Reclaiming Pleasure and Presence: Why Professionals Are Embracing Somatics in Their Practice.
In a world where sex, pleasure, and the body are often treated as clinical or taboo subjects, many therapists, coaches, and healers are beginning to explore a different approach. The field of somatics — rooted in body awareness and giving voice to sensation — has expanded to address not only trauma recovery but, in the world of somatic sex education, also the cultivation of pleasure and safety within ourselves and our clients. This shift represents a reclaiming of the erotic as a nutritive and nourishing part of the human experience. For those of us who hold space for others, embodying this in our own lives can transform how we practice, live, and connect.
Why Somatics? Moving Beyond the “Tyranny of Normal”
Our culture is deeply entrenched in norms around sex, pleasure, and gender, shaping how clients (and we) experience bodies and relationships. These norms can narrow our understanding of what’s possible - and pathologize the very things that make us human. In many of the somatic practices I love to explore with folks, we seek to soften our attachment to these scripts and instead invite curiosity, autonomy, and a celebration of uniqueness in erotic expression.
The Role of Pleasure in Healing
Too often, pleasure is overlooked in therapy. However, pleasure-based healing can be a profound resource for resilience and well-being. This isn't only about “feeling good”—it’s about recognizing pleasure as a form of safety, and a way to connect with the nervous system, a way to experience selfhood and sovereignty. Much of my work aims to support clients in grounding, attuning to their senses, and expanding their capacity to feel both joy and difficulty.
Example: Techniques like guided breathwork or sensory grounding exercises can be powerful tools for fostering a sense of safety and presence. Over time, they help create an “anchor” that folks can use during challenging moments.
Consent, Boundaries, and Inner Wisdom
In my understanding of somatics, consent is foundational—not just as an ethical practice, but as a way to support people in listening to their own guiding wisdom. Consent goes beyond something taught within a therapeutic relationship and becomes an inner and ongoing practice - for both practitioners and clients to be aware of and honor their boundaries. This is key for those working with trauma, as it provides a framework of choice and agency.
Practical Tip: Practitioners can integrate consent-based practices by using language that invites choice (e.g., “Would it feel right to explore this with me?” or offering three options and inviting the client to choose). Over time, this empowers clients to tap into their own voice, trusting their “yes” and “no.”
Embodying the Erotic Self as a Practitioner
This training also asks us as practitioners to consider our own relationship with the erotic. When we show up for our clients, our presence is the greatest tool we bring into the room. Exploring our own embodied experience of eros—beyond sexuality and into pleasure, vitality, and connection—nurtures our capacity to hold space and act as a grounding presence.
Cultivating Erotic Futures in Our Practices
At its core, I hope that somatic work can invite a radical re-envisioning of healing: one where we celebrate the erotic as a natural part of being human, and where safety and pleasure co-exist. For practitioners, embracing this work means stepping into a fuller sense of who we are - and from this place creating a practice where clients feel seen, supported, and free to explore their own stories, knowing fully that the container cast is for their process and growth.
Whether you're already using somatic tools or simply curious, exploring this work can be a deeply enriching journey. As we labour towards a future where expansive expressions of pleasure and connection are honored, we make manifest the change we want to create.