Ethical Boundaries in Sexual Health Coaching & Somatic Practices
SHA is honored to share this guest blog from Dovie Gena, a passionate advocate for emotional and sexual healing. Her message aligns deeply with our mission: to be a world leader in education and certification for sexual health professionals.
When we step into the space of sexuality education and somatic healing, we are stepping into one of the most intimate terrains of the human experience. Sexuality is more than just physical—it’s emotional, relational, spiritual, and deeply tied to our sense of self. Similarly, somatic practices, which are grounded in body awareness and sensation, can unlock profound healing and understanding. However, as we bring together somatic methods and sexuality education, we must also tread carefully, ethically, and intentionally.
I’m Dovie Gena, ABS, a passionate advocate for weaving somatic healing into sexuality education. It has been through my own path as a sexual health coach and my years of supporting clients and students that I’ve discovered how deeply intertwined the body, mind, and sexuality truly are. With this blog, I want to empower professionals working in this field by exploring how somatic practices enhance the learning process and how we can uphold essential ethical boundaries within our work.
Why Somatic Practices Enhance Sexuality Education
Somatic healing is rooted in the concept that our bodies carry stories and wisdom that our conscious minds often overlook. When we teach or coach within the field of sensuality, intimacy, and sexual health, incorporating somatic practices allows clients and students to reconnect to their bodies in ways they may not have experienced before in a typical therapeutic setting. Sexuality, after all, is not an abstract concept—it is lived and embodied.
Take, for example, the practice of breathwork. When a client becomes intentional with their breathing during sessions, they begin to notice how different patterns activate parts of their body tied to arousal, relaxation, or emotional triggers. This newfound awareness creates a direct bridge between the body and the mind—one that language alone cannot achieve.
Somatic practices also have the power to uncover blocks or discomfort that clients are experiencing without fully understanding why. A student learning about sexual autonomy may intellectually grasp the concept but still feel shut down or unable to advocate for themselves. Enabling them to tune into their body might help uncover past trauma or shame embedded within them. Through practices like somatic-EMDR, guided movement, or sensory exploration, they may begin to release pent-up tension, desensitize and reprocess once negative internal beliefs, into new positive ones, effectively rewriting their life's narrative.
But why is somatic work so powerful in this context? Simply put, the body carries emotions and experiences in the felt sense long after the mind has moved forward. Somatic-focused sexuality education speaks to this deeply personal connection, helping individuals process their unique stories through an embodied lens. It aids in shortening treatment times with better outcomes, when somatic modalities are involved.
Honoring Ethical Boundaries in Sexuality and Somatic Coaching
Given the intimacy of working with both sexuality and the body, ethical considerations must be at the heart of every coach’s practice. Vulnerability is inevitable in this work—it is not just the client’s vulnerability, but also the professional’s. The sensitivity and presence that play a role in creating a safe space for exploration is a key component to my practice and should be the foundation of any ethical and professional practitioner's business strategy.
Consent Is Key in Somatic Healing and Sexuality Education
One of the most foundational principles in both sexuality education and somatic coaching is consent. It is vital to empower clients to understand the concept of a personally empowered boundary, how to express them in a variety of contexts, and own their clearly defined boundaries. This reminds them they are in control of their bodies at all times. Explicit consent must be secured before introducing physical or sensory practices into a session, even if those exercises seem entirely safe. For example: I make a habit of asking every client how they prefer to be greeted, such as a handshake, a hug, a bow, etc. Everybody is different ,and each person's bodily preferences for physical touch should be respected and honored.
When weaving somatic elements into sexual healing, consider starting with small, low-stakes practices. For example, asking a client to place a hand on their heart to connect with their emotional experience is a practice that feels safe, non-invasive, and empowering. Always gauge their comfort level before progressing to deeper or more vulnerable exercises. Something that may seem as simple as placing their own fingertips gently on their throat chakra during a sensual exploration exercise can be extremely activating for someone with a history of sexual violence, physical, or emotional abuse. Asking questions like, "Would it feel good to your body if you placed your hands gently on or around your throat as you inhale to help bring awareness to the area?" is a great way to preface an action with prior consent.
Professional Boundaries with Intention
However passionate we may feel about guiding our clients’ journeys, it is critical we do not overstep our roles as therapists, coaches, or educators. In fact we effectively disempower our clients by giving them "advice". Paraprofessional sexual health professionals and certified coaches must understand the boundaries of their expertise and avoid assuming the role of therapist or doctor unless they are licensed to do so. Somatic sexuality & relationship coaching is about holistic embodiment and empowerment, not intervention. It is our responsibility to develop trustworthy relationships with other trained professionals and refer clients to others in an adjacent niche if trauma or other work is necessary that falls outside of our expertise and/or ability.
