Embarking on a Journey of Intimacy and Empowerment

This is a guide to a journey toward deeper intimacy and self-discovery. Whether you are navigating pelvic floor dysfunction, experiencing pain with sex, or simply embracing the beautiful evolution of your body, this is an inclusive approach seeks to empower and guide you through this transformative process.

A Path to Intimate Connection

Understanding Sensate Focus

It starts with an invitation, to explore the art of consensual touching and being touched; exploring new lines of communications and boundaries. Embrace the journey without preconceived notions, allowing yourself to experience pleasure without judgment. This open-minded approach encourages inclusivity, recognizing the unique needs and perspectives of every individual.

Say goodbye to judgment and evaluation. Instead, focus on simply being and experiencing; Notice the physical sensations, and let go of societal expectations. This approach offers a safe space for you and your partner to explore the diverse landscape of sensations, fostering a deeper connection.

Sensuality vs. Sexuality: Embracing Diversity

Setting the Stage for Sensuality

Acknowledge the distinction between sensuality and sexuality, creating a foundation for exploration. Begin with non-genital touching, where partners take turns as the “toucher” and the “receiver.” This judgment-free zone allows for genuine connection, fostering an environment of trust and vulnerability.

The next step introduces genital and/or breast touching, maintaining the focus on sensation rather than turning it into a sexual encounter. Communication is crucial!

Adding lotion or oil in the third step enhances sensory awareness, offering a different tactile experience.

The fourth step involves mutual touching, allowing both partners to explore and be aware of sensations simultaneously.

Sensual intercourse is introduced in the fifth step, extending the focus on physical sensations into genital contact. The emphasis is on discovering what feels interesting and pleasurable, with communication remaining essential.

Throughout the process, participants are encouraged to avoid turning the exploration into a sexual encounter, maintaining a focus on sensation and communication. The practice aims to break old patterns, fostering a deeper understanding of one another’s desires and preferences.

Communication is KEY

One strategy to integrate communication through the hand-riding technique, ensuring both partners actively contribute to the experience. Share your preferences, guide the tempo, and celebrate the diversity of sensations. This approach allows for a deeper understanding of desires and avoids ingrained behavior patterns.

“Hand-riding” is a practice where the person receiving touch places their hand on top of the hand of the one providing touch. It serves as a subtle, non-intrusive way for the receiver to guide the touche'r’s movements, offering feedback on preferences without verbal communication.

Through hand-riding, the receiver can convey whether they prefer a firmer touch, a change in tempo, or specific areas of focus. This technique fosters a deeper understanding between partners, allowing them to connect on a more nuanced level during the exploration of sensations. It promotes a collaborative and responsive approach to touch, enhancing the overall experience and ensuring that both partners actively contribute to the intimate journey.

In the realm of intimate exploration, verbal communication becomes a powerful tool to enhance connection. Openly communicating desires, boundaries, and sensations is equally crucial. Create a space where expressing feelings is not only welcomed but celebrated. Encourage open dialogue with your partner, sharing what brings pleasure, comfort, or excitement. Verbal communication fosters understanding, deepening the connection between partners and ensuring that the journey of intimacy is guided by mutual respect and shared exploration. Embrace the spoken word as an integral part of your empowered intimacy journey.

Your Empowered Journey Starts Now

Embark on a journey of empowerment, where intimacy knows no bounds. Sensate Focus is more than a program; it’s a celebration of diversity, a guide through change, and a pathway to deeper connections. Embrace the new levels of communication, and let your journey unfold with newfound confidence and authenticity. Your vibrant intimacy journey starts now.

Strategies adapted from the “Sensate Focus” program developed by Cornell health

https://health.cornell.edu/sites/health/files/pdf-library/sensate-focus.pdf

A blog by Elvalina Howard, MOTR, OTR/L