Intimacy Exploration Programme | Personalised Intimacy Coaching and Hands-On Sex Education in Melbourne

Developing confidence, connection and intimacy skills, at your own pace.

Intimacy doesn’t always come naturally. And despite what we might see in movies, it’s not something we’re all magically going to know how to do.

For some people, sex and intimacy are exciting but unfamiliar territory. For others, they’re tangled up with anxiety, self-consciousness, vulnerability, past experiences or years of feeling disconnected.

Perhaps you feel like everyone else received an instruction manual that you somehow missed.

Perhaps you know exactly what you’d like to experience, but putting that knowledge into practice feels overwhelming.

Or perhaps you’re not even sure what you want yet.

Whatever brings you here, you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.

My Intimacy Exploration Programme is a personalised series of one-on-one sessions combining candid conversation, sex education, practical skill-building and, where mutually comfortable, physical intimacy.

It’s an opportunity to learn, experiment, ask questions and develop confidence in a supportive environment, without pressure to perform or expectations about where things need to lead.

We take our time. We get curious. And we figure things out together.

Who Is This Programme For?

This programme is particularly close to my heart as a space for queer people who haven’t always had the opportunity to explore intimacy in ways that feel comfortable or authentic.

Perhaps you’re newly out, exploring queer intimacy for the first time, or navigating changes in your relationship with gender and sexuality. Perhaps you’ve spent years following someone else’s expectations of what intimacy should look like, and you’re only just beginning to discover what it might look like for you.

I also welcome people from all walks of life who would benefit from a softer landing and a slower approach.

You might be:

A queer person exploring new territory. Perhaps you’re discovering new dimensions of your sexuality, navigating gender-related insecurities, or learning how to connect with people in ways you haven’t experienced before.
An adult virgin or late bloomer. Whether you’re 25, 45 or 65, there’s no deadline for sexual experience. You might feel nervous about your first time, embarrassed by your inexperience, or unsure how to begin.
Returning to intimacy after loss. Widows and widowers may find that becoming intimate with somebody new brings unexpected feelings, questions or apprehension. There’s room for all of that.
Finding your sexual identity after a long-term relationship. Perhaps you’ve spent years with the same partner, settling into familiar routines that eventually became a rut. Maybe your needs weren’t being met, your partner had little interest in sex, or there simply wasn’t much room for curiosity and exploration. You might have plenty of sexual experience, yet feel surprisingly inexperienced outside that relationship. This is an opportunity to discover what you enjoy, explore new possibilities, and develop parts of your sexuality that haven’t had much room to grow.
Preparing to re-enter the dating world. Perhaps you’ve been single for a while, are emerging from a long-term relationship, or are considering dating for the first time. You might be excited about meeting someone new but apprehensive about the intimacy that could follow. This is an opportunity to brush up on your skills, explore your desires, and build confidence in a supportive environment before navigating intimacy with a new partner.
Out of practice. Perhaps it’s been years since you shared physical intimacy with another person, or you’ve only ever been intimate with one partner.
Struggling with vulnerability or self-consciousness. You might find yourself overthinking, worrying about performance, struggling to stay present, or feeling disconnected from your body.
Wanting to develop your intimate skills. Perhaps you’d like to become more confident with touch, communication, initiating intimacy, expressing desire or understanding your own responses.

You might simply be someone who needs a little more time, patience and guidance than a conventional intimate encounter allows.

There’s More to Intimacy Than Knowing What to Do With Your Hands

Practical sexual skills are absolutely something we can explore together. But there’s so much more to intimacy than technique.

Our experiences, expectations, insecurities and learned behaviours all influence how we connect with others.

You might know intellectually that there’s nothing wrong with being inexperienced, but still feel embarrassed when somebody touches you.

You might be perfectly capable of communicating your boundaries in everyday life, but suddenly lose your words in an intimate moment.

You might desperately want closeness, yet find yourself making jokes, changing the subject or pulling away when somebody gets too close.

These things are worth being curious about.

Together, we can explore the psychology of intimacy alongside the practical skills that help us experience it more comfortably.

Depending on your interests and needs, we might work on:

Understanding desire, arousal, pleasure and sexual response.
Becoming more comfortable with touch, closeness and vulnerability.
Recognising what you want and communicating it clearly.
Practising consent, boundaries and asking for what you need.
Developing confidence with eye contact, flirting, initiating intimacy and expressing affection.
Learning practical sexual skills through guided experience and honest feedback.
Recognising when you’re overthinking, performing or losing connection with yourself.
Exploring how past experiences, expectations or insecurities influence intimacy.
Becoming more comfortable with awkwardness, uncertainty and not knowing what comes next.

Some of this learning happens through conversation. Some happens through simple exercises, and some may happen through physical intimacy itself.

The important thing is that we’re not simply talking about these skills in theory. Where appropriate, we have opportunities to practise them together, notice what happens, and explore things differently.

How the Programme Works

Rather than trying to fit everything into a single appointment, we give ourselves the opportunity to build familiarity and confidence over several meetings.

There is no fixed curriculum. Your interests, experiences, boundaries and goals will guide what we explore.

Session One: Getting to Know Each Other

2 hours: an extended introductory session

Our first hour together is dedicated mostly to conversation.

No nudity, no physical touch, and no expectation that we’re going to get straight down to business.

We might talk about your experiences, your curiosities, what you’d like to learn, what feels difficult, and what you’d like to be different.

We can discuss the psychology of intimacy, explore your questions, and begin getting comfortable with one another.

I want you to have an opportunity to meet me as a person, not just as somebody you’re expected to be intimate with.

