About My Practice

I am a professional Somatic and Intimacy Educator trained by the Institute for the Study of Somatic Sex Education. I am also a Surrogate Partner trained by the Surrogate Partner Collective. Combining the skills of these two modalities, I also offer my services in the role of a Dating Coach. My Somatic and Intimacy Education practice comprises a series of sessions designed to support my client with sexual health and wellness in general and to overcome sex and intimacy difficulties in particular. Surrogate Partner Therapy (SPT) is a more intensive practice where I act in the role of a temporary romantic partner for a number of months to assist clients overcome sex and intimacy barriers and experience more success in future relationships. I offer this service in collaboration with a therapist. The therapist offers support to the client via ongoing talk therapy. As a Surrogate Partner, I provide support to the client via temporary experiential learning and practice about romantic relationships that can include bodywork such as physical intimacy.

I operate my practice on a non-profit basis. I collect service fees to cover operation costs only. My time devoted to my practice is 100% volunteer hours. This practice is my retirement passion and my gift to humanity.

Somatic and Intimacy Education Practice: Pleasure is Healing

I call my Somatic and Intimacy Education practice ‘Pleasure is Healing’ because the ethos behind this simple statement is foundational to my practice. Pleasure is the learning tool, and healing is the result.

Somatic and Intimacy Education clients are invited to work cooperatively with me from the point of first contact via my standardized intake process. This is a way to welcome clients into my practice and to become familiar with each other from the start. I have an intake form that I ask clients to complete prior to attending a first session with me. For personal safety reasons, I ask for clients to send me a photo of their government issued ID prior to offering a booking (my preference) or show me their ID at the start of the first session (if needed). The name on the intake form and on the ID needs to match. We are working together authentically and so it’s important that we know each others true identify from which to build a trust-based client/practitioner relationship. My service is private and confidential but it is not anonymous.

Clients can choose the service approach that suits them best; a talked-focused or touch-focused sex and intimacy coaching approach, or both. Clients can change their mind about the approach they want at the beginning of, or during, each session. When the touch-based approach is chosen, clients also have options. I offer a holistic range of touch experience options for my clients to chose from based on their immediate needs and desires in session with me. I offer touch that can feel relaxing, comforting, connecting, loving and erotic.

Important: My Practice Guidelines

My touch, when bodywork is requested in sessions, is one way only with respect to most somatic exercises. Erotic touch is offered to my clients only when requested and when I deem it is safe to offer. Clients do not touch me erotically. However clients are invited to touch me for energy exchange, grounding and intimacy building. There are a few specific exercises that allow for two-way touch for other educational purposes. In sessions, I remain fully clothed at all times. Clients can be dressed or undressed, to their comfort level.

Body-based practices involving erotic touch in Somatic and Intimacy Education sessions must be:

Clearly client requested at the beginning of the session
Clearly client-directed during the session
Offered within the spirit of being in sole service to the client
Offered for educational purposes only to increase embodiment skills and intimacy practice opportunities
Assessed by myself that touch is wanted and requested by the client, that it serves a useful purpose to the client for learning purposes and will not be harmful to the client
Offered to adult clients only. Adults have the capacity to consent to erotic touch and therefore it is offered as an educational tool on an optional basis for clients

My focus remains solely on being in the role of practitioner and being in service to my clients. I do not have a personal sexual or romantic relationship with my clients. My service as a Somatic and Intimacy Educator is, most often, intended to be offered on a short-term basis only. It is not meant to meet the romantic or sex needs for my clients on a personal basis; it is rather an educational service for clients to apply the learning to their personal romantic and sex life. For clients who do not plan to enter into future personal relationships, then there can be a discussion about using my service, in a mindful and intentional way, to help sustain their natural need for loving human touch and intimacy in their life.

These practice guidelines create a service container that is consistent, predictable, and safe for clients to access. My agreements with clients are identified clearly and my guidelines of ethical practice are consistently observed.

If you have more questions about me, or about my practice, beyond all the information provided here, then you are welcome to book a one-hour talk-based Discovery Session with me where we can sit and chat and get to know each other, prior to making a decision regarding further sessions with me. This one hour Discovery Session is $150.

Surrogate Partner Practice: Loving Wings

I called my surrogate partner services ‘Loving Wings’ because my purpose is to support clients to succeed in forming and sustaining future loving relationships, to fly on their own, by applying the skills they gained while working with me.

