Since its inception in the 1960s, surrogate partner therapy has helped individuals overcome challenges to sexual and relational intimacy. The methods in surrogate partner therapy are incredibly effective–they draw from the use of various touch, communication, and relational exercises used in concert to bolster skills as well as cultivate intimacy. At this moment in time, the therapeutic community is rapidly expanding its recognition of the efficacy of somatic interventions, making the sharing of information from traditionally touch-based practices particularly relevant to talk therapy professionals. Unfortunately, much of this information isn’t accessible outside of specific training, creating a huge gap in knowledge for both practicing touch professionals and for therapists working with clients (both individuals AND couples) who could benefit from these time-tested interventions.

This is the 2nd series of 2 sets of workshops seeking to bring the experiential knowledge of decades worth of professional evolution to talk and touch professionals. We will highlight seven core exercises used commonly in surrogate partner therapy, explaining the theory of each and also creating a container for participants to gain felt experience through personal practice and partnered homework. These experiences will be bolstered and contextualized through group processing, ultimately tying each exercise back to work with clients.

The seven core exercises:

Body Scan

Satellite

Sexual History-Taking

3 Minute Game

Directed Gaze

Sensual Shower

Non-demand Self Touch

No worries! Each of the Hidden Treasures course series can stand alone and covers seven completely different activities from the SPT toolkit. We will alternate teaching the first and the second series with the hopes that participants will get to do both over time.

Please join us!

This course can be used:

As a touch professional who works with clients

As a therapist collaborating with touch professionals

Even for outpatient therapists not engaging in SPT, these interventions expand options for exploring intimacy dynamics, in both individual and partnered clients, through creative experiential activities, as well as interactive client homework.

This course will meet on Zoom, Sundays at 2pm EST/11 am PT from April 6th thru May 18th.

Each class will last 90 minutes.

You will need access to Zoom for the weekly classes. If you can’t attend, there will be a recording made available. The classes will be the richest when able to attend live.

You will also need access to a partner to practice exercises with outside of the Zoom class time. The partner selection doesn’t need to stay the same over the seven exercises but know that two exercises will include nudity and one will include intimate touch.

Your financial contribution supports the Embrace team in advancing the field of SPT by creating resources for professionals, as well as expanding access and diversity through our Training Scholarships and Client Access Fund.  Please select the pricing tier that best fits your ability to support our work at this time.

If you feel you have the ability to support Embrace with the most generous ticket, please choose full price at $699.

If times are a bit harder, please choose $349.

If you need further support, please reach out to info@embracespt.org.

You will receive an email for the first class on or before Saturday, April 5th with instructions.

Yes! This program meets the requirements of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) and is approved for 10 CE credits. These CE credits may be applied toward AASECT certification and renewal of certification.

As with all AASECT CEs, completion of this program does not ensure or guarantee AASECT certification. For further information please contact info@aasect.org.