Workshop FAQ

This is a weekend workshop for people who are consent-informed and ready to step into a container of self-growth. We will use somatic grounding, some movement, and games that connect others in order to be curious about our wants, trust them enough to communicate them, and celebrate limits. This workshop is more about the asking and choosing than it is about the doing and touching.

Yes, we provide a journal with intimate and reflective preparation exercises to help you get the most out of the workshop. We send this to you two weeks before the start of the workshop.
Example Journal Overview

A "scene" is a 30 minute experience that you bring into existence. It's for you and you get to ask for whatever you want. Often that includes touch from other participants. Before the scene starts, everyone (you, a facilitator, and the other participants) becomes very clear on who will be there and what is being asked of them. So your scene is limited by other participants' limits and our limits as facilitators. That scene takes place on the final full day of the workshop. During that scene, you can bring in erotic or even sexual touch and/or other experiences of that nature.

We want people to walk away having understood that touch is beneficial for humans, sexual or not. We encourage the word 'erotic' to be read as broad and encompassing more than 'sexual'. For your scene, we invite all kinds of erotic expression, including but not limited to sexual (genital), sensual, kinky, and energetic touch. In scenes, we as facilitators are primarily there to help you access your limits and tap into your wants.

Yes! A reminder within our container is that this workshop is for you. Building these skills as an individual will strengthen the relationship between people. We value sovereignty and independence through exploration in these workshops and are happy to cater to couples.

We don't select based on race, gender, or any other demographic identifier. We are happy to tell you the preferred pronouns of the current attendee list upon request.

Although our workshops are tailored for those with at least a little bit of exposure to the wheel of consent, it's not a requirement of attendance. We interview every potential participant to ensure it's a good fit. Additionally, we host many day workshops where you can get experience with the wheel and there are many online resources.

The application process has three steps:
1. Read the Agreements, Guidelines, and Who It's For
2. Fill out the application form
3. Send your $50 application deposit via Venmo to @Julian-Smith-14 with subject "TheArtOfVulnerability Application" (or email [email protected] to inquire about alternative payment methods)

After these steps, we'll reach out to schedule an interview. If we determine it's a good fit, you're in! We'll then provide you with the link to make your workshop payment. If we determine it's not a good fit, we'll refund your application deposit.

Most of our workshops have a capacity of 8 participants and 2 facilitators.

There are so many ways to participate! We'll never expect you to engage in touch in a way that you don't want.

There's no such thing as absolute safety, but we do work to create a container where people have access to feeling safe enough throughout the entire weekend. This includes feeling safe-enough to embody radical responsibility for your wants and needs.

We offer a variety of accomodations. Private rooms are available generally.

This is more of a workshop than a retreat, but we have breaks between activities and other explicite downtime. We have ample time for meals.

There are two payments: First, a $50 application fee that you'll send along with your application. This fee is fully refundable if we determine the workshop isn't a good fit during the interview process. After the interview, if collectively we determine it's a good fit, we'll ask you to send the remaining amount which reserves your spot/accomodation at the workshop.

Our workshop costs vary depending on the venue and room arrangements. We offer a variety of options to make them economically accessible while ensuring facilitators are appropriately compensated for their time and expertise. Typically, most options we offer are between $600 and up, all-inclusive. See specific workshops for more information. We want to make this accessible to as many people as possible so please inquire if you're not sure if you can attend due to economic concerns.

In some circumstances we can arrange carpooling to/from the workshop venue. Please inquire if you're interested in this option.