OUR FACILITATORS

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    Andrew Barnes is the founder and director of The Academy of Therapeutic Arts and Awakening Within, in Brisbane, Australia.

    He has more than a decade's experience as a bodyworker and somatic therapist and, for the past several years, he has focused his practice on sexuality issues combining Psychosexual Remedial Therapies and counseling.

    He primarily works with women with histories of sexual abuse, relationship issues, body image/shame issues, vaginismus and women that just want to increase their quality of life, understanding of themselves and their sexuality consciously.

    His approach incorporates (depending on what the client needs) sexology, psychotherapy, inner child therapy, neural-net reprogramming (also known as cellular memory), understanding the masculine and feminine, and neuromuscular techniques including trigger point therapy, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), muscular energy techniques (MET), myofascial release and sexual healing therapies including Tantric, Taoist and Quadoska practices.

    Andrew is completing a Master of Sexual Health at the University of Sydney, has five diplomas in various forms of massage and bodywork, and has studied Taoist, Quadoska spiritual sexuality and Tantra – energetic love making, Yoga, and various forms of meditation and spiritual/emotional healing and counseling.

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    Dr. Betty Martin is a Chiropractor, a Body Electric School trained Sacred intimate, and certified Sexological Bodyworker and a Foundations of facilitation trainer.

  She is the founder of The Institute for Erotic Education in Seattle.

    'I'm one of those lucky people who grew up in the touchy feely hippie years. Then I got serious and went to Chiropractic school and learned to touch with some skill and clear intent.

    That makes about 30 years as a hands-on professional, first in therapeutics - Chiropractic, Somato-Respiratory Integration, Educational Kinesiology, Reiki, Neuro-Emotional Integration - and later in body-based erotic education, including sensual massage, Taoist Erotic Massage, Kashmiri tantric massage and Sexological Bodywork.

    I've taught peer counseling, gender liberation, embodiment and empowerment, fantasy play, goddess awakening and erotic massage. I've played with contact improv dance, liberation theater, personal and group ritual, authentic movement, non-violent communication and Shaivic tantra. I currently train and certify new facilitators for a touch and communication workshop called Cuddle Party.

    So what have I learned? That informed and empowered choice for the client is where it's at - and cannot be skipped. That most people don't know what they're missing. That love and courage are very powerful. That our gender conditioning runs deep. That embodiment is more than jumping and shouting. That we are all amazingly resilient and brilliant and doing our best. That I am passionate about sharing my experience with my colleagues.

    I have come to see my good fortune in learning the skills of professional clarity before including any erotic elements, and these are the skills I offer to my students now.