For many of you, this will be uncharted territory. I always welcome questions, but if you’d like to get acquainted on your own first, here are a few helpful resources to start.
Glossary
| Accessible Sexual Education | Comprehensive sex education for people across the spectrum of disability. |
| Aromantic | A person who experiences little or no romantic attraction to anyone. |
| Asexuality | The quality or characteristic of experiencing little to no sexual feelings or desires. |
| BDSM | A variety of often erotic practices or role playing involving bondage, discipline, dominance and submission, sadomasochism, and other related interpersonal dynamics. |
| Embodiment Practices | Using the body as a tool for healing through self-awareness, mindfulness, connection, self-regulation, finding balance, and creating self-acceptance. Embodiment explores the relationship between our physical being and our energy. It involves the interaction of our body, thoughts, and actions. |
| Ethical Non-monogamy (ENM) | Any relationship dynamic in which partners consent to pursue sexual and/or romantic connections with multiple people. |
| LGBTQIA+ | An abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more. These terms are used to describe a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. |
| Polyamory | The practice of, or desire for, romantic relationships with more than one partner at the same time, with the informed consent of all partners involved. |
| Queer | Often used as an umbrella term for people who are not straight or who don’t identify with their assigned sex at birth. People may also identify as queer if they don’t feel that the terms lesbian, gay, bisexual, or trans fully represent them. |
| Surrogate Partner Therapy (SPT) | A type of therapy specifically constructed to give a client opportunities for growth with relationships, communication, consent, touch, nudity, body image, and physical and emotional intimacy, while simultaneously having the support of their therapist all through the process. With the involvement of these two professionals with distinct roles, there is an opportunity to do genuine work with intimacy, sexuality and relationships, while still maintaining checks and balances and client protections. |
| Somatic Experiencing | A body–mind therapy specifically focused on healing trauma by helping clients draw their attention to their bodies. |
| Somatic Sex Education | Instruction through body experiences designed to nurture, deepen or awaken the sensual self. These experiences can include coaching in breath, movement, body awareness, boundary-setting, communication, anatomy, sensate focus, and massage. |
| Therapeutic Kink | Aims to remove the shame that those who engage in a kink may encounter. The focus is to promote practicing kink with mindfulness, intention, and somatic awareness. |
| Trauma Informed Practice | Considers the complex impact of trauma on an individual’s well-being and how it shapes a person’s ability to cope. Trauma-informed practices integrate an awareness of trauma into every aspect of treatment, while making safety a priority for clients. |
Helpful Websites
American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, & Therapists
A mission-driven organization that seeks to change the state of sexual health for people with disabilities.
A Surrogate Partner Therapy Resource Group
International Professional Surrogates Association (IPSA)
Internationally recognized as the leading authority on Surrogate Partner Therapy. Providing training, consultation, referrals, information to the media, cooperation with researchers, and professional support, since 1973.
A network of surrogate partner therapy practitioners and collaborating clinicians, providing certification, continuing education, advocacy, and outreach.
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