Comments on: Bliss – the movie http://www.phoenixcentre.com/blog/2006/05/04/bliss-the-movie/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bliss-the-movie Wayne C. Allen - a simple Zen guy - writes about living and relating elegantly Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:49:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: wayne http://www.phoenixcentre.com/blog/2006/05/04/bliss-the-movie/comment-page-1/#comment-293 wayne Tue, 06 May 2008 14:55:03 +0000 http://phoenixcentre.com/blog/2006/05/04/bliss-the-movie/#comment-293 Thanks for writing. The "Balthazar" character is not a therapist -- he's sort of a "freelance Tantra instructor." Traditional therapists refrain from "doing harm." This means that, in talk therapy, sexual relations are proscribed. Within the psychotherapeutic relationship, I concur. However, Sex Therapists have often employed "surrogates" for therapy; often surrogates are married, and I assume their partners know what they do. The Body Electric organization trains "Sacred Intimates" to do that Balthazar does. Google "sacred intimate." We assume that who are in open, honest, vulnerable, and deeply committed relationships keep their partner informed of their business practices. We practice honesty. As such, my partner cannot "give me consent," and receives full information. Thanks for writing. The “Balthazar” character is not a therapist — he’s sort of a “freelance Tantra instructor.”

Traditional therapists refrain from “doing harm.” This means that, in talk therapy, sexual relations are proscribed. Within the psychotherapeutic relationship, I concur.

However, Sex Therapists have often employed “surrogates” for therapy; often surrogates are married, and I assume their partners know what they do.

The Body Electric organization trains “Sacred Intimates” to do that Balthazar does. Google “sacred intimate.”

We assume that who are in open, honest, vulnerable, and deeply committed relationships keep their partner informed of their business practices. We practice honesty. As such, my partner cannot “give me consent,” and receives full information.

]]> By: Inquiring mind http://www.phoenixcentre.com/blog/2006/05/04/bliss-the-movie/comment-page-1/#comment-292 Inquiring mind Tue, 06 May 2008 09:05:10 +0000 http://phoenixcentre.com/blog/2006/05/04/bliss-the-movie/#comment-292 Loved this movie's introduction to Tantra. Although I can't imagine the therapist getting consent to have sex with patients from any women he might be involved with in a primary relationship. He could easily be a sexual predator using being a "therapist" as his cover. Isn't it part of ethical standards of therapists not to ever have sex with patients? Do you massage the vulva area of your women patients? If so how does your wife feel about it? Loved this movie’s introduction to Tantra. Although I can’t imagine the therapist getting consent to have sex with patients from any women he might be involved with in a primary relationship. He could easily be a sexual predator using being a “therapist” as his cover. Isn’t it part of ethical standards of therapists not to ever have sex with patients? Do you massage the vulva area of your women patients? If so how does your wife feel about it?

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