The Certification Question

Abstract

In lieu of an abstract, here is an excerpt:

While the formalized discipline of intimacy work may be newer, the work itself has been happening in formal and informal ways for centuries. A number of intimacy training organizations have popped up around the world to meet the growing demand for qualified intimacy professionals and broader consent education. Theatrical Intimacy Education was founded, in part, to help meet that need. 

All of these organizations have slightly different approaches to intimacy work, organizational structures, and visions for what the intimacy field should be. Those differences are cultural, philosophical, and practical. Diversity of approaches is a good thing for everyone and I genuinely believe that all of the intimacy organizations are doing what they think is best to make the industries we work in a better place. 

The people leading the field are always leveraging power, for better or for worse, and I think we need to be deeply critical about the systems we intentionally or inadvertently introduce or perpetuate. I think the choice to introduce or perpetuate certification and certification-style systems in intimacy work is a major error that is undermining the good work the field is trying to do.