A Gendered Touch: Working with Gender Diverse/Trans, Non-Binary, and Intersex Clients. Jules Purnell
 
In this session, touch professionals will have the opportunity to interrogate their own beliefs and understandings of the gendered dynamics their gender diverse clients bring into the work of surrogate partner therapy, cuddling, and other hands-on healing modalities. Through the use of interactive presentation, including sample intake procedures, case scenarios, and group discussion, touch pros will learn more about the specific and unique needs of gender diverse client populations while also recognizing the universality of need any client will experience, irrespective of gender.
 
Topics covered will include culturally-relevant ways of discussing nudity and affirming terminology for body parts, the physical embodied realities of post-transition and/or post-surgery bodies, and general tips for engaging respectfully with gender diverse clients in a sexual capacity. Touch pros will also be given the opportunity to better understand their relationship to their own gendered experiences and how it relates to their hands-on work with all their clients. 
 
Clarity, Context and Consent: Facilitating Deeper Connection for Neurodivergent Clients. Carmen de Jesus
 
Join us for an eye-opening session where Carmen shares her heartfelt journey as a neurodivergent educator and practitioner of the Wheel of Consent® framework. Drawing from both personal and professional experience, she'll explore how to support autistic and ADHD clients through common challenges like eye contact, sensory processing, and communication barriers – all while creating a more comfortable therapeutic environment. This engaging presentation will show you how simple yet powerful adaptations have helped clients transform their relationship with touch, boundaries, and self-expression.
 
In this enriching hour together, you'll discover practical ways to make your therapeutic space more welcoming and effective for neurodivergent clients. Carmen will share real success stories and concrete strategies that have helped clients move from touch aversion to confident boundary-setting, while honoring their unique communication styles and needs. You'll walk away with fresh insights and hands-on tools to create deeper connections with your neurodivergent clients, all through the lens of clarity, context, and consent.
 
About the Presenters
 
This session will go from 3:00 to 5:40 Pacific time, which includes 2.5 hours and allows for a 10-minute break somewhere in the middle, at a time that is appropriate for the material. Then the guest speakers will leave us, and there will be an additional half hour, from 5:40 to 6:10, which will be a facilitated discussion and integration of the prior content. This last half hour is optional, so if you’ve had enough at that point you are welcome to skip it. If you choose to stay, you will be invited to consider questions, either all together or in breakout groups, like “What most impacted you from today’s session?” “How do you think you can incorporate this in your work as a surrogate partner?”
 
SPC Members can attend for 60% off. To get the member price, sign in to your account and select Member CE from the Membership Menu. Become a Member