The Fundamentals module is designed for professionals and interested career changers. It can be taken on its own or supplemented with additional modules.
Participants gain an experience-based understanding of the components of the Sexocorporel model and how they interact in sexuality. They understand sexuality as the result of learning processes and explore how sexual function and sexual experience can be influenced and expanded through physical learning steps.
A Fundamentals module begins in Zurich on 10/06/2027; in Kißlegg (southern Germany) on 07/01/2027.
Participants learn and understand:
the physiological, cognitive, and psychological interaction underlying human sexual experience
the importance of learning in sexuality
development of sexual arousal and pleasure function
the patterns people acquire to trigger and increase sexual arousal
the far-reaching effects of these arousal patterns on the experience of sexual arousal, on thoughts, fantasies, and preferences regarding sexuality, on problems and boundaries in sexuality, and on the experience of oneself as a sexual person and in sexual relationships
different types of breathing and movement and other ways of influencing the autonomic nervous system, emotional regulation, and relationship experience
the sensory, emotional, symbolic, and interactional effects of physical skills such as breathing, movement, muscle tension, and posture
Sexualities in a changing social context
Theoretical foundations of Sexocorporel: overview of the model of the physiological, cognitive, perceptual, and relational components of sexual functioning/health
From birth to old age: age-specific stages in the integration of the arousal reflex into developing psychological, social, cognitive, and physical functions
Approaches to childhood sexuality
Counseling parents on children's sexual development
Sexual arousal curves: physiological processes and the experience of sexual arousal as distinguishable phenomena
Sources of arousal and stimuli
Sexual arousal modes: acquired patterns of stimulation and bodily engagement when triggering, increasing, and releasing sexual arousal
Exploration of basic physical skills such as the three dimensions of movement (amplitude, rhythms, and muscle tone), breathing, bodily centering, posture, and grounding, and their effects on experience and thinking
Exploration of specific physical strategies for increasing, diffusing, and channeling sexual arousal, as well as for releasing it (“double rocking”)
Gender-specific differences in the perception, codification, symbolization, and acquisition of the arousal function
Influence of arousal modes on the autonomic nervous system and the experience of sexuality
Ways of expanding arousal modes with the help of specific physical strategies
Prerequisites for experiencing sexual arousal pleasurably, increasing it, surrender, emotional and orgasmic release as prerequisites for orgasmic capacity
Reflection on knowledge, myths, norms, ideals, and ideas about sexuality, and individual concepts of sexuality
Influences of cognitions on sexual self-perception and on sexual learning steps at different stages of life
Understanding the top-down and bottom-up interaction between cognitions and the body and their mutual influence
Working with dysfunctional cognitions
The autonomic nervous system as the basis of the emotional experience of sexuality and interpersonal interaction
Principles of polyvagal theory (according to Stephen Porges) in Sexocorporel
Interaction of sexual arousal modes with the autonomic nervous system
Possibilities for emotional self-regulation by influencing autonomic processes (breathing, posture, movement)
Gender identities, sociocultural gender roles
Sense of gender belonging: perception of one's own sexual body and belonging to one's own gender group. Developmental stages from birth onward
Learning steps in the eroticization of one's own sexual body: experiencing, imagining, and symbolizing it as sexually arousing
Sexual self-confidence: the ability to develop pride in one's erotic competence and sexual body and to be able to show oneself in this. Physical strategies to support sexual self-confidence
Sexual pleasure: the ability to experience genital sexual arousal pleasurably and connect it with pleasurable emotions and thoughts.