Additionally, always maintain a clear distinction between professional and personal energy. Emotional availability and empathy are part of being a solid coach, but keep in mind that clients often look to us as figures of trust and authority in their healing. Your role is to guide their growth, not to co-process your own experiences within the coaching dynamic -unless it is a tactical exercise designed as a learning endeavor in your program to help your clients have realistic experiences. I offer this in what I refer to as: " The Relationship Lab" in our annual program.
Cultural Sensitivity and Inclusivity in Somatic Healing and Sexuality Education
It is also essential to recognize the diversity of client backgrounds and experiences when implementing somatic practices. People’s relationships with their bodies and sexualities vary across cultural, social, and personal contexts. For example, some practices like eye gazing or physical touch may feel intrusive to individuals from certain cultural or religious backgrounds. Ethical coaching requires an intersectional understanding of how each client or student interprets these methods.
Ask questions, remain curious, and adapt practices to meet the unique needs of those you work with, so they feel seen, respected, and heard. Attunement to these needs and intersectionality experience is what sets apart the good sex & relationship coaches, from the great ones.
Practical Advice for Integrating Somatic Practices into Sexual Health Coaching
If you’re considering incorporating somatic elements into your sessions or classes, here are some ways to start, rooted in the principles of safety, consent, and empowerment I’ve outlined above.
1. Begin with Grounding Exercises
Grounding allows clients to establish a deeper sense of safety before engaging in more vulnerable exploration. Simple practices like diaphragmatic breathing or body scans encourage a connection between mind and body and can be performed in any setting.
2. Promote Self-Exploration Without Judgment
Encourage clients to explore their bodies in non-sexual ways first, such as through movement or sensory observation. This creates body familiarity and helps reduce shame or discomfort before introducing sexual topics or practices.
3. Utilize Visualization Techniques
Guided imagery can be a powerful somatic method for sexual health work. For example, having clients visualize a moment of pleasure and notice where the sensation resides in their body can open up new awareness about their desires. Our core desires are often embedded deeply into our subconscious from early childhood development. This is why it’s imperative to focus on inner child work and nervous system regulation practices first, before introducing sexuality, sensuality, or topics of sexual intimacy.
4. Stay Client-Led
Somatic practices should never feel prescriptive. Instead, offer options and tools, observe how your client responds, and co-create the direction of each session to match their curiosity and readiness with consent.
5. Hold Space for Complexity
Working with the body can bring up unexpected emotions or sensations. Reassure clients that this is normal and create a container for big emotions for deeper processes/reprocessing, offer unconditional positive regard and support for their experiences without judgment. Empower them to trust whatever arises, whether it’s joy, sadness, or curiosity. Remind them the body holds the wisdom while you de-pathologize sexuality on consensual terms together.
Final Reflections on Somatic Healing and Sexuality Education
When integrated mindfully and ethically, somatic healing can enhance sexuality education in ways that are profoundly liberating and transformational. Everyone deserves to feel at home in their body and empowered in their sexuality to the degree they wish. It is our divine right to feel and experience the joy of pleasure that is embedded in our beautiful limbic systems. By using somatic practices, we give clients and students valuable tools to unpack their stories, rewrite their narratives, and rediscover embodied, confident connection with themselves and others.
Through this work, not only do we support healing and growth—we also foster communities of greater awareness and respect for the deep intersection between the body and one's identity. This is the heart of my mission and why I’m so passionate about helping other coaches and licensed professionals evolve their practices with these resources. Together, we can tread this path with integrity, sensitivity, and unwavering commitment to our clients’ whole health and well-being, including their sexuality.
Somatic work touches lives in personal and profound ways. And to you, the professionals, educators, and coaches out there doing this powerful work—I see you. Let’s continue creating spaces together and growing the SHA community!
Check Out Our Guest Blogger’s Bio:
Dovie Gena is a powerhouse in the world of sex-positive transformation, blending 15+ years of luxury event expertise with 5+ years of trauma-informed, somatic sex and relationship coaching. As the founder of Born to Be Wild Lifestyle, she helps women and couples heal, connect, and reclaim their pleasure through immersive experiences that are as safe as they are empowering. With certifications from the American Board of Sexology, and EMDR training, Dovie merges deep psychological insight with her passion for authentic connection—creating spaces where growth, healing, and unapologetic sexuality thrive.
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