Resources
A curated collection of books, articles, apps, and organizations that inform my practice and that I recommend to clients who want to explore further. I’ve chosen resources that are grounded, accessible, and in most cases backed by research.
CONSENT & COMMUNICATION
— Betty Martin
A foundational framework for understanding the dynamics of giving and receiving. Deeply influential on how I think about touch and consent.
— NSVRC
A clear, practical guide to understanding consent from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
— The New York Times
A thoughtful opinion piece on affirmative consent and what it means in practice.
Consent 101: Respect Boundaries and Building Trust
— RAINN
An accessible overview of consent fundamentals from the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization.
SEXUAL COMMUNICATION & INTIMACY
The Gottman Institute
— Research-based resources on intimacy, communication, and connection in relationships.
Communication Tips from a Sex Therapist
— Center for Intimacy and Relationships
Practical guidance from a sex therapy practice. Grounded in clinical experience.
Sexual Communication with a Partner
— A research-based guide to sexual communication from Baylor's Center for Research on Women with Disabilities.
Talking Intimacy: Enhancing Partner Pleasure Through Communication
— Aleece Fosnight
A clinical presentation on why open dialogue is linked to sexual satisfaction, trust, and emotional safety.
A Guide to Consent and Sexcessful Communication
— UC Davis
A well-structured guide to sexual communication from UC Davis’s student health center.
NEUROSCIENCE of TOUCH and CONNECTION
Accessible articles on how touch affects the nervous system, oxytocin release, and emotional regulation.
— Jane Anderson, TEDx talk exploring the powerful effects that touch can have on our lives, from a professional bodywork therapist who works with chronic pain, end-of-life, and post-surgical patients.
Research-backed articles on the science of human connection, compassion, and the physiological effects of touch.
Why physical contact is essential for emotional health, nervous system regulation, and
human connection.
Dr. Tiffany Field, Director of the Touch Research Institute, on how bodywork creates
measurable physiological changes. 2017 Global Wellness Summit.
TRAUMA-INFORMED TOUCH and SOMATIC HEALING
Why therapeutic touch may be essential to mental health.
A somatic practitioner’s perspective on how trauma lives in the body and how touch can support healing.
— Dr. Scott Giacomucci & Diane Matkowski
An exploration of how trauma-informed care principles apply to bodywork. Covers the healing power of safe touch, how physical touch can be dysregulating for trauma survivors, and how practitioners can support clients who become emotionally overwhelmed during sessions.
SOMATIC EXPERIENCING & BODY-BASED HEALING
Research from Harvard Medical School on how the body holds and releases stress.
The home of Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing method, a body-based approach to
healing trauma.
BREATHWORK
A peer-reviewed meta-analysis on breathwork’s effects on stress, anxiety, and mental
health.
A science-based guided breathing app developed by a medical doctor. Free, no ads, no
login, no data collected. My current favorite.
A medically-reviewed overview of breathwork practices and their physiological benefits.
A simple app based on resonance frequency breathing. Free core features. Available on
Apple App Store and Google Play.
An accessible introduction to breathwork for people new to the practice.
MINDFULNESS & BUDDHIST PRACTICE
The community and teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. Gentle, accessible mindfulness
practice.
A research-informed introduction to meditation for people just starting out.
A well-designed meditation app with structured courses. Available on Apple App Store
and Google Play.
Resources for contemplative practice and inquiry in the Buddhist tradition.
A simple, approachable guide to building a meditation practice.
Sam Harris’s meditation app. Philosophically rigorous, focused on non-dual awareness.
Free scholarships available. Apple App Store and Google Play.
One of the best publications on Buddhist practice and contemplative life.
A free meditation app with a vast library of guided meditations. Available on Apple App
Store, Google Play, and web.
REIKI
A professional organization for Reiki practitioners with resources on practice, ethics,
and training.
A medically-reviewed overview of Reiki from one of the most trusted names in
healthcare.
Comprehensive resources on Reiki history, practice, and training.
A recent meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on Reiki and quality of life.
Published in Systematic Reviews (Springer Nature).
A peer-reviewed study: of 13 placebo-controlled studies, 8 showed Reiki more effective
than placebo. Published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative
Medicine.
TANTRA & EMBODIMENT
A practical, inclusive book on modern tantra. Grounded, queer-affirming, free of dogma.
A global organization offering immersive trainings in sacred sexuality, tantra, and
embodiment practices.
Eric is a proud member of the Sacred Eros community of professionals.
An accessible introduction to neo-tantra for people curious about the practice.