Module 2: Clinical Practice

Participants acquire clinical knowledge about the most common sexual problems and limitations and learn to understand their development and maintenance within the Sexocorporel model and derive treatment approaches from this. They acquire basic sex therapy competencies in evaluation, body reading, and intervention.

It concludes with the Sexocorporel in Practice seminar, which allows for an in-depth exploration and integration of what has been learned through reflection on one's own sexuality. Completion of Module 1 Fundamentals is a prerequisite for participation. 

The module results in initial counseling competence for sexual concerns. Together with the Fundamentals module, it corresponds to the former Basic Training. Online materials also allow participants to work at times of their choosing.

The next ZISS Clinical Practice module will be offered in Zurich starting 02/08/2028 and in Kißlegg starting 01/20/2028.

Learning objectives

Participants acquire knowledge and skills regarding:

• the logic underlying the development of sexual problems as consequences of coping strategies and the diverse interactions among the components of sexuality

• expanding sexual function, sexual desire, erotic skills, self-confidence, and other components of sexual experience

• regulation of emotional and sexual arousal through sensorimotor and psychomotor techniques

Participants learn the fundamentals of sex therapy intervention:

• conducting a sex therapy evaluation

• reading body language

• structure, content, and goals of a Sexocorporel treatment

• practicing basic therapeutic intervention techniques

Scope 

5 plenary seminars of 4 days each
Total duration 1 year

Seminar content

Seminar 1: Clinical Practice 1

Therapeutic approach

• Understanding sexual problems as coping strategies

• Developing a vocabulary for talking about sexuality

• Couples and/or individual therapy?

Evaluation model

• Evaluation of arousal function

• Evaluation of cognitions, components of sexual experience, and relationships

• Bodyreading: ideomotor activity as physical structuring of emotional and sexual tension; the role of bodyreading in sexological diagnosis

Evaluation, diagnosis, system logic, and treatment models

• Early and premature ejaculation

• Anorgasty/anorgasmia, vaginal anorgasty/anorgasmia

Therapeutic technique, working with prescribed exercises

Biological and sexological medical foundations

• Introduction to the anatomy and physiology of sexuality

Seminar 2: Clinical Practice 2

Evaluation, system logic, diagnosis, and treatment models

• Problems with sexual desire: differentiating emotional and sexual motives for sexuality, coital sexual desire

• Vaginismus due to a phobia or an identity issue

• Dyspareunia in women and men

• Erectile dysfunction

• Delayed/absent ejaculation and orgasm problems in men

Biological and medical foundations

• Effects of aging, physical illnesses, and disabilities on sexuality

• Genital pain syndromes

Seminar 3: Clinical Practice 3

Gender identity

• From biological sex to social gender

• People between genders, “intersexualities”

Sense of gender belonging (GdG)

• Development and construction

• Significance of arousal function

• Identification with gender groups and gender stereotypes (cultural attributions)

• Symbolization and eroticization of one's own sexual body and its function

Evaluation, system logic, diagnosis, and treatment models for problems with GdG

• Uncertainty in experiencing one's own masculinity/femininity in connection with sexual problems

• Non-binary identity, ambivalence, ambiguity, heterophobia, homophobia, autogenitophobia, intersex and transgender identities

Sexual attraction codes

• Polarity, orientation, spectrum

• Function in autoeroticism and relational sexuality

• Changes in attraction codes with aging

Evaluation, system logic, diagnosis, and treatment models for problems with attraction codes

• Exclusivity as a source of arousal: fetishism, transvestism, dominance/submission, sadomasochism

• From traditional theories of perversion to the Sexocorporel concept

Seminar 4: Clinical Practice 4

Evaluation, system logic, diagnosis, and treatment models for problems with sexual compulsivity

