Who are we at our core?

If we were to remove all of the social conditioning, the religious, racial and cultural messages forced on us, all of the generations of sexism, misogyny and shame, all the judgments and expectations of family and peers, and all the traumas we have experienced:

• Who are we underneath all of it?

• How would we inhabit our bodies in ways that reflect our true nature?

• How would we act?

• How would we express and receive affection, sensuality and sexuality… on our terms… in our most genuine and authentic way?

• How would we identify?

• Where do we more accurately fall on the gender spectrum?

• How do we recognize our desires, and attractions and identify what inhibits them? Are these real, or are these learned?

• What is a healthy relationship?

I, Ariel Giarretto, and the Full Embodiment (FE) Model intend to help you find your way to, and through, these questions. Decades in its formation—FE has been developed to support those who have been shamed, harmed or traumatized in relationship to their bodies, their gender/sex and to intimacy. It is especially suited for those who are reluctant to feel their bodies, who associate shame with pleasure, who have experienced sexual abuse, marginalization, sexual assault, gender or racial-based violence, bullying or religious oppression, as well as invasive medical procedures. It tackles pelvic pain, infertility, and low libido.

As an internationally renowned Somatic Experiencing® trauma trainer and consultant, Ariel combines her deep knowledge of body-oriented trauma treatment with many years of experience as a somatic sex educator, specialising in sexual abuse recovery, sexuality enhancement, including the LGBT+ community and male survivors.

In a world that is obsessed with opinions about the standards of beauty, what is ideal, what is appropriate, to whom should we be attracted, FE recognizes that few of us grow up without some form of sexuality trauma.  Compounded by these larger social, cultural and systemic attitudes towards sex, when there has been incest, sexual abuse or sexual assault, the reactions and responses to these already horrific traumas are often profoundly more devastating.

Taking into account all of the emotional, psychological and physical impact that sexuality trauma has on our beings, Ariel has created specific and targeted exercises where healing and recovery can happen, regardless of what you have been through. These programs are essential for mental health or touch professionals wanting additional training in sexuality, sexual abuse recovery, and basic embodiment.

Full Embodiment is a series of experiential workshops and trainings, prioritizing safety, respect, and embodied consent. Full Embodiment presents the kindest, and most effective ways to re-inhabit our full selves--whatever that looks like for each individual. These programs are formed by decades of personal experience and experimentation, hundreds of hours of individual therapeutic sessions with couples and clients, and ongoing research and training in sexuality, sexual dysfunction, relationship and attachment dynamics.

Although the workshops are designed to support gentle expansion and growth, the pace is slow and easy. Every exercise involves choice and consent, and all boundaries will be respected. These are not programs that “push through” but value curiosity, personal interest and the experience of “being with and in” ourselves in every moment, regardless of what shows up. There is no nudity or overt sexual contact during workshop hours, and all touch is limited to self-exploration, or short exercises of consensual co-touch in pairs. Your identity as a workshop participant, along with the nature of the exercises and the identities of other participants, is kept strictly confidential."

Ariel has completely closed her private therapy practice and is instead focusing on presenting transformational programs.

She is available to the SE community for anyone needing individual or group consultations, as well as any professional working with the above issues who could use additional support.

*For those of you seeking individual sessions please check-out my extensive referral list.