The Code of Ethics and Ethical Code of Practice (‘Ethical Codes’ or ‘Codes’) are a set of requirements to which all ASIS Member-Practitioners must adhere. They form a solid base of ethical practice which is the hallmark of a grounded, boundaried, integrated and ethical practitioner. Their intention is to offer a dynamic set of ethical standards which allow for flexibility, reflecting the various working practices of individual practitioners.

The Ethical Code of Practice expands upon the Code of Ethics and defines the standards of professionalism expected from Member-Practitioners.

ASIS Code of Ethics

Purpose of the Code

This Code of Ethics addresses the third point in the ASIS Aims and Objectives:

Somatic Sexology is a diverse field. ASIS Member-Practitioners share the common aims of supporting Clients’ individual personal growth, empowerment and integration, and their emotional, physical, mental, spiritual and sexual well-being. ASIS recognises that Member-Practitioners may work in differing though related disciplines. These broadly encompass talking (e.g. coaching, counselling, education, psychotherapy) and/or somatic modalities (e.g. bodywork, breathwork, massage, sexual surrogacy, trauma release) and/or energy work (e.g. Tantra and Taoist practices).

Scope of the Codes

The term “Client” in the Ethical Codes refers to any person who pays for Member-Practitioner services, or acts as a Client for a Member-Practitioner who is in training, and includes individual Clients, workshop participants, online course participants, supervisees and mentees. While the specific modalities used may vary between Member-Practitioners, Clients or between different sessions with the same Client, the Ethical Codes apply equally to all work-related professional activities provided by Member-Practitioners including individual or group sessions, teaching, training, assisting, mentoring, supervision and consulting and provide a common set of values which Member-Practitioners use as a basis for their professional work.

These Ethical Codes are intended to provide both the general principles and the rules covering most situations encountered by Member-Practitioners. Their primary goal is the welfare and protection of the Clients with whom Member-Practitioners work and the protection of Member-Practitioners. It is the individual responsibility of each Member-Practitioner to aspire to the highest possible standards of conduct.

Member-Practitioners respect and protect human, civil and sexual rights, and do not knowingly participate in or condone unfair or discriminatory practices. Member-Practitioners actively develop their understanding of cultural competence and endeavour to ensure practices are compassionately sensitive to diverse backgrounds, including race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability.

The development of a dynamic set of ethical standards for Member-Practitioners’ work-related conduct requires a personal commitment to a lifelong effort to behave ethically; to encourage ethical behaviour by colleagues, employees, supervisors, and students, as appropriate; and to consult with others as needed concerning ethical problems. Each Member-Practitioner supplements, but does not violate, the Ethical Codes’ values and rules on the basis of guidance drawn from personal values, culture, context, and experience.

The Ethical Codes are not exhaustive. The fact that a given conduct is not specifically addressed by the Codes does not mean that it is necessarily either ethical or unethical. In the process of making decisions regarding their professional behaviour, Member-Practitioners must honour these Codes, in addition to the requirements of law. When the Codes establishes a higher standard than the law, Member-Practitioners must meet the higher ethical standard. If the Codes’ standards appear to conflict with the legal requirements, Member-Practitioners take steps to resolve the conflict in a responsible manner. Actions ASIS may take for violation of the Ethical Codes including reprimand, censure, and termination of membership. Further definitions of these actions can be found in the ASIS Complaints Procedure.

ASIS Ethical Code of Practice

1. Professionalism and Reliability

Member-Practitioners will be professional in attitude and conduct, responsible in relations with Clients and colleagues, reliable in agreements and timely in appointment schedules.

2. Commitment to the Ethical Codes

Member-Practitioners agree that they have read and understood the provisions of the ASIS Ethical Codes. They represent the minimum standards to which Member-Practitioners aspire and will abide to the best of their ability. Further, Member-Practitioners agree to be held accountable to their colleagues for any actions that deviate from its standards.

3. Consent

Member-Practitioners recognise the importance of consent and choice in all professional interactions with Clients. Member-Practitioners will strive to provide a range of options from which the Client can actively elect that which will serve their own growth. At no time shall a Client be required or coerced to participate in any activity, event or exercise. Member-Practitioners inform and educate their Clients about consent and choice and actively create learning environments where Clients are empowered to exercise those skills.

4. Touch in Practice

Member-Practitioners may use physical touch if they deem it appropriate. If they do so, they touch consciously and with the attitude to do no harm, with concern for the Client's growth; for the safety of both/all parties; and to honour the agreed boundaries established. Member-Practitioners agree to co-create clear agreements with Clients before engaging in practices involving touch. ASIS recommends the use of written intake forms where consent is given in writing as best practice.