• Subjective experience of being unable to control one's own sexual impulses

• Compulsive search for sexual contacts; for sexual pleasure/arousal

• Compulsive exhibitionism, voyeurism

• Compulsive search for seduction scenarios

• Compulsive pedosexuality

Sex therapy following sexual assault/following trauma

Evaluation, system logic, diagnosis, and treatment models for related topics

• Compulsive eating behavior

• Uncontrolled anger, emotional regulation

Seminar 5: Sexocorporel in Practice

Self-evaluation

• Evaluation of strengths, skills, and limitations in the components of one's own sexual system as a result of established coping strategies and one's own learning history

• Interventions from Sexocorporel as a basis for further learning steps

Completion

Completion and evaluation of the training program

Supervision and experiential work

Supervision is optional in the Clinical Practice module. Each seminar includes a group supervision session (1.5 h); participation in additional group or individual supervision is based on personal needs.

Individual experiential work is highly recommended, but is also optional. As part of the experiential work, attending seminars in the Sex and Love – Vivre en Amour series is also recommended.

*With regard to attending further modules: *

• Individual experiential work: By completion of Module 3 Advanced Training, 8 hours, and by completion of Module 4 Expertise, an additional 4 hours of individual experiential work with iSi-recognized supervisors: (live or online) are required. These can generally be completed during or before the Clinical Practice module.

• Individual and/or group supervision: By completion of the Expertise module, at least 40 hours with iSi-recognized supervisors: must be completed (live or online). Supervision can already be started in earlier modules. Group supervision attended during the seminars of the Clinical Practice module and the Advanced Training module (a total of 10x1.5h=15h) will be credited, as will the Advanced Training supervision sessions completed as part of the Advanced Training module (15h).

Certification 

Successful completion of the training program is documented with a Certificate of Basic Studies in Clinical Sexology (Level 1 Institut Sexocorporel-International Jean-Yves Desjardins iSi) ZISS. Requirements are attendance of at least 90% of the instructional time, a sufficient score on the module examinations, and completion of the self-evaluation.

After completing this module, sex therapy work based on the Sexocorporel concept should take place under supervision with a ZISS supervisor or other iSi-recognized supervisors* .

Zurich 2028-29: Information, inquiries, and registration

Faculty

Dr. med. Karoline Bischof
Annette Bischof-Campbell MSc, Psychological Psychotherapist
Adrian Stumm Sexual Educator ISP

Continuing education credits

• The training is recognized by the Swiss Academy for Psychosomatic and Psychosocial Medicine SAPPM as a continuing education program component with 27 credits per 4-day seminar, divided into 11 credits for theory, 11 credits for skills, and 5 credits for supervision, with a maximum of 120 credits for the entire training program.

• The training is recognized by the Swiss Society of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy SGPP as continuing education with 10 credits per year.

• The training is recognized by the Swiss Federation of Psychologists FSP. Continuing education units are credited individually toward degree programs based on documented participation.

• The training is recognized by the German State Medical Association with 36 credits per seminar.

• The ZISS Clinical Sexology certificate (four modules) is recognized by ASCA as a sexual therapy method in complementary medicine. ASCA is working toward recognition by supplementary health insurance. More information here.

Costs

CHF 4750 for participants from the euro area,  CHF 6000 for participants from Switzerland

The fee includes course materials, certificates, and one group supervision session per seminar. Payment can be made either per seminar or in annual installments.

Course location

Festsaal Alterszentrum Hottingen, Freiestrasse 71, 8032 Zurich
Coffee and tea are included in the price. There is an option to have lunch together at the restaurant of Alterszentrum Hottingen.
Participants must bring their own mats for floor exercises.

