Full Embodiment Program

Full Embodiment is an experiential training and workshop series created by Ariel Giaretto that explores the emotional, psychological, relational, and physical impact of sexuality, attachment, and trauma on our lives. Rooted in the Somatic Experiencing trauma model, the series offers a compassionate and body-centered approach to healing, prioritizing safety, respect, and embodied consent.

We are born embodied, sensual, and naturally oriented toward connection. Yet over time, family systems, culture, religion, intergenerational beliefs, trauma, and relational experiences can gradually distort our connection to our bodies, our sensuality, and our essential selves. These experiences may shape how we relate to intimacy, pleasure, self-acceptance, boundaries, and our ability to give and receive authentic love.

Taking into account the many ways sexuality trauma can affect the nervous system and the whole person, Ariel has developed specific and carefully designed somatic exercises that support healing and recovery regardless of one’s history. Through the science and heart of attachment and trauma, this series explores how human beings are physiologically wired not only for survival and protection, but also for closeness, pleasure, connection, and love — and what happens when these natural capacities are disrupted or denied.

Through a blend of educational material, experiential practices, reflections, and practical applications, participants are invited to reconnect with the body, deepen their capacity for pleasure and authentic connection, and identify the patterns, beliefs, and protective responses that may stand in the way.

This series will explore:

• The science and psychobiology of attachment needs

• The physiology of trauma and how disconnection from the body can interfere with trauma resolution

• Somatic exercises that support fuller embodied pleasure, self-acceptance, and relational safety

• Ways of recovering from sexuality trauma and sexual abuse at a respectful pace that helps prevent re-traumatization

• Pathways toward greater embodiment, intimacy, resilience, and connection

Full Embodiment offers a structured and supportive space for participants to return more fully to themselves, their bodies, and their relational lives with greater awareness, choice, safety, and vitality.

Who can participate?

The program consists of four modules, each with a distinct focus. While the modules do not necessarily need to be taken in order, the first module lays an important foundation upon which the others build. Modules 1 and 3 are open to anyone, including clients, partners, friends, colleagues, and individuals who may not have a professional background or prior involvement with Somatic Experiencing. Participants are welcome to attend one or more modules for either personal or professional growth. Modules 2 and 4 are specifically designed for practitioners working with clients and are therefore not appropriate for non-professionals.

Module Dates

• Module 1: Essential Strategies of Healing Sexual Trauma and Sexuality – 27–29 November 2026
• Module 2: Uncovering the Roots of Sexuality Trauma – 11–13 June 2027
• Module 3: The Energetics of Intimacy, Attachment and Sexuality: Discovering the subtleties of relating intimately – 5–7 November 2027
• Module 4: Further Strategies for Healing Sexual Trauma and Sexuality – 14–16 January 2028

Module Descriptions

Module 1: Essential Strategies of Healing Sexual Trauma and Sexuality 
27–29 November 2026

All of us work with clients who have endured sexual trauma as a child, sexual assault as adults, who grew up with strong religious messages. They present with debilitating shame, dissociation, flashbacks, sexual/gender identity, body image. They experience their bodies with disgust, and as scary, dangerous places to avoid, and often struggle with sexual incompatibilities in their relationships.

This module is designed to tackle just these issues, and is aimed at helping practitioners acquire a variety of new and effective tools to best serve these clients—even the toughest ones. Introducing material and exercises not covered in the Somatic Experiencing training.

What will we learn?

• Recognize how sexual trauma uniquely impacts people
• Help clients with complex histories identify clear goals, so you both know where you’re headed, have the consent you need to nudge a bit, and then take the most
• direct path to recovery
• Learn extraordinarily titrated and gentle ways that support those most reluctant to inhabit their bodies
• Learn some of the newest science in sex education that will help you explain essential facts to your clients that will normalize behaviors and lessen shame
• Learn multiple exercises that support regulation in the present—to minimize daily triggers, and provide resource and stability now, without having to work content or history
• Working with male survivors
• Discover multiple “mindfulness” exercises that take the startle out of touch—to help clients re-establish a felt sense of safety in their bodies, especially during contact with others.
• The order and steps that are most effective for reworking sexual trauma without re-traumatizing, and for success

Module 2: Uncovering the Roots of Sexuality Trauma
11–13 June 2027

This first program is the foundation of the full embodiment practice. It examines the developmental imprints and other formative influences that destroy an easeful, shame-free relationship with ourselves as sexual/sensual beings. We will slowly rebuild that which was scarred by generations of sexual oppression, misogyny and cultural and religious influences. Participants will develop a personalized, embodiment practice, set well-examined goals, and begin to transform shame into pleasure. Time will be spent uncovering biases and settling triggers—which includes developing ease discussing sex and anatomy. The focus of this module is on self- exploration and personal enhancement, however it will provide numerous useful strategies for therapists working with sexuality and trauma. Well regulated clients, colleagues, friends and partners are invited to participate in this program. We will not be working directly with sexual trauma.