While my work as a Somatic and intimacy Educator focuses on teaching love, intimacy, and pleasure through both talk-based and touch-based practices, my role as a surrogate partner in Surrogate Partner Therapy (SPT) takes on a different, more structured and longer-term approach to helping clients heal and grow in their intimate relationships. In SPT, I collaborate with a licensed therapist to support clients in overcoming challenges related to intimacy, emotional connection, and physical touch.

As a surrogate partner, I offer a deeply supportive and experiential approach to healing and growth in the realm of intimacy, relationships, and sexuality. My role is to serve as a partner to clients in a therapeutic setting, where we work together over a period of months to explore and develop skills in emotional connection, physical intimacy, communication, and trust. Throughout our sessions, I model healthy intimacy by engaging in exercises that range from verbal communication to touch, all designed to help clients understand their own desires, boundaries, and capacity for connection.

Our relationship is professional yet deeply personal, involving close interaction and mutual vulnerability as a way to create a safe space for learning and healing. I act as a mirror, reflecting back their feelings, needs, and experiences, and providing feedback and guidance. The relationship is structured with clear boundaries and transparency, and it’s supported by a licensed therapist who is part of the triadic team. Over time, clients practice new behaviors and experiences in a real-life context, allowing them to develop the confidence and insight needed to transfer these skills into their daily lives and future relationships.

My approach is about creating a space where clients can learn to trust, communicate, and experience intimacy at their own pace, without fear or shame. Together, we break through barriers that have held them back, helping them feel empowered and connected in intimate relationships going forward.

The intake process for Surrogate Partner Therapy is different from that of Somatic and Intimacy Education. For SPT, clients can contact me directly or have their therapist reach out to begin the intake process. Typically, this involves clear communication between myself, the client, and their therapist to ensure a triadic model of care. If a client does not already have a therapist, I can assist in finding one who is willing to work with us in this therapeutic approach. This collaboration ensures that the client receives the most comprehensive care as they navigate the process of healing and growth in intimacy.

Dating Coaching

I apply my skills as a Somatic and Intimacy Educator and a Surrogate Partner to my Dating Coaching practice. Those who face dating challenges are taught and emotionally supported to gain more confidence, skills and practice that can directly be applied for more success in the dating world. Talk only dating coaching sessions can be booked for one hour. If clients want to experience the talk and touch approach to dating coaching, then two hour sessions are required.

IMPORTANT REMINDER REGARDING ALL MY MODALITIES: MY PROFESSIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT AND STANDARDS FOR ETHICAL PRACTICE

I adhere to the standard practice guidelines for my modality. Touch sessions, when chosen, can create a simulated sex and intimacy laboratory where my clients sexual energy is welcomed and invited to come out and play. I focus on experiential learning, healing and pleasure experiences for my clients, and not for me. I stay fully dressed at all times. Clients can choose their state of dress or undress.

All erotic touch is one way only from me to my clients. Clients do not touch me erotically. I do not engage in other forms of sexual contact with my clients, only touch-based. I permit clients to touch me for learning, grounding and energy exchange purposes only, but not for sexual purposes. This establishes clear, predictable and safe professional boundaries for clients to relax and lean into my offerings. Clients can experiment, learn and practice new sex and intimacy skills within the safe parameters and cocoon of this professional practice. I do not engage in a personal sexual relationship with my clients outside of session work with them.

My studio is located in central Winnipeg; the address is provided after booking. I communicate with clients via email only. For professional reasons, questions or discussions about personal or sexual matters occur within booked sessions only, and not via email or text. When we meet in person, space is made to welcome your questions or discuss other personal and private matters.

These practice guidelines are in effect for Somatic and Intimacy Education and for Dating Coaching practice. With Surrogate Partner work, the practice guidelines may become altered based on the needs of individual clients and based on agreements with members of the triadic model of care team; the client, the therapist and me, as the support partner.

Confidentiality Agreement

The identity of my clients and the details regarding their Somatic and Intimacy Education or surrogate partner therapy sessions is kept private and strictly confidential.

There are exceptional circumstances when the confidentiality agreement can be set aside. If a client presents as a danger to themselves, or others, or if a child is deemed to be at risk of being harmed or in need of protection, then there are legal reporting obligations I must meet.

