Therapeutic Touch. Research, Practice and Ethics

Acknowledgements
Contributors

Introduction: Exploring Touch
                    Thomas St. James O’Connor

Section 1: The Theory of Touch

Chapter 1 - Healing and the Forbidden Touch: A Reflection on Selected Scripture Stories
                    Karlijn Demasure

Chapter 2 - Thinking about Touch
Richard Feist

Chapter 3 - Contributions of Sensory Anthropology and Durand’s Anthropology to the Symbolic Study of Touch and the Understanding of Boundaries in Psychotherapy
                    Christian Bellehumeur & Jane Chambers

Chapter 4 - Touch Deprivation and Counselling as Healing Touch
                    Isaac Davis, Martin Rovers & Cassandra Petrella.  

Section 2:  The Practice of Touch in Psychotherapy

Chapter 5 - The Intervention of Touch in Psychotherapy and Trauma Treatment
                    Patricia Berendsen

Chapter 6 - A Puppy’s Touch:  Destressing with Dogs in a University Environment
                    Kristine Lund

Chapter 7 - Inter-Partner Touch in Couple Counselling:  Theory and Emerging Practice
                    Cassandra Petrella & Martin Rovers

Chapter 8 - The Practice of the Laying on of Hands in Islamic Spiritual Care
                    Nazila Isgandarova

Chapter 9 - An Angel in my Pocket:  Touch, Sacred Objects and Spiritual Coping
                    Linda Mayorga Miller

Chapter 10 - Touched(ed) in Palliative Care Nursing:  Moving with/in an Uncertain Practice
                    Lacie White & Christine McPherson

Chapter 11 - Touch in Supervision
                    Cynthia Bilodeau

Section 3:  The Ethics of Touch and Conclusion

Chapter 12 - The Ethics of Therapeutic Touch
                    Marilyn Guindon, Reesa Packard & Natalie Charron

Chapter 13 - Conclusion:  Issues of Touch:  An Overall View and Integration
                    Martin Rovers, Judith Malette & Manal Guirguis-Younger

Index

This book weaves together scholarly evidence, research, and clinical practice pointing to the importance of touch in human physical and emotional development. It is structured along three axes: the theory of touch, the practice of touch in therapy, and the ethics of touch. It discusses the roles of gender, age, culture and life experience, as well as subjects such as canineassisted therapy, touch deprivation, sacred objects, as well as key ethical considerations. The varied perspectives—philosophy, theology, psychology, anthropology—challenge assumptions about the role of touch in the helping professions. They provide historical-cultural-professional context and draw from a range of source material. 

 

The book emphasizes that healthy, non-sexual touch is not taught enough as part of professional training and oversight. The lack of dialogue, due to fear of contravening ethical boundaries, is denying an open and responsible discussion on the use of touch in therapy, adding to the theoretical basis of our understanding of this fundamental need.