During the second hour, we can begin exploring some gentle practical exercises or physical intimacy, if that feels right for both of us.

Or we might simply keep talking.

There’s no predetermined destination, and no need to accomplish anything before the clock runs out.

Sessions Two, Three and Four: Exploring Together

90 minutes each: personalised follow-up sessions

If we both feel that the programme is a good fit, we can continue through a series of shorter appointments.

By now, we’re no longer complete strangers. We’ve had an opportunity to get to know each other, discuss your goals, and begin developing a sense of familiarity.

We can build on what we’ve explored previously, introduce new experiences, practise skills and reflect on what you’re learning.

Some sessions might be mostly conversation. Others might involve more hands-on exploration.

We might spend time examining something you found difficult in a previous session, practising practical skills, or discovering something entirely unexpected.

There’s no expectation that every appointment becomes progressively more physical. Sometimes learning means slowing down, revisiting something familiar, or recognising that you don’t actually want what you thought you wanted.

We’ll follow what feels useful to you.

No Pressure to Perform, Progress or Please Me

One of the reasons I’ve created this programme is that I don’t want the experience of learning intimacy to become another source of pressure.

When you’re nervous, an hour can disappear remarkably quickly. And knowing that the clock is ticking can create a sense that you need to get your money’s worth, make something happen, or push through your discomfort.

That’s the very opposite of what I want for you.

I’m interested in helping you explore the edges of your comfort zone, but not in pushing you past your boundaries.

You can say no. You can change your mind. You can ask to slow down, take a break, return to conversation, or finish early.

If something feels awkward, we can talk about it. If you burst out laughing, that’s okay too.

And if we spend an entire session talking about why intimacy feels difficult, that can be a valuable experience in itself.

You don’t owe me a performance, an orgasm, a particular response, or any level of physical intimacy.

The goal is to develop skills and self-awareness that you can carry into your future intimate experiences, rather than to complete a checklist of sexual achievements.

Why Learn With Me?

I’m Ember August, an experienced independent companion and sex educator with a particular passion for consent, communication, sexuality and the complexities of human connection.

I’m queer, neurodivergent, and very comfortable with people who don’t fit neatly into conventional expectations around sex, gender or relationships.

I’ve spent years working with people across a wide range of ages, bodies, identities and experience levels.

I love the practical side of sex education, but I’m equally fascinated by the psychology of intimacy. Why we want what we want, why we sometimes struggle to ask for it, and why being close to another person can feel both wonderful and terrifying.

My approach is warm, candid, curious and collaborative. I’m happy to talk openly about things that might feel embarrassing elsewhere, and I’m not afraid of a little awkwardness.

I also draw on embodiment practices and principles from Betty Martin’s Wheel of Consent to help people develop greater awareness of their desires, boundaries and choices.

This programme isn’t psychotherapy or trauma treatment, and I don’t promise to resolve longstanding psychological difficulties. What I offer is a practical, supportive learning experience, grounded in communication, consent and real human interaction.

I’m not here to tell you what intimacy should look like.

I’m here to help you discover what it can look like for you.

Programme Structure & Investment

The Intimacy Exploration Programme is designed as a short series of personalised educational sessions. This is a dedicated learning experience combining candid conversation, practical skill-building, an exploration of the psychology of intimacy, and hands-on sexual experiences where mutually comfortable.

Introductory session: 2 hours for $900.
Follow-up sessions: Up to three additional 90-minute appointments at the special programme rate of $700 each.
Complete four-session programme: $3,000, compared with $3,900 at my regular rates.

These reduced rates are specifically for clients whose goals are suited to this style of ongoing educational work. After the programme, my regular rates apply to any further appointments.

There’s no requirement to pay for the entire series upfront, and no obligation to continue if you decide the programme isn’t right for you.

We’ll discuss what you’re hoping to gain from the experience before arranging our first appointment, and decide together whether this is an appropriate fit.

Not Sure Where to Begin?

That’s completely okay.

You don’t need to have clearly defined goals or a list of things you want to learn. Sometimes recognising that something feels difficult, unfamiliar or intimidating is enough of a starting point.

You’re welcome to tell me a little about yourself, what brings you here, and what you hope might be different after spending some time together.

I offer in-person appointments in Melbourne’s western suburbs, with Geelong arrangements also possible.

You can contact me via SMS or WhatsApp on 0435 349 800.

When you enquire, let me know that you’re interested in the Intimacy Exploration Programme and share a little about what you’re hoping to explore.

You don’t have to tell me your whole life story. Just enough for us to begin a conversation.

If you think you are ready to get a little vulnerable, I would love to hear from you.

PREFER to KEEP YOUR CLOTHES ON?

Not everyone who wants to learn about sex and intimacy necessarily wants to have sex with me, and that’s absolutely fine!

If you’re interested in exploring your sexuality, understanding your desires, unpacking insecurities, or developing your confidence and communication skills, but would prefer to keep things non-sexual, I offer a couple of other options.

Candid Sex Ed Chats are relaxed, open conversations where you can ask questions, explore ideas, and talk through anything relating to sex, sexuality, relationships and intimacy. No nudity or physical touch, just honest conversation in a comfortable, judgement-free space.

Embodied Choice Coaching takes things a little further, combining conversation with practical, non-sexual exercises to explore consent, boundaries, desire, communication and our relationships with touch. It’s an opportunity to develop greater awareness of what you want, how to ask for it, and how to recognise and respect the choices of others.

Both are wonderful ways to explore the psychology and practical skills of intimacy without sexual activity being part of the experience.

You don’t have to get naked to learn something about yourself!