Code of Ethics

As a Somatic Sexological Practitioner & Intimacy Coach:

1. I, Amy Baker of The Pleasure Principal and D-I-V Design Agency, support individuals and couples who want more out of their social, emotional, and intimate relationships, sexual and non-sexual, romantic and otherwise, familial and professional, in order To Be in connection, in balance, in stability, in wholeness.

2. Amy Baker, The Pleasure Principal, D-I-V Design Agency, and its agents, employees, volunteers, or other staff will be professional in attitude and conduct, responsible in relations with Clients and colleagues, reliable in agreements, and timely in appointment schedules.

3. I recognise the importance of consent and choice in all professional interactions with individuals and groups, and 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. The Pleasure Principal will inform and educate its Clients about consent and choice and actively create learning environments where clients are empowered to exercise those skills.

4. Amy Baker may use physical touch if deemed appropriate. If I do so, I 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. I agree to co-create clear agreements with Clients before engaging in any form of bodywork. This is why it is crucial that Clients use our written intake forms where consent is given in writing as best practice.

5. Regarding Sexual Contact and / or Conduct with Clients:

6. I acknowledge the importance of physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and sexual well-being. To protect the health of both Client and practitioner, I recognise the need for risk-reduction and professional protocol in all individual and group Somatic Sexology. As such, I take steps to minimize any harm, in active collaboration with all Clients. I do not provide intimate, internal, or genital skin-to-skin contact with Clients.

7. I engage in regular supervision as a routine part of my practice. This could be peer/group supervision and/or expert supervision/mentoring or, optimally, both. I further agree to request supervision and guidance when experiencing ambiguity or difficulty with interpretation of what constitutes ethical behaviour.

8. I will always consider the limits of my skills and experience before accepting requests for or providing educational or instructional services to potential Clients and will refuse professional work for which I am insufficiently qualified and may recommend another modality or practitioner. In my practice, I do not:

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

10. I refrain from providing bodywork, training sessions and/or presenting any instructional material while either the practitioner or the Client is under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.

11. I 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.

12. I will respect, defend, and preserve the privacy of all information gained from Clients, and will preserve the anonymity of Clients when using information for purposes of teaching, research, and supervision.

13. As a Somatic Sexology practitioner, I am co-creating the profession, which intends to fill the public need for accurate information and embodied learning opportunities. Any public representation of the profession shall be respectful, in integrity with this Code and shall have the intention of furthering the profession.

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

15. I will not solicit colleagues’ Clients.

16. I will encourage appropriate communication between Clients and their current or recent therapists.

Somatic Sexology is a diverse field. My aim as a somatic sexual health practitioner is to support Clients’ individual personal growth, empowerment and integration, and their emotional, physical, mental, spiritual and sexual well-being. My work broadly encompasses talking (e.g. coaching, counselling, education, psychotherapy), somatic modalities (e.g. body coaching, breathwork, somatic mapping, tapping, reflexology, trauma release) and energy work (e.g. sexual & spiritual shamanism, Tantric and Taoist practices, Reiki).

These specific modalities used may vary between practitioners, Clients or between different session with the same Client. However, my Ethical Code applies equally to all work-related professional activities including individual or group work, teaching, training, assisting, supervision and consulting and provides a common set of values upon which Members of ASIS continually build their professional work. The term “Client” in the Ethical Code refers to any person or corporate entity who is paying for our services or undertaking a free or reduced price session.

This Code is intended to provide both the general principles and the rules covering most situations encountered in my practice. Its primary goal is the welfare and protection of the individuals and groups with whom I work, and I aspire to the highest possible standards of conduct. Members respect and protect human, civil and sexual rights, and do not knowingly participate in or condone unfair or discriminatory practices.

The development of a dynamic set of ethical standards for my 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. While I may supplement this code, I do not violate this Ethical Code’s values and rules on the basis of guidance drawn from personal values, culture, context, and experience.

The Ethical Code is not exhaustive. The fact that a given conduct is not specifically addressed by the Code does not mean that it is necessarily either ethical or unethical. In the process of making decisions regarding their professional behaviour, I must consider this Code, in addition to the requirements of law. When the Code establishes a higher standard than the law, I must meet the higher ethical standard. If the Code’s standards appear to conflict with the requirements of law, I will take steps to resolve the conflict in a responsible manner. Actions ASIS may take for violation of the Ethical Code include reprimand, censure, and termination of membership.

Embodiment & Somatic Awareness

SOMATIC

Somatic practice/Tactile Awareness

Yoga (asana, pranayama, dhyana)

Qi Gong/Tai Chi

Reiki

Energy Points/Center

Crystal Gridwork & Aromatherapy

Visualization/Journeying

Energy Work

ENERGETICS

Reiki

Energy Points/Center

Crystal Gridwork & Aromatherapy

Visualization/Journeying

Yoga (asana, pranayama, dhyana)

​​Qi Gong/Tai Chi