The Guide to Sexuality Professionals
When choosing to explore sexuality, spirituality and relationships it can be challenging to figure out who does what and where to go to get the type of support needed at the time.
I created this guide to provide you with some information and clarity about who does what within the world of sexuality professionals.
My hope is that you are able to discern which professional is right for you. In addition to helping you choose where to start and where to go next on your journey all while staying In alignment with yourself and those you choose to be in relationship with.
What Are Sexuality Professionals?
A sexuality professional is a person who specializes in human sexuality, encompassing areas like sexual health, behavior, and well-being. Each with a distinct focus ranging from physical to metaphysical (non physical) , medical to non medical. Entertainment to education.
Examples: Sex Therapists, couples councilors, sex educators, sexual surrogate, doctors, psychologist. Adult entertainers, content creators, tantra practitioners, Virtual sex workers, in person sex workers. Activists and researchers.
Steps to Choosing the Right Professional:
How to choose which sexuality professional is right for you.
Five things to consider when choosing a sex coach
- Information: knowing what options are available, (probably why you are reading this post? )
- Understanding of self/what’s present
- Knowing a desired outcome
- Ability and willingness to communicate what’s present with self and desired outcome
- Erotic Alignment: honoring yourself, belief system, values and relationship dynamics (which can change over time based on agreements, the understanding of information and experience you have at the time).
Use the chart to see what professionals are options for you
based on these 5 things, I will refer to as the 5 focuses:
Entertainment, Education, Physical, Non/Meta Physical and Edutainment
Education
- Learn something new
- Get deeper understanding and clarity on a topic
- Self-help
- Personal growth, development and transformation
- Medicalization, Academic
- Strong hierarchy
- Fixed power dynamic
Entertainment
- For your pleasure and enjoyment
- Non medical, non academic
- Relaxation, Integration
- Novelty, Fun
- Distraction, Escape
- Less hierarchy and flexible power dynamic
- Focus on other as source
Physical
- In person interactive
- Levels of touch vary based on modality and consent
- One way touch: provider to client touch based on consent
- Two way touch: mutual touch between provider and client based on consent.
Non physical/meta-physical
- online
- phone
- Visual: Videos
- Books
- Virtual
- Demos
- Auditory
- Talking
- No physical touch between provider and client
Edutainment:
- Blend of entertainment and education
- Have fun and learn something
- Less hierarchy
- Power dynamic less prominent while is facilitator leading
- Touch level varies
Key Points to remember:
- Remember each professional has their own way of doing what they do.
- Get really clear about the agreements and container of the session: with the provider, partner and for yourself
- You may need to explore a variety of providers within a modality to find someone that’s a good fit for you and your goals.
- The more clear you are about where you’re at and what you want, the better you will be able to choose a professional that’s in alignment with you.
- Move as fast as the slowest moving part. It’s best to start where you’re at and take achievable easy steps towards your big vision.
- Do your research before reaching out.