What This Therapy Is

Cacao Sensory Touch Therapy is a guided somatic experience where touch, temperature, texture, aroma, and intention work together to activate the nervous system, awaken the senses, and restore the skin as a sensory organ.

Through slow, intentional touch and cacao-based application, the body is invited into a state of presence, safety, and deep nourishment, supporting both physical and neurological regulation.

This therapy uses cacao not as a cosmetic ingredient, but as a living botanical medicine, applied directly to the skin to nourish, awaken, and regulate the body at deep physiological and sensory levels.

The Role of Cacao

Cacao is uniquely suited for sensory therapies due to its: Used at 100% purity, cacao creates a full sensorial experience engaging touch, smell, warmth, and proprioception simultaneously.

• High concentration of theobromine, promoting circulation and skin oxygenation

• Rich polyphenols and antioxidants support cellular repair

• Natural fatty acid profile, deeply nourishing and restoring the skin barrier

• Aromatic compounds that stimulate the limbic system, influencing emotion, memory, and perception.

Therapeutic Benefits

This therapy may support:

• Deep skin nourishment and regeneration

• Nervous system calming and sensory regulation

• Increased body awareness and somatic integration

• Improved circulation and lymphatic flow

• Emotional grounding through sensory presence

• Reconnection with touch as a healing language

Educational & Training Focus

As part of About Cacao’s educational mission, this therapy is also offered as a professional training, teaching practitioners:

• The science of cacao’s interaction with the skin and nervous system

• Somatic principles and sensory activation techniques

• Safe, ethical, and intentional touch practices

• How to facilitate cacao-based sensory therapies with integrity and respect

Certification in Cacao Sensory Touch Therapy (CSTT)

Program Overview

The Certification in Cacao Sensory Touch Therapy (CSTT) is an advanced educational and professional training developed by About Cacao to prepare practitioners to safely, ethically, and scientifically apply Cacao-based somatic sensory therapies.

This certification bridges neuroscience, dermatology, somatic therapy, and ethnobotanical knowledge, positioning cacao as both a biological and a sensory agent that supports nervous system regulation, skin health, and embodied awareness.

Participants are trained to work with 100% pure ceremonial cacao as a therapeutic medium, understanding its biochemical properties, sensory impact, and interaction with human physiology.

Who This Certification Is For

This program is designed for:

• Holistic practitioners and therapists

• Bodyworkers, massage therapists, and somatic practitioners

• Estheticians and skincare professionals

• Wellness educators and retreat facilitators

• Healthcare-adjacent professionals integrating sensory regulation practices.

The Science of Cacao & Skin Interaction

• Lipid absorption and skin barrier nourishment

• Polyphenols, methylxanthines, and antioxidant pathways

• Circulatory stimulation and dermal oxygenation

Somatic Sensory Activation

• Skin as a sensory and neurological organ

• Touch-based nervous system regulation

• Proprioception, interoception, and sensory awareness

Nervous System & Emotional Regulation

• Limbic system activation through aroma and touch

• Parasympathetic engagement and stress response modulation

• Trauma-informed, consent-based sensory practices

Therapeutic Application & Protocol Design

• Preparation, application, and integration phases

• Temperature, texture, rhythm, and pressure variables

• Session structuring for 90-minute therapeutic experiences