The Ethics of Touch
Home Study Course Series

Practitioners can enhance their effectiveness as a safe, healing presence in the treatment setting by enhancing their awareness of physical, social and cultural dynamics and knowledge of behavioral strategies. The Sex, Touch and Intimacy Overview course introduces many issues practitioners need to address regarding sex, touch and intimacy.

The course includes reading chapters One and Five of The Ethics of Touch, and responding to 20 short answer questions.

It supports the application of the informed consent process. It meets the NCBTMB 2-hour continuing education requirement for Ethics Standard V: Roles and Boundaries.

The Addressing Erections and Arousal course skillfully manages the issue of sexual arousal from the physiological sexual response cycle, to when and how to address the issue with clients. Thoughtful exploration and concrete tools are offered for working with clients in a conscious, professional and considerate manner.

The course includes reading chapters One and Five of The Ethics of Touch, and responding to 10 short answer questions.

It supports the application of the informed consent process. It meets the NCBTMB 2-hour continuing education requirement for Ethics Standard V: Roles and Boundaries.

The ethically safe touch experience does not just happen through correct intentions and professional actions: it must be created, structured and sustained. Creating a desexualized touch experience requires that you take an honest look at your cultural training, education and personal history, and how they affect your attitudes. With this knowledge and your professional guidelines you develop a plan of action.

The course includes reading chapters One and Five of The Ethics of Touch, responding to 10 short answer questions; and completing a project where you develop your policies and action plan for creating a safe, desexualized touch experience.

It satisfies the NCBTMB general 4-hour ethics requirements and also meets the 2-hour continuing education requirement for Ethics Standard V: Roles and Boundaries.

Every client and every practitioner brings their sexual nature and background with them into the therapeutic setting. The Sexual Dynamics and Touch Therapy course assists practitioners in appreciating the impact that treatments can have on sexual response, in taking full responsibility for how they are affected when performing their work, and in remaining keenly aware of the potential effects of touch on clients. The course provides concrete guidelines for addressing these issues.

The course includes reading chapters One and Five of The Ethics of Touch, responding to 10 short answer questions, and completing a project where you interview three practitioners about their experiences with sexually inappropriate clients.

It satisfies the NCBTMB general 4-hour ethics requirements and also meets the 2-hour continuing education requirement for Ethics Standard V: Roles and Boundaries.

Somatic practitioners must be aware of sexual misconduct in the treatment setting and of sexual harassment in the work environment. The two issues are not identical but they are closely related; each is a boundary violation occurring when one person's "safe space" is invaded by another. The Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Harassment course addresses both of these issues.

The course includes reading chapters One and Five of The Ethics of Touch, responding to 10 short answer questions, and completing one of these two projects:

1. Create an informational pamphlet for your clients on their rights regarding sexual misconduct and sexual harassment.
2. Resolve a potential sexual misconduct ethical dilemma.

It satisfies the NCBTMB general 4-hour ethics requirements and also meets the 2-hour continuing education requirement for Ethics Standard V: Roles and Boundaries.