I also share information about sessions with other professional peer supports or supervisors for the purposes of consultation and learning. The identifying names of my Somatic and Intimacy Education clients is not disclosed. I share the learning with peers and supervisors and not the details so that client privacy and confidentiality is maintained. Regarding my work as a surrogate partner, I share information about client sessions with my supervisors and with the client’s therapist and therefore client identity is known. We sign sharing of information agreements at the onset of the therapy.

Follow-Up After Care

I follow-up with my Somatic and Intimacy Education clients by sending out a monthly email practice update that informs clients about my new trainings, service offerings or developments of interest to them. With my regular clients where I have formed longer-term connections, I may follow up with a personal email if I have reason to do so such as if I have a concern about them or if come across a resource or information that I think might be helpful to them. Receiving this monthly email practice update is optional. Those on my email list can request to opt out at any time.

With my Surrogate Partner Therapy clients, my follow-up, or between session contact with clients and with their therapist, is discussed and determined in the course of the therapy plan.

I periodically keep in touch with my dating coaching clients as a means to support and cheer them on to success in the dating world.

My Clientele

My Somatic and Intimacy Education clients are generally adventurous, discerning, and respectful adults, of all ages, genders, and sexual orientations, who yearn for greater sexual pleasure, healing, and intimacy in their romantic and erotic life.

I serve individuals or couples with in-person or on-line sessions. I serve groups for on-line or in-person training purposes.

In my surrogate partner practice, my clients are usually mature cis-gendered men. However I am open to serving persons with diverse genders and sexual orientations as I myself fall somewhat into that spectrum of diversity.

Specific Target Groups

I feel comfortable working with clients impacted by sexual shame, repression, and trauma as I have personally experienced all three. I enjoy being witness to the transformative healing power of Somatic and Intimacy Education in this regard. The modality quickly helped me to heal sexually and to experience more sexual pleasure in my life.

I enjoy working with those who wish to revive or improve romance, sex, and intimacy in long term relationships, those seeking to find new loving relationships in the dating world and those inexperienced in romance, sex, and intimacy who wish to feel more practiced and confident going forward.

For persons not intending to be involved in an intimate relationship in the immediate future, I am happy to offer them regular touch that feels pleasurable and intimate. Human touch is a basic human need, and I am honoured to make that offering to those in need. Pleasure is healing.

Working with those affected by pelvic pain is another area of interest for me. I experience pelvic pain and have found solutions for pain relief with somatic sex education. Due to my nursing and social service background, I enjoy working with those affected by sexual dysfunction or other sexual difficulties such as concerns about use of pornography.

I enjoy working with persons with disabilities because, from my nursing background, I was frequent witness to lack of access to sexuality for persons with disabilities. Somatic and Intimacy Education and Surrogate Partner Therapy offers good access to sexual pleasure and healing for persons with disabilities and the opportunity to learn and practice how to be successful in intimate relationships. One of my elective courses was about sex and disabilities.

I like working with clients involved in the sex industry such as sex workers, sex buyers, other affiliates, and those who experienced exploitation in the sex industry. This is a particular area of interest of mine given my thirty-year history of social service work in the anti-sexual exploitation movement.

And I like to work with seniors, since I am one; and since so many seniors are affected by sexual shame and repression due to society’s sexually oppressive norms of my era. It’s not too late for seniors to enjoy their sexuality. Somatic and Intimacy Education and Surrogate Partner Therapy offer relief from sexual shame and repression. It offers opportunities for skill building and experiencing sexual happiness and liberation to all who choose to give it a chance, including for seniors.

Do you suspect that you might be a kinkster? Do you have an interest in power exchange activities like BDSM, trying out domination or submissive experiences or exploring certain fetishes? I am a kinkster myself and involved in the local kink community. Therefore, I am able to offer you these kinds of kink explorations within our session work. We can discuss this more in detail in the first discovery session that you book with me.

Accessibility for Clients

I try my best to accommodate the accessibility needs for anyone interested in becoming a client. I know access to healthy sexuality for persons with disabilities of all types, for example, has historically been an issue. Barriers to sexuality services continues to exist and go largely unaddressed by our health care and social services systems for many disadvantaged persons.

