To become a Certified Somatic Sex Educator, you must successfully complete all 5 courses offered by the Institute for the Study of Somatic Sex Education, as well as 4 approved electives. Some of our students begin to offer paid professional services after successfully completing Core Course 3, and you may feel resourced for this. Before being certified you will need to offer such services as a Somatic Sex Educator In Training.
FAQ
How do I become a Practitioner?
How long does it take to become a practitioner?
The course is designed so that you can proceed at your own pace. Most students complete the training within 2-3 years.
When does the next course start?
Registration for course 1 open and ongoing; you can sign up anytime!
Course 2 and 4 are embodiment intensives. They can be taken as a 7 day in-person intensive, or a 10 half-day online intensive. These are announced a year in advance so you can create a course schedule that works for you.
Course 3 and 5 are self-paced online courses. You can sign up anytime for these courses – but only if you have successfully completed the course prior.
How long does it take to complete this program?
This is a self-directed study, so it will be up to you how long it takes! We encourage student to complete the coursework at their own pace, and find that many students complete their training within 2-3 years.
Do I have to take the courses in any particular order?
Yes, the courses must be successfully completed sequentially.
Are there payment plans available?
Yes, you have the option of making one or two payments when you purchase your course. If you choose to pay via two payments, they will be spaced one month apart. There is a $50 administration fee for the payment plan option.
Are there any scholarships or bursaries available?
Yes! We are committed to making our training financially accessible to BIPOC students. We offer a 50% discount for Core Course One, plus additional discounts for our other core courses for students who have successfully completed their previous course. You can learn more here.
Will I make money as a somatic sex educator?
It depends on you! Are you an entrepreneur? Do you have some experience with marketing? Do you already have a practice working with clients? Are you connected with other health care practitioners? There are so many ways to weave SSE with the awesome qualities of who you are! If you are not connected and are not motivated, this certification alone does not guarantee income.
Is SSE legal?
Some of the touch practices of SSE are considered in the legal “grey area” in some jurisdictions. However you choose to practice, the learning benefits from the embodied experiences in our program will support your work with clients, whether you choose to do hands-on work or not.
Online training feels challenging for me. What kind of support do you offer students?
We totally get this! We aim to provide some foundational knowledge through the online platform in course 1, to prepare folks before meeting in bodies together in course 2.
We provide weekly Community of Practice calls in a group conference call on the platform Zoom, where one of your faculty mentors will casually present a topic, and invite some group sharing. You can hear each other speak, share your thoughts, feelings, and questions, and start to get a sense of the bigger community. Also, embedded into the curriculum are videos of your mentors introducing the topics, as well as sharing their own experiences. We try to provide a little bit of everything for all the different types of learners, some reading, viewing, and listening, as well as a somatic inquiry at the end of each unit. You can submit your assignment in your own way! Maybe it’s written in words, or you can make a short video to describe your experience.
If I take your program, what title(s) will I receive?
As long as you are actively engaged in the program, you may refer to yourself as a student of Somatic Sex Education. Once you have successfully completed all 5 courses and 4 electives, you will receive the titles of Certified Somatic Sex Educator as well as Certified Sexological Bodyworker.
Are there any professional associations for certified graduates of the ISSSE?
Graduates of the ISSSE core program or the post graduate program are eligible to join the Somatic Sex Educators Association (SSEA) as professional members.
ISSSE students who have completed Core Course One and are continuing on in the program are eligible to join the SSEA as educational members. Students who have successfully completed Core Course Three and are continuing on in the program may join as student practitioners.
Graduates of the ISSSE may also be eligible to join the Association of Certified Sexological Bodyworkers (ACSB).
Can I just attend the In-person Intensives without doing the whole training?
If you are a certified sexological bodyworker and you would like to be certified as a somatic sex educator, you are welcome to sign up for our post-graduate program.
If you are a current student, you are welcome to attend an embodiment intensive you’ve already completed as an elective towards the certification process.