Exploring erotic potential: mixed methods study on effects of a sexological bodywork retreat for people who identify as women

Abstract

Within the field of sexuality in the United States, the use of hands-on work is controversial, although it is practiced internationally and has been researched in other countries. This mixed methods study explored effects of sexological bodywork within the context of Back to the Body^TM retreats for people who identify as women. Quantitative data were gathered from a survey of participants at past retreats (n = 48) and from pre and posttest surveys of participants before and after a retreat (n = 35). The survey of past participants found moderate to very positive changes across all constructs: 75% for arousal, sexual self-image, and sisterhood; 72% for body image; 71% for feelings about genitals and sexual assertiveness; and 66% for sexual satisfaction. Pre and posttest surveys revealed statistically significant increases in genital self-image, body image, sexual self-image, and sexual satisfaction; however, sexual assertiveness decreased. Qualitative analysis of open-ended survey responses and from 21 in-depth interviews revealed five major themes: feeling safe, connecting to self and others, feeling acceptance and permission, exploring arousal and pleasure, and transformative life changes. Sex and relationship therapists can use these findings to add to their own knowledge and to assist clients who may be interested in these modalities.

LAY SUMMARY

Surveys and interviews were used to explore sexological bodywork at sensual retreats for women. Changes were reported for genital self-image, body image, sexual self-image, and sexual satisfaction. In interviews participants discussed feeling safe, connecting to self and others, feeling acceptance and permission, exploring arousal and pleasure, and transformative life changes.

Keywords:

• Sexological bodywork
• somatic sex education
• female sexual arousal
• women’s body image
• sexual assertiveness
• sexual satisfaction

Acknowledgements

Pamela Madsen, Founder/Director of Back to the Body^TM retreats and her staff are appreciated for their cooperation with data collection, our graduate research assistant for their work on quantitative data analysis, Li Lock, Ph.D. and Kristin Haase, Ph.D. for their review of that analysis, and Patricia Koch, Ph.D., Sabitha Pillai-Friedman, Ph.D., LCSW, Angela Towne, Ph.D. and Robert Heasley, Ph.D., LMFT, for their reviews and feedback on the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

No funds were received for the conduct of this research.

Notes on contributors

Betsy Crane

Betsy Crane (she/her) recently retired as professor and former director of graduate studies at the Widener University’s Center for Human Sexuality Studies where she taught since 2007. Betsy earned a Ph.D. from Cornell University in 2000 and her MA in Mental Health Education from University of Texas in 1972. For 17 years she worked as a community sexuality educator, and later as Executive Director for Planned Parenthood in Ithaca, NY. She is co-editor of Sexual Lives: A Reader on the Theories and Realities of Human Sexualities (Heasley & Crane, 2003) and 40 academic and professional publications and educational materials focused on human sexuality, women’s sexual pleasure, social justice, and empowerment. Her research interests include the history of gendered sexuality and somatic sex education. Dr. Crane is past-president of the Foundation for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, and board member for the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality. In 2014, Widener University designated her as a Distinguished University Professor.

Kaci Mial

Kaci Mial (she/her) is a sex coach, educator, and researcher with 12 years’ experience in government, community, medical, non-profit, residential, and university settings. She received a M.Ed. degree from Widener University’s Human Sexuality program in 2018 and became a certified sex coach through Sex Coach U in 2022. Kaci is co-author of Cavanaugh, C., Mial, K., & Tulloch, D. (2016), Assessing and mapping the availability of the female condom In the Philadelphia metropolitan area. AIDS and Behavior, 20(12), 2845–2849. Previously Kaci served as adjunct professor at Rutgers University-Camden Psychology Department, clinical case manager for pregnant adolescents, and educator/curriculum developer for families within the perinatal period. Kaci currently specializes in helping individuals and couples understand and achieve pleasure before, during, and after pregnancy through virtual coaching. Kaci is committed to social and reproductive justice and is available as a speaker to apply a trauma-informed, sex-positive, and medically accurate approach to a variety of other topics in mental and sexual health.

Elise Becher

Elise Becher (she/her) is a relationship coach, author, educator, and researcher. Elise earned a medical degree (MD) from the University of Virginia in 1992, MA in Public Policy Studies from University of Chicago (where she also completed a fellowship with the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program) in 1995, and MEd in Human Sexuality Studies from Widener University in 2018. Elise was formerly a faculty member in Pediatrics and Health Policy at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, where she co-authored publications in pediatric health services and medical errors. After leaving academic medicine, Elise transitioned into coaching. She is certified as a co-active coach (CPCC) by the Co-Active Training Institute, a relationship and couples coach by The Relationship School (TRS), and a master coach by the Elementum Coaching Institute, where she now serves on the faculty. Elise specializes in helping individuals and couples learn to live more relationally aware and authentic lives by identifying ways to remain true to who they are while maintaining deep and genuine connections with others.