Somatic Sexual Healing Program or Full Embodiment Program (FEP)Professional training program developed by Ariel Giarretto
What is the Somatic Sexual Healing Program? What is the Full Embodiment Program (FEP) training?
After years of development, Full Embodiment (FE) brings together the latest somatic treatment methods with trauma-informed sex education. This program recognizes the common dilemmas and challenges therapists face in their work, as well as the various ways in which people around the world struggle with shame and a lack of connection to their bodies and sexuality. That is why FE has been carefully designed for anyone who wants to find their way back to themselves, to pleasure, and to deeper intimacy. It is aimed at people who are reluctant to experience their bodies, who associate pleasure with shame, who experienced sexual abuse in their childhood, who feel marginalized, who have faced gender-based or racial violence, bullying, or religious oppression, and who are struggling with intergenerational trauma.
The FEP program has several goals and objectives:
1/ The program guides everyone with love and patience in finding a sense of ease, familiarity, and comfort in their own bodies. Through gentle, step-by-step exercises and proven techniques, it invites participants to reflect on their experiences with sexuality and gender in a deeper, more personal way. It encourages participants to write in a journal, examine their own biases, discover their dreams and goals, and lovingly let go of old beliefs, so that they can get to know their bodies and sensuality in a new, meaningful way.
2/ In addition, FE offers a wide range of exercises that help therapists develop the skills and confidence needed to treat and discuss sensitive and often delicate topics, such as the body, sexuality, sexual dysfunctions, relationship problems, and sexual trauma. The knowledge gained through the program contributes to an effective approach to common client concerns. To supplement the content of the modules, various books, articles, and videos are recommended.
3/ The greater mission:
To me, it’s extremely important that we feel comfortable in our own bodies and approach sexuality in a relaxed way; I consider this a political act. I am convinced that by reclaiming our bodies on our own terms, carefully acknowledging our traumas, and learning to be unashamedly present in every fiber of our being, we can form a powerful counter-movement against generations of body shaming, misogyny, imposed shame, and the avoidance of or discomfort surrounding sexuality. The goal is to restore a healthy connection with ourselves and with others and—more importantly—to eradicate gender-based violence and sexual abuse. It is essential that we do not pass on this discomfort and these traumas to the next generation. As helping professionals, we have a responsibility not only to our clients but also to our children, grandchildren, and partners to work on feeling comfortable in our own bodies and to support others in all matters related to sexuality and abuse. This is an often-underestimated but fundamental birthright.
Who are we, at our core?
If we were to remove all social conditioning, the religious and cultural messages to which we have been exposed, all the generations of disembodiment and shame, all the judgments and expectations of family and peers, and all the traumas we have experienced:
• Who are we, really, deep down?
• How can we inhabit our bodies in a way that reflects our true nature?
• How can we express and receive affection, sensuality, and sexuality… on our own terms… in the most sincere and authentic way possible?
• How can we move beyond the generations of primarily religious leaders who were determined to define the “appropriate” traits and behaviors of a “man” or “woman”?
• How do we recognize our desires and attractions, and identify what stands in their way? Are they genuine, or have they been learned?
• What is the best way to break old patterns in relationships and work toward healthy intimacy?
• How can we specifically heal what has been damaged by the factors mentioned above?
How is it done:
By signing up for this program, you’re taking a powerful step toward healing! Please note: During the workshops, we do NOT address sexual trauma, and you will not be asked to share your personal history or specific events.
There will also be no demonstrations in which sexual trauma is discussed again.
If traumatic experiences come up—which, of course, can happen—experienced therapists are available to provide you with private counseling during and between modules to support you as needed. The program places a strong emphasis on recovery and healing vulnerable areas through new experiences.
The program offers professionals a variety of effective exercises and strategies to help even the most challenging clients. And it is designed with the intention and focus of supporting professionals in developing greater calm, joy, and comfort in their own bodies. At the same time, it boosts their self-confidence and provides the necessary knowledge to communicate about everything related to the body, sexuality, sexual dysfunctions, relationship issues, and sexual trauma.
Although some modules are open to a limited number of non-professionals, the Practitioner Certificate is not a standalone program. It is intended exclusively for clinicians with an established practice in body-oriented or mental health care. If you are already part of the SE community and have completed at least the first year of the SE training (or other body-oriented training programs), your admission to the certification program will most likely be approved.
The program consists of four modules. Each module lasts three full days.
You can choose to take just one or several modules for professional or personal growth. Each module has a very different focus, and they build on one another.
All modules combine lectures, videos, demonstrations, the latest research, group discussions, movement, and dance, as well as various gentle and respectful exercises. This creates a powerful and multifaceted program. Conscious body awareness, following sensations, and self-touch are core exercises through which we learn to recognize our bodies as the ultimate source of experience.
– The language of instruction for the training is English.
