Usually, we hear the word surrogate in relation to babies or surrogate mothers but there is also a concept known as surrogate partner therapy or sex therapy. The goal of this type of therapy is to help people overcome their past traumas related to sexual intimacy. It is important to remember this medical surrogacy process is not related to surrogacy pregnancy process. The correct definition of surrogate partner therapy is defined by the International Professional Surrogate Association (IPSA) as a three-way relationship between surrogate partner therapist which is a licensed therapist, a replacement partner, and the client. The goal of this type of therapy is to help people feel comfortable with their bodies, sexuality, intimacy, sensuality, and sex.
If you are asking yourself, “Oh replacement partner therapy legal?”, then this is the most obvious question that may run through your mind. There is no straight answer to this question because there are no laws that make this type of therapy legal. However, there is no law that makes them illegal either. So, surrogate partner therapy is one of the things under the gray area.
Let’s see more about female surrogate partner therapy to help you better understand its intricacies!
What Is Surrogate Partner Therapy Involved and Who Is It For?
The course of treatment may vary depending on the case but usually it involves having a professional work with the client on touch, thinking, breathing, social skills, relaxation, etc. to help them achieve their goals. In some cases, surrogate partner therapy may involve intercourse but this depends on the client’s comfort level. Both sexes can avail themselves of this type of therapy if they are facing issues related to intimacy. Female surrogate partner therapy is similar to therapy for men in that the licensed therapist decides the course of treatment depending on a specific case.
People who have suffered some form of trauma or abuse usually need this therapy to heal. Apart from that, people who have no previous sexual experience, or who have erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation can also benefit from this type of therapy. Also, women who have problems in their pelvic area that lead to painful intercourse also go for such therapy options. Alternative partner therapy has also helped people who have trouble accepting their bodies, or have anxiety or fear surrounding intimacy, sex, and touch.
However, if you are planning to go for surrogate partner therapy, you should note that most insurance plans do not cover it. So, you have to cover the cost of surrogate partner therapy to yourself. The cost of a session can be between $200 to $400.
How to Become a Alternate Partner?
A surrogate partner plays an important role for clients who need their help but they do not need any clinical training or academic qualifications in psychology to be a surrogate partner. Does that mean that anyone can be a surrogate partner? Nope. People working in surrogacy must go through a certifying body such as IPSA and an ethical program to become surrogate partners. The whole process of becoming a surrogate partner can be called “quite involved.”
The process of becoming a surrogate partner includes multi-week training sessions, an internship process where one works under a certified surrogate partner, and then if they are deemed eligible to leave on their own, they can start their own practice as a surrogate therapist. It is worth noting that the IPSA certifying body says that being comfortable with one’s own sexuality and body, compassion, intelligence, warmth, non-judgmental behavior towards the lifestyle choices of others, empathy, sexual orientation, and consensual sexual activity are all the requirements to be a surrogate partner.
How Does Surrogate Partner Therapy Work?
When the therapist and the client decide to proceed surrogate partner therapy for the benefit of the client, the sex therapist contacts their own network of alternative partners to find them the right partner. It is important to note here that the sex therapist can also contact the IPSA Referrals Coordinator for assistance in finding a well-trained, compassionate, and certified surrogate partner to best suit a particular client’s requirements.
Nowadays, many alternative partners have social media platforms and websites. Therefore, if you happen to stumble upon such a platform and feel that a particular replacement partner might be the perfect match for you, you can always mention it to your sex therapist. That said, in order to actually work with this particular surrogate partner, the surrogate partner and your sex therapist must sign off on it. After that, the replacement partner and the client usually meet to see if they are a good fit or not.
It is important to mention here that the first meeting usually takes place in the office of the sex therapist but after that, the meetings happen elsewhere. They can take place in the exchange partner’s office or even in the client’s home. The sex therapist and the alternate partner tend to work together to create a treatment plan according to each client’s specific goals. When that is done, the alternate partner and the client works to achieve those goals.
A treatment plan may include the following items:
Conclusion
For people who struggle with their bodies, touch, sexuality, and intimacy, which causes stress, fear, or anxiety in their daily lives, working with a surrogate partner and a sex therapist is can be a great form of healing. To know more about surrogacy, you can check out our blogs.