Dates (registration available)

Seminars are held Wednesday through Saturday
Seminar 1 – Clinical Practice 1: 02/08–02/11/2028 - Premature ejaculation, female anorgasmia
Seminar 2 – Clinical Practice 2: 06/07–06/10/2028 - Vaginismus/dyspareunia, erectile dysfunction, lack of desire
Seminar 3 – Clinical Practice 3: 09/27–09/30/2028 - Problems with sense of gender belonging, with attraction codes
Seminar 4 – Clinical Practice 4: 11/29–12/02/2028 - Compulsive sexuality, trauma
Seminar 5 – Sexocorporel in Practice: 02/28–03/03/2029 - Self-evaluation

Registration and questions

Form for questions and comments about the training
Registration form

Kißlegg/Southern Germany 2028-29: Information, inquiries, and registration

Faculty 

Dr. med. Karoline Bischof
Annette Bischof-Campbell MSc
Dipl. Psych. Ronny Kriebisch, Psychological Psychotherapist

Continuing education credits

The training is certified by the State Medical Association of Baden-Württemberg with 37 continuing education credits per 4-day seminar. 

Costs

€ 3500 for participants from the euro area, € 4500 for participants from Switzerland

The fee includes course materials, certificates, and one supervision session per seminar. Payment can be made either per seminar or in annual installments.

The following optional costs apply:

• Accommodation (recommended) at the seminar center with full board: from € 85 per night

• Without accommodation, a facility-use fee including full board applies (€ 58 per day for 3 days)

Please reserve a room only after you have been assured a place in the training program.
Room selection and accommodation reservation

Course location

Seminarzentrum Sonnenstrahl
Sebastian-Kneipp-Strasse 1
88353 Kißlegg

Kißlegg can be reached by air (Friedrichshafen) and by train (direct connection).
Directions

Dates (registration available)

Seminars are held Thursday 2:00 p.m. through Sunday at approximately 3:30 p.m. Evening sessions are scheduled.
Clinical Practice 1: 01/20–01/23/2028- Premature ejaculation, female anorgasmia
Clinical Practice 2: 04/27–04/30/2028 - Vaginismus/dyspareunia, erectile dysfunction, lack of desire
Clinical Practice 3: 06/29–07/02/2028 - Problems with sense of gender belonging, with attraction codes
Clinical Practice 4: 09/21–09/24/2028 - Compulsive sexuality, trauma
Sexocorporel in Practice: 01/11–01/14/2029 - Self-evaluation

Registration and questions

Form for questions and comments about the training
Registration form

Ongoing training programs

Zurich ZH12 2025-27

This training program is fully booked. Individual seminars can be made up at a later date - inquiries here.

Dates
Seminar 6: 09/30–10/03/2026
Seminar 7: 01/13–01/16/2027
Seminar 8: 04/07–04/10/2027

Course location
Parksaal Epi Park, Südstrasse 120
8008 Zurich
Location of Epi Park
There is an option to have lunch together at the restaurant of Epi Park as well as at Alterszentrum Hottingen.

Participants must bring their own mats for floor exercises.

Kißlegg SD6 2025-27 

This training program is fully booked. Individual seminars can be made up at a later date - inquiries here.

Dates
every Thursday 2:00 p.m. through Sunday at approximately 3:30 p.m. Evening sessions are scheduled until 9:00 p.m.
Seminar 5: 09/10–09/13/2026
Seminar 6: 12/03–12/06/2026
Seminar 7: 02/25–02/28/2027
Seminar 8: 04/29–05/02/2027

Course location
Seminarzentrum Sonnenstrahl
Sebastian-Kneipp-Strasse 1
88353 Kißlegg

Kißlegg can be reached by air (Friedrichshafen) and by train (direct connection).
Directions

Attendance as an observer/guest participant

People who have completed at least the Fundamentals module or the ZISS Basic Training, or who hold a Master's degree in Sexology from ISP Zurich/the University of Merseburg, may attend individual seminars for further study and review as passive observers or participate actively as guest participants (subject to availability).

Zurich
Cost: CHF 500 (CHF 400 from the euro area) per seminar for observers, CHF 900 (CHF 700 from the euro area) for guest participants
Registration via this form.

Kißlegg
Cost: € 400 (€ 500 from Switzerland) per seminar for observers, € 600 (€ 800 from Switzerland) for guest participants
Registration via this form.

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