Providing Professional Support for Sexual Trauma

For therapists and professionals from somatically oriented fields of work.

with Ariel Giarretto

This seminar is designed for professionals who support people with complex trauma histories, particularly after sexual abuse or intrafamilial sexual assault. The focus is on somatic and trauma-sensitive approaches for professional practice – especially where conventional body-oriented methods reach their limits.

Seminar Description:

In working with people who have experienced sexual abuse, sexual assault, or incest, it often becomes apparent that traditional somatic approaches alone are insufficient. Many affected individuals avoid body awareness, experience strong resistance to embodiment, or quickly become stressed, withdrawn, or overwhelmed when dealing with issues closely related to the body.

This seminar addresses precisely these challenges. The central question is how to provide trauma-sensitive, body-oriented, and professionally sound support to people with complex biographical burdens, without overwhelming or retraumatizing them. In addition, the seminar will cover content and exercises that go beyond standard somatic training.

Content and Professional Focus:

• Supporting people who have difficulty accessing their bodies to develop more ease and a pleasant body experience.

• Identifying and specifically addressing what was damaged or disrupted as a result of sexual abuse in childhood.

• Developing clear goals with clients with complex histories, ensuring the process is professionally sound and that consent is consciously incorporated.

• Using the latest scientific findings from sex education to classify behavior, explain connections in an understandable way and reduce feelings of shame.

• Applying embodiment exercises that promote regulation in the present and contribute to greater stability and a greater experience of resources in everyday life.

• Employing techniques that strengthen boundaries, help people find their voice, and allow embodied consent to be expressed in a more nuanced way.

• Learning advanced strategies to process sexual trauma without promoting retraumatization

• Utilizing various methods of working with shame and supporting clients in freeing themselves from its blocking effect

• Gaining more confidence to speak professionally about the body and about topics related to sexuality.

• Perceiving and inhabiting one's own body with greater awareness, naturalness, and well-being

Methodology:

This seminar combines expert input, current scientific findings, practice-oriented reflection, and concrete, body-related exercises. The content is geared towards professional application in therapeutic and somatic contexts. The aim is to enhance participants' confidence in their actions within a sensitive and demanding field.

Insights and Practical Application:

• Specific somatic tools for working with sexual trauma and sexuality

• Greater clarity in supporting clients with complex trauma histories

• Practical exercises for regulation, stabilization and resource orientation

• Professionally sound approaches to working with shame, boundaries and consent

• Greater confidence in professionally discussing body and sexuality

• A broader understanding of how embodiment can be gently supported even with strong protection.

Requirements:

Therapists, psychologists, alternative practitioners of psychotherapy, body therapists, sex educators, intimacy coaches and all professionals who wish to align their practice and skills in this field in a more differentiated and well-founded manner.