5. Altered States of Consciousness

Member-Practitioners recognise that their work can result in altered states of consciousness in Clients, agree to be mindful of this possibility during sessions, and offer advice for Client self-care if appropriate. Member-Practitioners understand that an altered state of consciousness can impact a Client’s capacity to give informed consent (see also point 3: Consent).

6. Maintaining Boundaries in Professional Relationships

Regarding Sexual Contact and / or Conduct with Clients:

     6 a. Sessions are Client-centred and the Clients' boundaries are of primary importance

     6 b. Member-Practitioners recognise the importance of maintaining and respecting agreed boundaries. Boundaries are to be discussed, agreed and set at the beginning of each session; including the stipulation that boundaries may not be renegotiated or changed during that session. Maintaining the agreed boundaries also includes stopping touch whenever Clients request it

     6 c. Member-Practitioners understand the inherent inequality of power they hold relative to Clients in their role of practitioner/teacher and agree not to use this power for the sexual exploitation of Clients

    6 d. Member-Practitioners agree that they will not seek to meet their erotic appetites through their Clients. Member-Practitioners are conscious that, and make Clients aware that, sessions will neither fulfil the Member-Practitioner’s, nor their Client’s desire for romantic and sexual connection

    6 e. If attraction occurs within the professional relationship (either from Client towards Member-Practitioner or from Member-Practitioner towards Client), Member-Practitioners agree to discuss this at professional supervision with the aim of maintaining clear professional boundaries and protecting the Client’s ability to access the work. This may mean terminating the work and making an appropriate referral

     6 f. Member-Practitioners agree not to begin a romantic-sexual relationship with any Client for a minimum of 6-12 months after any professional services have terminated. The length of time is to be considered, relative to the duration and nature of the services that have been provided. In addition, the impact on the client, the vulnerabilities and client’s original intentions/issues must be considered. If a situation like this occurs, Member-Practitioners are expected to discuss the case with their Supervisor and come to an agreement about appropriate conduct before taking any action.

This includes:

• persons from previous sexual relationships who wish to now engage the Member-Practitioner in professional services

• workshop participants; except where there is a pre-existing romantic or sexual relationship, or a professional peer-level relationship, between the Member-Practitioner and workshop participant

    6 g. This clause, 6 g., applies only to Member-Practitioners and sessions in Certified Sexological Bodywork® (CSB); Certified Somatic Sex Education (CSSE); Certified SOMA Intimacy® (CSI); Psychosexual Somatics Therapy (PSST): and Transformational Tantra Massage (TTM). In these sessions, the Member-Practitioner remains clothed. Touch is generally one-way, Member-Practitioner to Client. In some circumstances two-way touch may be appropriate, for example, when exploring Wheel of Consent® practices, emotional regulation, exploring boundaries or teaching ways to touch, the Member-Practitioner and client might engage in exercises that include non-erotic two-way touch. ‘Non-erotic two-way touch’ in this context means it does not involve genital touch nor touch with the specific intention to create arousal.

As the scope of CSB/SSE, CSI, PSST and TTM sessions does not include surrogate partner work, if Clients wish to learn genital touch or interpersonal sexual skills, an additional practice partner will be required.

When appropriate and available, Member-Practitioners may also work in a triadic model with a Client, and a sexual surrogate whose scope of practice does include working in a sexually interactive capacity (usually including the goal of penetrative sexual intercourse) with their Clients.

7. Health, Safety and Hygiene Protocols

Member-Practitioners acknowledge the importance of physical, in addition to emotional, mental, spiritual and sexual well-being. To protect the health of both Client and Member-Practitioner, Member-Practitioners recognise the need for risk-reduction and professional protocol in all individual and group sessions. Member-Practitioners take steps to minimize any harm, in active collaboration with all Clients. It is the responsibility of the Member-Practitioner to ensure adequate precautionary measures against the transmission of communicable diseases and infections have been taken and to ensure that the Client has taken similar precautions.

Professional protocols for intimate touch include:

7 a. The use of medical-grade examination gloves and quality lubricants

7 b. If the Member-Practitioner has any break in the skin of their hand (abrasions, infection, rash, cut etc.), it is highly recommended it be covered by gloves or a plaster for the Member-Practitioner’s and Client’s protection

7 c. All group classes shall include education about group hygiene protocol, with sufficient facilities / supplies provided to Clients to maintain appropriate hygiene

7 d. Sexual surrogates (Band 3 insurance) are required to have sexual health screenings every three to six months, must keep evidence of their sexual health screening tests and must make them available to ASIS upon request

7 e. It is recommended that Member-Practitioners maintain a current first aid qualification

8. Supervision and Continuing Professional Development

Member-Practitioners are required to have regular supervision as a routine part of their practice to maintain their ability to serve clients ethically and effectively. This can be peer/group supervision and/or expert supervision/mentoring or, optimally, both. Member-Practitioners further agree to request supervision and guidance when experiencing ambiguity or difficulty with interpretation of what constitutes ethical behaviour. Member-Practitioners commit to their own self-care, personal growth, and continuing professional development (CPD).

