body-based exploration. Many clients work with me entirely online, and all practices are guided by your individual needs, boundaries and consent.

My practice is trauma-informed, consent-led and GSRD (Gender, Sexuality and Relationship Diversity) affirming. I particularly work with people whose relationship with their body, sexuality or pleasure has been affected by sexual trauma, shame, identity, conditioning or difficult relational experiences.

This work isn't about performance or teaching you how you should experience sex or pleasure. It's about becoming curious about what is already happening, developing greater choice, and building a safer and more connected relationship with your body, boundaries, desires and emotional world.

This work may support you if:

• Intimacy, sexuality or pleasure feels difficult, overwhelming, numb or disconnected

• You are in a relationship where you feel pressure to be intimate

• You have experienced sexual trauma and its impact continues to show up in your body, relationships, intimacy or sexual experiences

• You experience numbness, shutdown, pain or difficulty remaining present during intimacy or sex

• You have a complicated or challenging relationship with your genitals, including experiences of numbness, pain, shame, avoidance or dysphoria

• You experience shame around desire, fantasy, kink, pleasure or sexuality

• You freeze, fawn, dissociate or emotionally leave yourself during intimacy or sex

• You struggle to know, trust or communicate your boundaries, wants or needs

• You find it difficult to distinguish between what you genuinely want and what you feel expected to want

• Pleasure, arousal or orgasm feels complicated or inaccessible

• You're exploring gender, sexuality, kink, relationship diversity or erotic identity

• Your body or sexuality has changed and you're trying to understand your relationship with it now

• You want to feel more connected, embodied and authentic in the way you relate to yourself and others.

There is no predetermined set of exercises you need to complete. What we explore depends on you, what you bring and what feels therapeutically appropriate.

Depending on your needs and boundaries, sessions may include:

• Talk-based therapeutic exploration

• Somatic awareness and nervous system tracking

• Polyvagal-informed practices

• Body awareness and embodiment work

• Wheel of Consent-informed practices to support embodied process, understanding and integration of boundries and consent

• Exploration of shame, pleasure, intimacy and desire

• Creative reflection and body mapping

• Self-touch practices

• Genital mapping

• Scar Tissue Remediation Therapy - gentle, consent-led work with scar tissue resulting from experiences such as surgery, birth, accidents, injury or physical trauma, including sexual assault where tissue injury has occurred

All body-based work is collaborative and optional. Practices are offered as invitations and consent is ongoing throughout our work together.

How we work together

We begin by building relationship, trust and an understanding of what has brought you to this work. There is no rush towards bodywork. I don't usually introduce practitioner bodywork within at least the first 3–4 sessions, and sometimes much longer, depending on your history, needs, boundaries, readiness and the relationship we build together.

For some people, particularly those who have experienced sexual trauma or had their boundaries repeatedly overridden, experiencing their hesitation, no or change of mind being respected can be an important part of beginning to recognise and trust their own boundaries again.

Many clients work entirely online and many sessions remain fully talk-based. Where embodied practices feel useful, these can be explored online through somatic awareness, movement, creative practices, self-directed touch or other forms of body-based exploration.

Where practitioner bodywork forms part of in-person sessions, this is discussed explicitly beforehand and approached slowly, with ongoing communication and consent.

Sessions are typically 90 minutes long, with the first session usually around two hours. I generally work with clients weekly or fortnightly and ask for a minimum commitment of eight sessions where we are undertaking body-based therapeutic work, allowing time to build trust, consistency and depth.

Consent, boundaries & safety

Consent isn't simply something we may explore within sessions, it is fundamental to how I practise. I have trained in the Wheel Of Consent which forms the foundation of my work.

Somatic Sexology and body-based work are professional therapeutic practices. They are not sexual services, and there is no sexual interaction between practitioner and client.

You remain in choice throughout. You can say yes, no, maybe, not yet, or change your mind.

Nothing is forced or expected. A practice can be paused, adapted or stopped at any time without you needing to justify your decision.

Clear professional boundaries, ongoing consent and emotional and physical safety are central to my work. I receive ongoing supervision and am fully insured.

You can read more about consent, professional boundaries and body-based practices here.

You don't need to arrive knowing what you want

Some people come to Somatic Sexology knowing exactly what they want to explore. Others simply know that something around their body, sexuality, intimacy or pleasure doesn't feel right anymore. Both are enough.

You don't need to become more sexual. You don't need to want more sex or more pleasure. You don't have to reclaim or change your relationship with any part of your body before you're ready.

We can begin by becoming curious about where you are now.

If you're looking for a grounded, GSRD-affirming, trauma-informed space to explore sexuality, embodiment, shame, intimacy, identity, pleasure or your relationship with your body with honesty and care, you're welcome here.