Emotional intensity: the ability to experience sexuality passionately
Sexual desire in its various forms – identification of the different needs underlying it and the physical skills that facilitate it
Sexual attraction codes: nature, development, and expandability of sexual preferences, inclinations, and orientations
Sexual fantasies as resources or challenges, and their connection with the body
Cognitive approaches to pornography
The relational modes of autocentering/egocentering/heterocentering as forms of autonomy and connectedness in partnerships
Influence on relational modes through the autonomic nervous system
Seduction and “anti-seduction”: inviting or applying pressure – effective strategies
Body language in the dynamics of seduction
Eroticization of closeness and distance
Erotic communication
Couples intervention Sensate Focus according to the Sexocorporel approach
Erotic skills: exploration of the three dimensions of movement in touching and being touched
Developing and practicing initial principles of structured observation of body language using a person as a model (“modeling”): distinguishing observation, impression, and interpretation.
Practicing the principles of structured observation of body language using a person as a model (“modeling”). Establishing a logical understanding of the person's experience through ideomotor activity.
2 plenary seminars of 4 days each + 2 online days
Total duration 0.5 years
Supervision is optional in Module 1 Fundamentals.
Individual experiential work is 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.
Important:
Supervision and individual experiential work are mandatory for completion of Module 3 Advanced Training and Module 4 Expertise. Supervision and individual experiential work hours completed in the Fundamentals module can be credited toward these requirements, provided they were completed with iSi-recognized supervisors:
Individual experiential work: By completion of the Advanced Training module, at least 8 hours must be completed; by completion of the Expertise module, an additional 4 hours must be completed with iSi-recognized supervisors: (live or online).
Individual and/or group supervision: By completion of the Expertise module, at least 40 hours must be completed with iSi-recognized supervisors: (live or online). 15 of these hours take place as mandatory group supervision as part of the Advanced Training module.
Successful completion of the module is documented with a ZISS certificate. Requirements are attendance of at least 90% of the instructional time and a sufficient score on the module examinations.
Dr. med. Karoline Bischof
Annette Bischof-Campbell MSc, Psychological Psychotherapist
Adrian Stumm Sexual Educator ISP
The training is recognized by the Institute Sexocorporel International Jean-Yves Desjardins iSi and certified by ZISS.
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.
Registration fee: CHF 100
Fundamentals module: CHF 2375 for participants from the euro area, CHF 3000 for participants from Switzerland
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.
Seminars are held Wednesday through Saturday
Fundamentals 1: 10/06–10/09/2027 - Foundations and experiential work: autonomic nervous system, arousal function, pleasure function
Online Day 1: 11/06/2027
Fundamentals 2: 12/01–12/04/2027 - Foundations and experiential work: sense of gender belonging, self-confidence, experiencing sexuality individually and as a couple
Online Day 2: 01/29/2028
Form for questions and comments about the training
Registration form
Dr. med. Karoline Bischof
Annette Bischof-Campbell MSc
Dipl. Psych. Ronny Kriebisch, Psychological Psychotherapist
The training is certified by the State Medical Association of Baden-Württemberg with 37 continuing education credits per 4-day seminar. It is recognized by the Institute Sexocorporel International Jean-Yves Desjardins iSi and certified by ZISS.
Registration fee € 50
Fundamentals module: € 1750 for participants from the euro area, € 2250 for participants from Switzerland
Course materials and certificates are included in the fee. 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
Seminarzentrum Sonnenstrahl
Sebastian-Kneipp-Strasse 1
88353 Kisslegg
Kisslegg can be reached by air (Friedrichshafen) and by train (direct connection).
Directions
Seminars are held Thursday 2:00 p.m. through Sunday at approximately 3:30 p.m. Evening sessions are scheduled.
Fundamentals 1: 07/01–07/04/2027 - Foundations and experiential work: autonomic nervous system, arousal function, pleasure function
Online Day 1: 09/04/2027
Fundamentals 2: **09/17–09/20/2027 - **Foundations and experiential work: sense of gender belonging, self-confidence, experiencing sexuality individually and as a couple
Online Day 2: 11/27/2027
Form for questions and comments about the training
Registration form
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.
If you would first like to get to know our team and our approach without obligation, we recommend our one-day introductory seminar.
Online: 11/01/2026 and 03/07/2027 more information and registration
Zurich: 11/28/2026 and 04/24/2027 more information and registration