Dates
| Modules | Dates | Teacher |
| Module 1 | November 11–14, 2027 | Ariel Giarretto |
| Module 2 | June 2–5, 2028 | Ariel Giarretto |
| Module 3 | November 16–19, 2028 | Ariel Giarretto |
| Module 4 | March 8–11, 2029 | Ariel Giarretto |
Course Content:
Module 1:
Essential Strategies for Healing from Sexual Trauma and Sexuality.
We all work with clients who experienced sexual trauma as children, were sexually abused as adults, and grew up with strong religious teachings. They present with overwhelming shame, dissociation, flashbacks, and issues related to sexual and gender identity and body image. They experience their bodies with disgust and as frightening, dangerous places they must avoid, and they often struggle with sexual incompatibilities in their relationships. This workshop is designed to address precisely these challenges and is intended to help practitioners acquire a variety of new and effective tools to best serve these clients, even the most challenging ones. Introduction to materials and exercises not covered in the Somatic Experiencing training.
Contents
• Recognize how sexual trauma has a unique impact on people.
• Help clients with complex histories identify clear goals, so that both of you know where you’re headed, get the permission you need to give them a nudge, and then take the most direct path to recovery.
• Learn gentle, measured approaches that support those who are most reluctant to inhabit their bodies.
• Learn some of the latest scientific insights in the field of sex education that will help you explain essential facts to your clients, thereby normalizing behavior and reducing shame.
• Learn several exercises that support regulation in the present moment—to minimize daily triggers and provide resources and stability right now, without having to work through specific content or history.
• Working with male survivors.
• Discover several mindfulness exercises that help alleviate fear—to help clients restore a sense of safety in their bodies, especially when interacting with others.
• The order and steps that are most effective for processing sexual trauma without causing further trauma.
Module 2:
Uncovering the roots of sexuality trauma.
Deze module vormt de basis van het volledige programma.
We explore the developmental patterns and other formative influences that disrupt a relaxed, shame-free relationship with ourselves as sexual/sensual beings.
• We will gradually restore what has been damaged by generations of sexual oppression, misogyny, and cultural and religious influences.
• Participants develop a personalized body-oriented therapy, set well-considered goals, and begin to transform shame into joy.
• Time will be spent addressing biases and dealing with triggers—including developing a comfortable way to talk about sex and anatomy.
This module focuses on self-exploration and personal development, but it also offers numerous useful strategies for therapists who work with sexuality and trauma.
Clients, colleagues, friends, and partners who are in a stable situation are welcome to participate in this program. We will not be addressing sexual trauma directly.
There will be reading recommendations, writing assignments, peer support between modules, and mandatory group counseling.
Module 3:
The energy of intimacy, attachment, and sexuality
Discovering the subtleties of an intimate relationship.
This module focuses on connecting with yourself, your heart, and your body while being in the presence of others. It is open to individuals, whether or not they are in a relationship, and to those who are sexually active or not.
You don’t need to be in a romantic relationship to benefit greatly from this program. Your partner doesn’t need to be present either. This workshop welcomes partners or colleagues of somatic participants who are not professionals.
We will examine the subtle and not-so-obvious ways in which we interact intimately with one another, and uncover levels of disconnection, meaning-making, closure, and withdrawal that occur beneath the surface of conscious awareness.
Topics include:
• Understanding attachment styles and how they influence intimacy.
• Identify the most effective ways for couples to process and share their experiences, taking into account processing speeds and individual differences.
• Learn more about your own “erotic style.”
• Discover your deepest desires and longings, and notice what stands in the way of embracing them.
• Practice asking for what you want and learn to receive it.
Module 4:
Further Strategies for Healing Sexual Trauma and Sexuality
This module is more informational in nature and addresses common sexual and intimacy issues that arise among couples and individuals—both straight and queer.
Topics:
• Common sexual and intimacy issues among couples.
• Low or absent libido.
• Spicing up long-term relationships.
• Sex and Aging.
• Pelvic and sexual symptoms—including vaginismus, chronic pain, and common sexual dysfunctions—for both women and men.
• Infertility.
• Male survivors.
• Pornography, kink, and BDSM.
• Plus time for questions and case studies that need to be discussed.
Ariel Giarretto
Ariel Giarretto, MS (she/they) is a body-oriented therapist, trainer, and somatic sex educator. With a postgraduate degree in counseling psychology and a license as a marriage and family therapist in California, USA, she has a rich background in studying various somatic and touch therapies. Her work is primarily inspired by Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing (SE). Since first encountering SE in 1999, she has dedicated herself fully to teaching it since 2005.
In the 1990s, she was affiliated with the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, where she worked as a workshop leader, group facilitator, private therapist, and member of the bodywork and massage team. During this period, she completed intensive training with renowned sexuality and tantra experts such as Carolyn and Charles Muir, Margo Anand, Jack Rosenberg, Paul Carter, and many other somatic teachers and touch therapists.