So, I invite potential clients to self-identity and communicate disability accommodation needs to me as much as possible. I aim to explore and consider how best to address the accommodation needs, for all my clients, in the context of this work. This includes the ability to afford the session and/or trainings costs associated with Somatic and Intimacy Education or Surrogate Partner Therapy.

My Professional Associations

My Health Protocols

Clients are asked to be freshly showered and refrain from alcohol or other mind-altering substance use prior to sessions and to also be mindful of risk regarding infection transmission such as colds, flu and covid. These matters are discussed with each client in the intake process. Since touch can be involved in session work, we also discuss STI and other infection risks involved with body to body contact.

My Service Location

Given ready access to new technology and video-meeting platforms, I can see English-speaking clients from anywhere in the world for on-line sessions. For in-person sessions, I have practice and workshop space options at various locations in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I offer home visits or meetings at alternative locations to accommodate persons with disabilities or other special needs.

My Session Rates and Types and Booking Information

My Rates

My flat rate is $125 an hour payable by cash, cheque, bank transfer or e-transfer.

Talk-Only In-Person or Video-Chat Discovery Sessions: One hour for $100.

This is the starting point for all clients to discover if you want to work with me. We will meet face to face either in person or via video-chat.. You will learn more about me, my modality and get a feel if you are inclined to work with me. You can ask any questions about me and my practice. You can receive sex and intimacy consultation and coaching in this hour. Talk-only sessions do not include bodywork.

Talk-Only In-Person or Video-Chat Sessions: One hour for $125

Some clients choose talk-based-only sex and intimacy coaching in their session work with me. These sessions involve somatic coaching, providing sex education information and consultation and does not include somatic hands-on touch or bodywork.

Talk and Touch In-Person or Video-Chat Regular Sessions: 2 hours for $250.

Talk and touch regular sessions include sex and intimacy coaching and bodywork. I recommend that these regular sessions be booked for two hours for the best benefit to clients, however 1.5 hour sessions are also available, if desired. Video-Chat sessions involve bodywork that is guided self-touch.

1.5 Hour Four-Handed Erotic Massage

For those bi-curious or wanting more intensive sensation with two persons massaging them at one time, I offer a four-handed erotic massage with a male colleague ($400)

1.5 Hour Couples Erotic Massage

For couples wishing to get more embodiment practice together or just want to spice up their sex life a little, I offer couples massage with a male or female colleague ($400)

Surrogacy Sessions: Surrogacy sessions are a minimum of three hours per session and the cost will be discussed with individual clients.

Session Frequency

I prefer to work with clients open to attending a series of sessions rather than a one-off session, but all clients start out with a one-hour discovery session for us to get to know each other. It takes time and commitment to embody more permanent changes you wish to make to sustain the sex and intimacy skills that are learned in sessions and therefore a series of sessions results in the best benefit to my clients.

Other Options

Inquire about a monthly rate for longer-term engagement in an intimacy skill development program utilizing our client/practitioner relationship as the training ground.

Inquire about a sliding scale rate for those affected by low income.

Inquire about rates for training for groups.

Payable by cash, cheque, or e-transfer.

My Booking Information

Submit a completed intake form. You can disclose as much, or as little information as you wish about yourself, in the intake form. All personal information submitted in the intake form and other correspondence with me is kept strictly confidential.

I will review your intake information and send you an email to verify that your intake is received and reviewed.

Julie will then follow up to arrange your booking. Julie is my confidential booking manager. Julie only has adminstrative duty to arrange bookings. She has no access to your intake form or any other personal information.

My Network of Colleagues

I have established a network of other sexuality specialists and professionals locally and beyond the borders of Manitoba. These are folks I network and consult with, learn from and utilize as a referral source to better serve my clients.

Joseph Fedorowich is a certified Sexological Bodyworker in Winnipeg. His practice differs in some ways from mine so contact him directly to inquire about his service. Email: jaguarsmoon@yahoo.com, Text: 431-200-3065

“R” is a sexuality professional that offers client-centred sensual body massage exclusively for men by men in Winnipeg. His website is www.somaticawareness.ca

“D” is a sexuality professional in Winnipeg that offers services for all genders. The website is www.sexualityjourney.ca

SOMATIC & INTIMACY EDUCATOR SURROGATE PARTNER

Pleasure is Healing