Sage Shalomova
Therapeutic Touch & Relationship Practitioner
offering Surrogate Partner Therapy & Somatic Sex Education
in the East Bay (Oakland, Berkeley, etc.) & San Francisco
What are the differences between the modalities that you practice?
Sexological Bodywork is a body-based modality offered strictly within a “one-way touch” container developed by sexologist Joseph Kramer. It’s most appropriate for those already comfortable with nudity and touch who are looking to unwind somatic blocks, pain, and numbness.
Duration: One-off sessions are possible for individuals already regularly involved in body-positive and sex-positive spaces.
Somatic Sex Education builds upon the Sexological Bodywork framework to center empowered voice & choice through a combination of verbal processing, mindfulness-based therapeutic embodiment exercises, & touch. It is appropriate for anyone seeking erotic healing and can be conceptualized as a specific framework for embodied intimacy coaching that centers consent and the innate wisdom of the body.
Duration: 3 session minimum (90 minutes each)
Surrogate Partner Therapy is an intensive therapeutic modality that involves collaboration with a collaborating clinician, typically a licensed talk therapist. Compared to the two modalities listed previously, it is unique because the surrogate takes on dual roles - as both a trained practitioner serving as a mentor and also as a romantic partner with their own emotions and desires. The triadic collaboration with a collaborating clinician ensures It’s most appropriate for those experiencing substantial challenges related to establishing healthy romantic relationships and who are willing to make a significant commitment to address their attachment wounds.f
Duration: Typically 6 - 24 months of 2 - 4 sessions / month
You don’t need to already know which modality best fits your needs. We can figure it out together!
Regardless of the specific modality utilized, I am always striving to orient my approach to be deeply embodied, trauma informed, justice oriented, queer affirming, consent forward, and client centered. I'm happy to collaborate with you to best meet your challenge areas and healing intentions.
Who do you work with? What are your specialities / areas of focus?
I am open to working with adults (18+) of all gender identities, sexual orientations, ethnicities, body sizes, and physical abilities.
Having said that, I am especially excited and resourced to work with those who have limited sexual experience, are survivors of childhood trauma, identify as neurodivergent, struggle with body image and chronic shame, and/or are looking to explore expansiveness in their gender and/or sexuality. Many of my clients are intellectually-minded high achievers who secretly struggle with mental health, somatic embodiment, accessing pleasure, and/or emotional intimacy.
I have substantial experience in working with survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and incest. I have also worked with a number of clients who fall on the spectrum of asexuality, including demisexuality.
What are your rates?
Sessions run $240 an hour. I will typically start off by seeing clients for my minimum session length of 90 minute ($360), with the option to transition to longer sessions (up to 4 hours) at a later time if desired.
I only charge clients for the time we spend together. Behind the scenes, there is also commute time, note taking, curriculum development, business administration, and ongoing professional development, which are all factored into my hourly rate.
Where would we meet? When?
I see the majority of my clients out of my private studio space in Emeryville, a small city between Oakland and Berkeley in the East San Francisco Bay Area. My studio is located near free street parking and has a bathroom with hot shower onsite.
For ongoing Surrogate Partner Therapy clients, I will sometimes make arrangements to meet directly at the client's home, which can incur an additional travel fee.
In terms of scheduling, I have the greatest availability during typical business hours but also offer a limited number of weekend and evening session time slots.
What is the process of starting to work with you?
1.) Contact me by completing my inquiry form.
2.) Have a complementary commitment-free 15 - 20 minute discovery call via video or phone call so we can better get to know one another.
3.) If we both decide to move ahead with working together, you would let me know and complete some intake paperwork.
4.) Have a triadic call with you, me, & your talk therapist to discuss your goals (for Surrogate Partner Therapy ONLY).
5.) Schedule regular 1:1 sessions at a recurring time.