What will we discover?

• Who are we underneath all of it?
• How would we inhabit our bodies in ways that reflect our true nature?
• How would we express and receive affection, sensuality and sexuality… on our terms … in our most genuine and authentic way?
• How to achieve ease and pleasure in our own bodies, identify biases, and recognise discomfort with sexuality so that we can all be a clear and effective support to clients
• How do we uncover our desires and attractions, and identify what inhibits them? Are these real, or are these learned?
• What is the best way to break old patterns in relationships and move towards healthy intimacy?
• How do we heal specifically what is damaged by the above influences?

What will we learn?

• Find ease, confidence and connection with your whole body
• Examine the messages than many are given about gender, the body and sexuality, and begin to access and embody more authentic beliefs and desires, underneath the conditioning
• Explore and heal the hidden social psychological and developmental influences that shape shame poor body image and disconnection from self and others
• Get comfortable talking about the body and sexuality with your clients and intimates
• Establish a strong somatic container and develop honest “embodied consent” through boundaries and learning how to voice preferences
• Identifying the unconscious “brakes” that thwart pleasure and desire
• Learn new ways of finding peace, pleasure and safety after sexual abuse or assault

Module 3: The Energetics of Intimacy, Attachment and Sexuality: Discovering the subtleties of relating intimately
5–7 November 2027

This module focuses on connection to self, the heart and the body, while being in proximity with others. It is open to Individuals, either coupled or not, and those actively sexual or not. You do not need to be in couple relationship to get great benefit from this program. Nor does your partner need to be present. This workshop welcomes partners or colleagues of somatic participants who are not professionals. We’ll look at the subtle and not-so-obvious ways we engage intimately, and uncover levels of disconnection, meaning making, shut down, and disembodiment that occur under conscious awareness.

What will we learn?

• Understanding attachment styles and how these affect intimacy
• Identify the most effective ways for couples to process and share, keeping in mind processing speeds and individual differences
• Learn about your ”erotic style”
• Uncover deep desires and yearnings, and notice what gets in the way of opening to them
• Practice asking for what you want, and learning to receive 

Module 4: Further Strategies for Healing Sexual Trauma and Sexuality
14–16 January 2028

This module is more informational—and addresses common sexual and intimacy issues that show up in couples and individuals—both straight and queer.

What will we learn?

• Common sexual and intimacy issues that affect couples
• Low or incompatible Libido
• Spicing up long-term relationships
• Sex and aging
• Pelvic/sexual complaints—including vaginismus, chronic pain and common sexual dysfunctions—for both women and men
• Infertility
• Kink and BDSM
• Plus time for questions and cases that want to be discussed

Registration

• Please fill out the registration form by clicking here
• Location: Zoom Platform
  
• Program will be held in English with consecutive translation into Turkish
  
• Program fees will be announced later. 

Who is Ariel Giarretto?

Ariel Giarretto, MS, (she, they) is a body-oriented therapist, trainer, and Somatic Sex Educator. After completing her post-graduate education in counseling psychology, and licensed as a marriage and family therapist in California, USA, she studied a wide variety of somatic and touch therapies, and is primarily informed by Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing (SE), She was introduced to SE in 1999 and became full-time teaching faculty in 2005. 

Throughout the 90’s she was on staff at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA as a workshop and group leader, a private therapist and part of the bodywork and massage crew. There she studied with sexuality/tantra experts Carolyn and  Charles Muir, Margo  Anand, Jack Rosenberg,  Paul Carter and dozens  of other somatic  teachers and touch practitioners. 

In 2015, she certified as a Somatic Sex Educator at The Institute For Advanced Study of Human Sexuality, in San Francisco (now closed). She now specializes in sexual and gender-based violence, as well as all sexuality and relationship challenges. She has been called to train therapists dealing with Ukraine war refugees and war rape. She is the co-developer of “The Full Embodiment Model” which offers gentle, transformative workshops for people wanting to heal from the effects of sexuality trauma, sexual abuse and disembodiment. Although she has recently closed her private practice, for decades she specialised in working with couples challenged by childhood sexual abuse, incompatible libido, sexual dysfunction and infertility. Her larger mission is to support all people regardless of their trauma history, their identity or sexual orientation to find pleasure, ease and even ecstasy in their bodies and in connection with others.