Bonnie Bliss

Somatic Sexologist & Co-Founder of the Sexual Integration Institute

Meet Bonnie

Bonnie Bliss is an Australian somatic sexologist, integrative sex educator, and co-founder of the Sexual Integration Institute.

As a specialist in somatics, Bonnie’s work centres trauma-informed practice, consent awareness, pleasure as a nervous system resource and body connection. She trains and mentors practitioners globally and is known for her grounded approach to intimate wellbeing.

In 2023, Bonnie teamed up with Dr Isabela Bottura, who has a background as a medical doctor and gynaecologist, to found the Sexual Integration Institute, and create the Integrative Sex Coaching & Sex Education Certification.

Students of the institute are therapists, midwives, nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, educators and health practitioners who are undertaking professional development in holistic sexuality, as well as those new to the field wanting to be certified as coaches and educators.

The methodology taught in the certification is client-centred, somatic, trauma-informed, holistic, and underpinned by medical science.

Bonnie’s expertise has been featured in the New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Vice, Body & Soul and the Sunday Telegraph, as well as a range of podcasts, festivals, and conferences.

Bonnie has been featured in...

A sexual abuse survivor herself, Bonnie feels strongly about integrity and ethical approaches in the sexuality field. She is an advocate for holistic sexuality education and facilitation that emphasises consent and autonomy.

Training in a range of different modalities in the fields of somatics and sexuality since 2013, Bonnie has completed over 10,000 hours of 1:1 private client work, and facilitated hundreds of workshops and retreats in Australia and internationally. She has studied psychotherapy, somatic sexology, somatic trauma therapy, holistic pelvic wellness, women’s work facilitation and embodiment facilitation. She has also supported thousands of students with her online courses on topics like partnered intimacy, holistic sexuality and female pleasure.

In recent years, Bonnie’s focus is mostly on delivering the Integrative Sex Coaching & Sex Education Certification, alongside Dr Isabela Bottura – however she also maintains a small private practice offering Integrative Sex Coaching for women. She offers supervision and mentoring to other practitioners, and is sometimes available for guest teaching, podcast interviews, consulting and collaborations.

As a cult whistleblower, Bonnie has worked with journalists from France, the UK, Denmark and Germany to expose the systemic abuse, coercive control and human trafficking within the spiritual community. She appears in the Apple docuseries, Twisted Yoga, and has consulted with journalists behind the scenes on the BBC podcast, World of Secrets: The Bad Guru, as well as the Danish podcast, Road to Paradise.

Ok, that was the official bit. Now for something more personal...

Bonnie Bliss is the name I use for work.

But my real last name is Chenevier. Yes, it’s long and French – and no one can pronounce it properly in Australia. I started using Bonnie Bliss on social media before I ever had a business, and it stuck, so I kept it!

I will take on too much.

Usually working on a handful of projects, I find it hard to let go of things that I feel strongly about. I’ll often have my hands in a random community project, social movement or political campaign, on top of my regular work. However, I do try to be aware of my capacity and not push too hard. I’ve been through burnout before, I live with PTSD and I have a chronic pelvic injury (from trying to snowboard – and failing spectacularly!). Plus, I’m not 25 anymore, apparently. Luckily, I have lots of tools for slowing down and listening to my body.

I'm a country girl.

My mum was a bit of a hippie, so I grew up in the bush on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia. We lived without electricity or TV – and needed to light the fire every day for heating, hot water and cooking. At times, I struggled with that lifestyle, but looking back, I’m grateful for having had such an exciting childhood. I’ve lived in both Sydney and Melbourne, but now I live in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales – home of bushwalking, beaches & bathhouses.

I was once in a dodgy cult.

Back in 2012, I joined a Tantric yoga school in Denmark, with my partner at the time. It all felt great at first – and then things slowly got weirder and weirder. Long story short, I was in a dangerous cult – and I went through some pretty fucked up shit. I left that organisation in 2015, and there’s an ongoing group legal case that I’m involved in, as well as various media features. This is my media statement.

