Erotic Mindfulness - A Core Educational and Therapeutic Strategy I
Erotic Mindfulness - A Core Educational and Therapeutic Strategy I
Erotic Mindfulness - A Core Educational and Therapeutic Strategy I
Transpersonal Studies
9-1-2019
Part of the Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Philosophy Commons,
Psychology Commons, and the Religion Commons
Recommended Citation
Thouin-Savard, M. I. (2019). Erotic mindfulness: A core educational and therapeutic strategy in somatic
sexology practices. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 38 (1). http://dx.doi.org/
https://doi.org/10.24972/ijts.2019.38.1.203
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Erotic Mindfulness:
A Core Educational and Therapeutic Strategy
in Somatic Sexology Practices
Marie I. Thouin-Savard
California Institute of Integral Studies
San Francisco, CA, USA
Somatic sexology modalities such as sexual surrogacy, sexological bodywork,
masturbation coaching, and orgasmic meditation have shown significant potential
for helping individuals transcend sexual difficulties and grow into more fulfilling
erotic lives. The use of an embodied state of consciousness similar to neo-traditional
forms of mindfulness meditation may be a common factor contributing to therapeutic
efficacy in a variety of somatic sexology methods. Comparing the structure of
three somatic sexology modalities—sexual surrogacy, masturbation coaching, and
orgasmic meditation—with recent evidence supporting the efficacy of neo-traditional
mindfulness practices in promoting women’s sexual wellbeing reveals that somatic
sexology practitioners use embodied mindfulness as a strategy to set aside mental
activity and invite their clients to feel, act, and interact with their sexuality from an
embodied state of attention. This embodied state, when focused on one’s eroticism
and sexuality, will be referred to as erotic mindfulness. The paper closes with a
commentary on the potentially significant impact of using erotic mindfulness in sex
therapy and education, and suggests avenues for further research.
Keywords: Holistic sexuality, somatic sexology, embodied mindfulness,
erotic mindfulness, sexual surrogacy, masturbation coaching, orgasmic
meditation, sexological bodywork
I
s there a place for the body in sex therapy? This p. 371), both in order for somatic and experiential
question titled a 2011 editorial of the Sexual modalities to reclaim the space they once held, and
and Relationship Therapy journal, as its editor- for them to resume their development within the field.
in-chief Alex Iantaffi pleaded with sex therapists Indeed, in the 1970s, the popularity
and educators to explore and expand the research of humanistic psychology brought forward
evidence for bringing embodied practices back into great interest in “new forms of psychotherapy
the therapy room. As he explained, (e.g., Rogerian, existential, Gestalt, body- and
movement-centered) that focused on growth and
I have been struck by the possibilities that being
fulfillment, unconditional positive regard, staying
present to the body can open up within the
in the present, feelings and consciousness, and a
therapy room, especially when dealing with
holistic body-mind view” (Tiefer, 2006, p. 362).
sexuality and relational issues. Yet, most of the
This movement supported the advent of many
current literature does not seem to address the
somatic sexology modalities, or teaching by doing
applicability of sensorimotor therapy or somatic
approaches, such as orgone Reichian therapy
healing to sex therapy. (Iantaffi, 2011, p. 1)
(Nelson, 1976), the use of surrogate partners (Wolfe,
His voice echoed many others (e.g., Barratt, 2010; 1978), and the practices of nudism, body imagery
Kleinplatz, 1996; Tiefer, 2006; Ventegodt & Struck, work, and sexual contact with clients (Hartman &
2009) asking that clinical sexology’s “resistance to the Fithian, 1974). These practices involved a spectrum
humanistic programme [be] addressed” (Tiefer, 2006, of experiential activities from using nudity to teach
Erotic Mindfulness
International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 38(1), 203–219
International Journal of Transpersonal Studies 203
https://doi.org/10.24972/ijts.2019.38.1.203
self-acceptance, masturbation coaching, one-way This testimonial, along with many others, portrays
touch from therapist to client, and two-way touch. the non-judgmental witnessing and validation of
The main premise for using somatic modalities someone’s unscripted erotic expression as key to
in therapeutic settings is that powerful emotions such the therapeutic alliance between somatic sexology
as shame, guilt, disgust, anger, helplessness, and fear educators and clients.
are in some sense stored within the body, particularly As with most healing modalities involving
in the tissues of pelvic and sexual organs as tension a strong relational and even spiritual component
and pain (e.g., Ventegodt, Morad, Hyam, & Merrick, (e.g., Reiki), somatic sexology practices challenge
2004) and therefore often remain out of reach for the general classification and validation structures
pharmaceutically oriented cures and talk therapy. of the current scientific model. They blur the lines
Sex therapist Jack Morin (2006) observed, “Some of habitually drawn between therapy, education,
my clients’ issues would take years or might never and spiritual practice by addressing eroticism
be resolved by standard non-touching therapy.” as a holistic phenomenon, instead of a purely
The therapeutic efficacy of somatic modalities, in physiological, cognitive, and behavioral one. Also,
contrast, seems to reside in the process of attunement the experiential and often multifaceted nature
and presence with the body itself; in a safe and of those methods (blending emotional, physical,
ethical context, this process appears to support and spiritual dimensions into erotically-focused
the release and integration of painful emotions and practices) challenges the binary between sexual
trauma (Moore, 2017; Ventegodt, Clausen, Omar, & function and dysfunction, which is foundational to
Merrick, 2006). Furthermore, the direct experience of the field of sexology (see Masters & Johnson, 1970).
one’s eroticism outside of performance expectations Often, clients seek out experiential methods not only
and relational narratives habitually associated with to remedy their sexual problems, but also to explore
sexual contact (e.g., striving to perform specific their erotic potentials (Kleinplatz, 1996) and unravel
roles or activities in order to satisfy someone else) transformation into various aspects of their life, such
can, in itself, be a source of deep freedom, self- as improvements in physical health and relationship
discovery, and empowerment (Jesse, 2017). Somatic satisfaction (Resnick, 2004). The fact that somatic
sex educator Cassie Moore (2017) exemplified this sexology modalities are holistic in nature and thus
through her own experience of somatic healing with function outside the mainstream medical model
a sexological bodywork practitioner: of sexual health has resulted in a lack of empirical
research in these areas. This, along with the ethical
I experienced trauma in my early childhood, and
and legal risks associated with sexually-oriented
despite extensive counseling and a lifetime of
touch (see Tiefer, 2006), brought the American
attempts to move towards health, I still carried
Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and
a deep sense of sorrow and brokenness in my
Therapists (AASECT) to explicitly ban touching or
body, and a profound sense of shame. . . .
nudity in treatment in 1978, and professional sex
Through guided touch, words and presence, I felt
therapy became limited to talk therapy, along with
a huge, unexpected sense of release of sorrow
pharmaceutical and behavioral approaches.
and shame, and a shifting toward safety and
However, nudity and touch in sexual
wholeness. . . . I experienced my voiced needs
therapy and education never entirely disappeared.
being acknowledged, honored and met, and it
Today, such practices still exist, however within an
was deeply restorative and transformative for
ambiguous legal and professional framework. For
me. I know that this level of change would not
example, sexual surrogacy, sex and masturbation
have occurred in a more traditional therapeutic
coaching, and various erotic embodiment work-
container. The element of compassionate, safe
shops remain available to the public, though they
touch that included my sexual body, guided fully
are not reimbursed by medical insurance plans
by me, provided a unique and powerful context
as their pharmaceutical and cognitive-behavioral
for repair. (Moore, 2017, pp. 3–4)
counterparts often are—thereby restricting their