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Back to the Body™ utilizes a combination of several modalities in our work, which we call the “Back to the Body Method”™. The Back to the Body Method™ was developed over 10 years of immersion practice with hundreds of women.

The Back to the Body Method™ uses practices from modalities including but not limited to:

• The Triadic Model

• Sexological Bodywork

• Somatic Presencing

• Somatica®

• Core Energetics 

• Western & Eastern healing methodologies

• Sex, relationship, & intimacy coaching

Clients are matched with practitioners with expertise and training in these various modalities based on their individual needs.

The Back to the Body Method™ has been developed over 10 years of working with over 1000 women in the Back to the Body container with a team of world-class educators, mental health professionals, and coaches. It is this blend of embodied talent and expertise that has created our own unique approach based solidly on holding a strong ethical container for women.

We believe healing can happen in many different ways, but we are not therapists or doctors, we are educators. And along with our other somatic based colleagues around the world, we share the belief that this work heals.

This work is not a replacement for therapy or other work around trauma. 

We believe that a safe, nurturing, non-judgmental environment facilitates women to achieve the following: 

• The release of body shame

• Body acceptance

• A higher level of genital self-esteem

• Feeling better about their sexuality and vulvas

• The somatic release of trauma

• Embracing and understanding their arousal

• Embracing and understanding their orgasmic potential

• The ability to ask for what they want and name their desires

• To be able to open to receiving pleasure

• The ability to initiate sexual activity as desired, after they leave the retreat

• To understand consent

Yes! Back to the Body™ certifies our practitioners. All members of our team also come to us with a long resume of certifications, training, and expertise. Including:

• Sexological Bodywork certifications (incl. SSEA, ISSSE)

• Somatic Sexual Education Certified (incl. Somatica Institute)

• Holistic Sex Education Certified (incl. Institute for Sexuality Education & Enlightenment)

• Licensed Clinical Psychotherapy, Counseling, Couples Counseling, and Trauma-Informed Sex Positive Therapy

• Certified Sex and Relationship Coaches (incl. Somatica®)

• Swedish, Thai, and Esalen massage certified

• Tantra trainings and certifications

• Intern Surrogate Partner certified (International Professional Surrogates Association)

• “Like A Pro” Wheel of Consent Training with Dr. Betty Martin

All practitioners go through a vetting process with both Pamela Madsen and the entire Back to the Body™ team. New practitioners mentor with Back to the Body™ for a period ranging from six months to one year, depending on prior experience, before becoming a full team member. After one year of working with Back to the Body™ they can achieve certification in the Back to the Body Method™. All our practitioners hold certifications and/or trainings in somatic education, sexological bodywork, and other modalities to assure that they are qualified for the work.

Somatic Sexological Bodywork is a unique form of somatic education utilizing a set of principles and the integration of body, mind, and spirit in its application. Through embodied practice we guide our clients through exercises that allow them to get in touch with their bodies and their pleasure.

Client information is kept confidential within Back to the Body™. We never sell or give away our lists. All practitioners at Back to the Body™ sign a contract with us to hold confidentiality. The magic of Back to the Body™ is that we operate in a team approach. So even though every woman will be assigned to their own practitioner and female safe port (the Triadic Model), the staff meets at a minimum of twice a day during retreats where we share openly what is going on in sessions to receive the input of the team to ensure we are best meeting client needs.. Attendees are reminded about how we hold confidentiality at the beginning of every retreat.

See our ethics code for a full breakdown of our confidentiality practices.

Back to the Body™ and all team members are held to the the following ethics:

• Practitioners and team members sign an agreement with Back to the Body™ that they will not engage in romantic or social contact with clients.

• We are professional in attitude and conduct, responsible in relations with clients, reliable in agreements, and timely in appointment schedules.

• We recognize the importance of consent and choice in all somatic sex education with groups and individuals. We will strive to provide a range of options for the client to actively elect that which will serve their own education.

• At no time shall a client be required or coerced to participate in any activity, event or exercise.

• We will educate about consent and choice and actively create learning environments where clients are empowered to exercise these skills.

• Practitioners may use physical touch in an educational context. If they do so, they touch consciously and with the attitude to do no harm. Practitioners agree to obtain clients’ consent and to act with concern for their safety, growth, and awareness of boundaries.

• In group or individual sessions, all touch will be unidirectional or one-way, i.e. by the practitioner for the client and never vice versa. We request that our clients pursue couples retreats and bring their partners when they wish to learn interpersonal erotic skills or invite them to practice such skills in their personal life.

• In group or individual sessions we remain clothed when touching our clients.

• Professional protocol includes the use of medical-grade examination gloves.

• We acknowledge the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries, including asking permission to touch and stopping touch when clients request.

• In group or individual sessions we refrain from oral stimulation and kissing.

• Practitioners practice open transparency with clients and the Back to the Body team. Practitioners will never ask clients to hold secrets or withhold content about their sessions from other team members.

• We are conscious and make our clients conscious that while we share authentic intimacy, sessions are not intended to fulfill the practitioner nor the client's desire for romantic connection.

• We understand the inherent power we hold in our roles of teacher, mentor, guide, practitioner, and will not use this power for the exploitation of our clients.

• We practice risk-reduction and professional protocol in all individual and group sessions. We take steps to minimize any physical or emotional harm, in active collaboration with all clients.

• We will refrain from providing bodywork, training sessions and/or presenting any instructional material while either the team member or the client is under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.

• Practitioners may unilaterally terminate services, on just and reasonable grounds after careful consideration of all situational factors and any possible adverse effects. The team is responsible to make appropriate referrals and to provide support to clients during this transition.

• We will respect, defend, and preserve the privacy of all information gained during sessions.

• We will release professional obligations for confidentiality only by written authorization from clients, statutory requirement or court order; a general, nonspecific, or verbal authorization is not sufficient.

• We will preserve the anonymity of clients when using information for purposes of teaching, research, and supervision.

• The only exception to anonymity is when holding confidential consultations within the Back to the Body™ team in the context of retreats, for the express purpose of best supporting the client.

• We require all persons attending classes, retreats, or sessions reach written or spoken agreement that respects and maintains the confidentiality of information shared during such sessions.

• Back to the Body™ will maintain appropriate professional records of all classes and sessions.

• Back to the Body™ will obtain informed, written permission from clients before taping or filming any session or class, explaining the intended use of the tape or video and the limits of confidentiality.