I’ve been speaking about it more publicly lately and doing cult awareness and anti-trafficking advocacy work because I don’t want anyone to go through what I did. And also because I’m pretty damn sick of abusive, narcissistic men running the world and thinking they’re beyond any consequences.

I love moving my body.

Whether it’s walking on the beach, wandering through the bush, frolicking in the river or dancing. I love being with my favourite people, but I also need my alone time, which I think makes me an extroverted introvert? I’m wildly impatient. My brain moves quickly. I laugh a lot. I prefer 1:1 company rather than groups. I have a weird neurological condition called prosopagnosia, which means I often don’t recognise people’s faces (yes, it’s exactly as awkward as it sounds – if we bump into each other, please identify yourself immediately!).

"As a survivor of sexual trauma I have spent much time researching female pleasure courses as I attempt to have a relationship with my sexuality again, and Bonnie’s program is the only one I found that I could intuitively trust - I was right.

So many people in the field of sexology and women’s pleasure focus on what is trendy, not what is necessarily beneficial or sustainable. Bonnie understands that pleasure is much more than a quick, commodified orgasm.

Bonnie is authentic, passionate and insanely knowledgeable. The world would benefit immensely from hearing her wisdom.

Delaney, USA

“Through Bonnie’s work, I’m grateful for having had such an authentic, relevant & grounded launch pad, including a proper and complete understanding of my pleasure anatomy!

Bonnie is a rare gem. Her approach is authentic, gentle, embodied, relatable, natural & grounded. She creates and holds a safe, nurturing & honouring space. Bonnie's teachings are genuine, no B.S., holistic, informative, practical and easy to integrate; and I love her unique humour and enthusiasm.”

Alex, Melbourne

“I've shifted a lot of my body shame, dismantled limiting stories I carried and have begun to cultivate a more positive, playful and honouring relationship to my body. I’ve found courage, curiosity and connection where before there was fear, shame and disconnect. I’ve discovered a special world inside of me I get to explore and experienced the value of embracing pleasure in my life.

Bonnie is phenomenal! Switched on, grounded, absolutely amazing as a facilitator; I found her to be very real, relatable, compassionate, safe, responsive and supportive.”  

Sarah, Melbourne

“Bonnie's work is real and raw and cuts straight to the point. She has a way of making you feel so comfortable and at ease in sharing and exploring.

You never feel like you are being forced into something that you aren't open to or ready for. Everything is a beautiful invitation to explore and be curious, with a sense of play. What Bonnie shares in her work is something that I have been waiting for for a long time.

I am a sensual woman who feels deeply and she definitely speaks my language. Thank you Bonnie. You have given me the courage to explore myself more deeply and helped me trust myself more completely. I look forward to learning and growing in my new awareness."

Katie, Tasmania

“I have quite a layered history of religious shame, endometriosis, infertility procedures, and betrayal trauma. To learn why I've been so numb certainly came as a relief. You mean I can actually do something to heal?

With tons of self-compassion, lots of patience (this is a hard one for me!), and determination, I have been able to heal and transform the way I view my sexuality - emotionally, mentally, and physically! It's been a beautiful journey - worth every effort. Thank you, Bonnie!!”

Noel, USA

“When I first met Bonnie, I was not in touch with myself the way I am today. We’re brought up, for the most part in Western society, with huge doses of shame around our body and our sexuality. Coupled with abuse and mistreatment this can be a tight knot to unravel and for many it can take a lifetime to do so. 

Bonnie has a very soft presence and the work for her is easy when done with love and a gentle unwavering calm. For any women who’d like to start to connect with deeper self or go further along their current path, this work sets you on a journey you can follow and explore easily."

Dee, Australia

“Bonnie has such incredible insights and tools to share. I feel like I have learned so much about myself and nurtured my connection with pleasure. She has such a gentle and holistic approach to sexual wellness that I really admire. I believe every woman would benefit from Bonnie’s work."

Rachel, Brisbane