In 2015, she earned her certification as a Somatic Sex Educator at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco (which has since closed). Her expertise focuses, among other things, on sexual and gender-based violence, as well as a wide range of sexual and relationship issues. She has been asked to train therapists who work with Ukrainian war refugees and victims of war violence. In addition, she is a co-developer of “The Full Embodiment Model,” a gentle and transformative workshop method that supports people in recovering from the impact of sexual trauma, abuse, and disembodiment.
Although she recently closed her private practice, for many years she specialized in counseling couples dealing with childhood sexual abuse, conflicting libidos, sexual dysfunction, and infertility. Her profound mission is to lovingly guide everyone—regardless of their history of trauma, identity, or sexual orientation—toward experiencing pleasure, peace, and even ecstasy in their bodies and in connection with others.
You can find more information about FEP and Ariel Giarretto on the following webpage: www.fullembodiment.orgI
The training
FEP
consists of
four modeles
Practical information
Costs and Payment
The program consists of four modules. Each module lasts four full days.
Price per module:
– €830 full price
– €780 with an early-bird discount, paid by September 11, 2027, for Module 1
Payment for each module must be made in full before the module begins.
You can also register for all 4 modules at once.
Prices for all 4 modules:
– €3,200 total price
– €3,000 with an early-bird discount, paid by September 11, 2027, for all 4 modules
Other fees – Certificate of completion
The FEP training consists of 4 modules. Students who wish to receive a certificate of completion for the entire training and become a certified FEP practitioner still need to complete the following.
– Group consultations: 6 private sessions with Ariel (scheduling is flexible) or an individual session with a certified SSHP provider.
– Integration & Case Studies: At least 5 sessions with me or a certified SSHP provider to discuss case studies, ask questions, and successfully integrate the FE methods into your practice.
Price & dates: €40 per session for the group consultations; dates will be announced later. Separate, additional costs apply for the integration sessions.
– One-on-one sessions (6 required): Designed to help you process personal triggers from the modules, so that you can be more attentive to your clients and loved ones.
– Services & Rates: The individual sessions take place with external, certified FE Model therapists. The rate varies by therapist and should be arranged directly with them in advance.
The costs for consultations and experiential sessions are in addition to the training fees.
Important: The other costs may still change slightly before 2027!
The training fees include the cost of the course manual, coffee, tea, and water, as well as snacks during breaks. FEP holds the copyright and ownership rights to the training materials.
Cancellation
If you cancel before 2 months before the start of the training, an administrative fee of €90 will apply. If you cancel from 2 months to 3 weeks before the start of the course, you will pay a 30% cancellation fee. If you cancel from 3 weeks to 7 working days before the start, you pay 70% of the course fee. In case of later cancellation or if you do not cancel / do not show up, you will pay 100% of the course fee. Failure to pay the participation fee never counts as cancellation. Cancellation must be made in writing (e-mail, letter).
Location
Kop van Kessel-lo
Leuvensestraat 18
3010 Leuven
Kop van Kessel-lo is centrally located and easily accessible by car, public transportation, or on foot. (400 meters from the Leuven train station)
Via the following link, you can choose from various car parks in the vicinity: https://www.vergaderzaal-kvk.be/parkeren/
Class times
The class times during the training modules are from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM with a 2-hour lunch break.
This may vary slightly every day if there is a slight delay or if we stop a little earlier.
On the first day, registration will begin at 9:15 a.m. We ask everyone to arrive on time so you can register, get your bearings, find a seat in the room, etc., and so we can start together at 10:00 a.m.
The teaching language is English.
Information on participation and certification:
You can choose to enroll in one or more modules to support your professional and personal development. If you are a body-oriented therapist, or an SE student or SE therapist, you can take all four modules and participate in mandatory supervision and individual sessions with a qualified therapist. This program leads to a certificate as a Somatic Sex Therapist.
It is also possible to take individual modules, or a selection of them, without obtaining the certificate.
Current SE students who need credits for the SEP program can receive 2 hours of credits from the faculty upon completion of each module.
Certification and Requirements:
As a Somatic Sexual Healing Practitioner, you will receive a certificate demonstrating that you have completed comprehensive training in trauma-informed, somatic sexual healing.
Graduates will be listed in a free therapist directory on my website if you sign up for it. This platform helps you expand your network and secure more referrals. After all, the demand for professional guidance in the areas of somatics and trauma-informed sexuality is greater than ever and continues to grow. There is an alarming shortage of trained professionals who are skilled in the gentle, trauma-informed principles of Somatic Experiencing®, combined with an understanding of the complexities of sexuality, sexual trauma, and sexual dysfunctions.
Registration
You can sign up for the Full Embodiment Program using the form below.
English (UK) 
Nederlands 
Français