9. Use of Mind-Altering Substances

Member-Practitioners will refrain from providing any professional services while either the Member-Practitioner or the Client is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, entheogenic/psychedelic therapy excepted (see also point 10: Competence and Referrals).

10. Competence and Referrals

Member-Practitioners are honest and accurate in all representations of their training, qualifications, competence and experience including being transparent about costs, session rates, and any additional fees. Member-Practitioners will consider the limits of their skills and experience before accepting requests for or providing educational or instructional services to potential Clients and will refuse professional work for which they are insufficiently qualified and may recommend another modality or practitioner. It is recommended that Member-Practitioners who have competency in different modalities distinguish between these modalities in their agreements with Clients.

11. Dual Roles

Member-Practitioners recognise the potential complexity of dual roles/multiple relationships which occur when they have more than one role with a Client.

Examples of dual roles include (but are not limited to):

• a Member-Practitioner engages in a different business activity with a Client

• a Member-Practitioner encounters a Client in a public environment

• a Member-Practitioner is present at workshop, event or play party where a Client is also present

Where there is a possibility of a Member-Practitioner meeting a Client outside of their role as a Somatic Sexologist, Member-Practitioners take responsibility for raising this with Clients, discuss what meeting in different spaces might mean for both parties, how this could influence the Member-Practitioner-Client relationship, and assess whether an ethical professional relationship is possible. In dual role situations, Member-Practitioners recognise that training and supervision are important to better understand the complexity of dual roles and how to handle them with Clients.

12. Termination of Services

Member-Practitioners will terminate professional relationships with Clients when such services are no longer required or no longer serve the needs and interests of the Clients. Member-Practitioners may unilaterally terminate services, on just and reasonable grounds after careful consideration of all situational factors and any possible adverse effects. Member-Practitioners are responsible for making appropriate referrals and to provide support to Clients during such transitions.

13. Assessment of Suitability

Member-Practitioners will assess whether Somatic Sexology is appropriate based on a potential Client’s physical and mental capacity. This assessment to include whether the Client needs are within the Member-Practitioner’s scope of practice and offer recommendations for additional support or referral to alternative professionals.

14. Avoidance of Exploitation

Member-Practitioners will refrain from the exploitation of professional relationships with Clients (whether current or past) for personal gain, whether financial, professional, emotional, sexual, or for research purposes.

15. Client Confidentiality

Member-Practitioners will respect, defend, and preserve the privacy of all information gained from Clients. Member-Practitioner will preserve the anonymity of Clients when using information for purposes of teaching, research, and supervision.

Member-Practitioners will maintain professional boundaries in all public and social media interactions. They will avoid discussing client cases publicly, unless agreed otherwise.

Client information will be stored in a secure and confidential manner and in accordance with local privacy laws such as GDPR.

16. Professional Representation

Member-Practitioners are co-creating the profession and reputation of Somatic Sexology, which intends to fill the public need for accurate information and embodied learning opportunities. Any public representation by a Member-Practitioner of the profession shall be respectful, in integrity with these Codes and shall have the intention of furthering the profession.

17. Ethical Concerns

Member-Practitioners may directly contact, in a constructive and positive manner, any ASIS Member-Practitioner about whom they have ethical concerns. Alternatively, or additionally Member-Practitioners may contact the ASIS board regarding their concerns.

18. Investigations

Member-Practitioners will aid ASIS in upholding this Code and co-operate fully with any investigation of possible violations.

19. Non-Solicitation of Clients

Member-Practitioners will refrain from solicitation of colleagues’ Clients.

20. Communication with other Professionals

Member-Practitioners will encourage appropriate communication between Clients and their current or recent therapists and other professionals where appropriate.

21. Termination of ASIS Membership

If a Member-Practitioner chooses to cancel association with ASIS and free themselves from any provision of the ASIS Ethical Code, they agree to provide immediate written notification to ASIS.

22. Conflict Resolution

Should conflict arise amongst ASIS Member-Practitioners, whether as part of a training session or within a personal context, the parties agree to seek resolution to their conflict, including but not limited to mediation, in such a way as the conflict and the resolution thereof does not adversely affect Clients or the profession.

23. Use of ASIS Logo

Member-Practitioners are permitted to show the official ASIS logo as provided by ASIS to promote their individual practice (for example on their website or headed stationery) as long as their membership remains up to date.