Discomfort on the part of the client or the therapist will divert the focus of the therapy, resulting in decreased effectiveness.If there is any discomfort on the part of either the client or the practitioner when an erection occurs, it must be addressed. For those devoid of inappropriate intentions, education about normal body function can ease this fear and invite a new level of comfort with somatic-based therapies. Fear of an erection, or a massage practitioner’s response to it, prohibits some men from seeking a much needed therapeutic massage. While physical arousal can occur with both male and female clients, a woman’s arousal is typically less visible. Professional assessment can help a therapist decipher a physiological response to touch from inappropriate sexual intentions. Touch administered to any part of the body can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which can result in a partial or complete erection.
While an erection can be indicative of being physiologically aroused, it does not necessarily indicate the presence of emotional or sexual desire. It is very common for men to get an erection during a non-sexual, therapeutic, full body massage.
