ANTOINE DUPONT

Many of us suffer touch deprivation. Our society has sexualized touch to such an extent that it can feel awkward to most of us to offer touch, even platonic touch, to someone beside a sexual partner. In our patriarchal society, we are formatted to fight and compete, to hide our vulnerability, sensibility and sense of compassion — and this is exhausting!!!

Cuddling is a platonic healing practice. Each session is structured so we create a very safe container to fully enjoy nurturing and compassionate touch. 

Cuddling practice includes deep work on boundaries and consent, mindfulness, being present in the body, showing up as we are with all our vulnerability, emotions, feelings and sensations while sharing touch.

CUDDLING CAN HELP:

• Fight depression, anxiety and loneliness,
• Heal trauma history,
• Grief,
• Sexual orientation issues,
• Body image issues.
   

FOR EACH OF US, CUDDLING WILL:

• Change our experience of being in our body,
• Create a visceral sense of connection, peace and well-being
• Alter our blood chemistry, soothe the fight or flight instincts, and send our brain messages of safety and belonging,
• Enhance our self-image and the way we feel about ourselves, which in turn improves the way we show up and relate to others in our life,
• Improve the way we feel about life in general.
   

WHAT IS SURROGATE PARTNER THERAPY? 

When a single person needs help resolving inhibitions and dysfunctions in the area of physical and emotional intimacy, a therapist might recommend Surrogate Partner Therapy.

Surrogate Partner Therapy is a hands-on approach based on Sensate Focus technique designed by Master’s and Johnson in the 1960's. It works by refocusing the participant on their own sensory perception and sensuality, instead of goal and performance oriented behavior.

A therapist, a client and a surrogate are involved in surrogate partner therapy, working as a triad. 

After a first meeting usually at the therapist’s office, client and surrogate partner will meet separately while client and therapist will continue regular talk-based sessions. 

In addition to talking with client, surrogate partner engages client in experiential learning, structured and non-structured experiences in relaxation, communication, consent, sensate focus, touch, sex education and social skills. These exercises are designed to build self-awareness and self-esteem, reduce performance anxiety, and resolve difficulties with physical and emotional intimacy.

Within the container of a safe surrogate-client relationship, client will open more to trust and honesty. They will develop their capacity for authenticity and adult intimacy. Experiences will facilitate the development of healthy self-concepts and resolve interconnected social, emotional, psychological, and sexual concerns.

All along the process, surrogate and therapist will keep in constant communication. These consultations center on the client’s response to the relationship and activities with the surrogate partner, discussion of client psychology, and session planning.

At some point, the therapist, surrogate, and client will come to the conclusion that it is time to bring the surrogate and client relationship to a close. The process of closure is considered the final stage of the Surrogate Partner Therapy, and is not done without careful consideration and care for the feelings of all participants. 

Client will continue to see their therapist, as they’ll need continued support integrating their experience and new skills in real life.

Who will benefit from Surrogate Partner Therapy?

The problems that motivate clients to seek Surrogate Partner Therapy range from general anxiety in social situations to specific sexual dysfunctions.

• Sexual orientation issue
• Lack of social confidence
• Lack of sexual or relationship experience
• Phobia and anxiety
• History of neglect, sexual, physical or emotional abuse - Trauma
• Body image issue
• Low arousal or lack of sexual desire
• Genital/pelvic pain
• Sexual/intimacy fear and avoidance
• Orgasm issues
• For men: Rapid ejaculation or Erection difficulties
• For women: Vaginismus or Vulvodynia
   

Whether you are looking to heal from past trauma, surgery or grief; you have body image, sexual orientation or lack of intimacy experience issues; or you are simply looking to bring your sexuality to another level, Sexological Bodywork practice might be very helpful for you.

Sexological Bodywork is a somatic unidirectional practice. The work will support you through the study and exploration of your own sensuality.

Sessions are both informative and experiential. You will be supported in different structured and non-structured activities such as relaxation, communication, boundaries and consent work, breathing, movement, sensate focus, self pleasuring and sensual touch.

Increasing your awareness and mindfulness, Sexological Bodywork practice, will help you elevate and open your sexuality to a spiritual practice — in the sense of connection to the self, to others and to the world as a whole.

Sessions could include:

• Work on how to access choices and boundaries, and express them to the world
• Power dynamics evaluation and empowerment activities
• Relaxation, movement and meditation
• Sensate focus exercises to reconnect to the sensation itself
• Body image exercises
• Pleasure mapping and body awareness practice
• Mindful self-pleasuring and masturbation coaching
• Sensual massage practicing active receiving through breath, movement and sound, developing connection to the self and partner
• De-armoring, pelvic release.