The Importance of Safe Touch in the Healing Process
The Importance of Safe Touch in the Healing Process
"Touch is one of the most essential elements of human development, a profound method of communication, a critical component of the health and growth... and a powerful healing force" (Zur, 2004).
Touch can bring some of life's most enjoyable experiences, "and some of its most aggravating," say Bear, Connors and Paradiso (2001). "Somatic sensation enables the body to feel, to ache, to chill, and to know what its parts are doing. It is sensitive to many kinds of stimuli... including temperature, pain, and body position." Touch, as we will see in this article, communicates other things to us, as well, and on other levels that may come as a surprise to some of us.
A little on anatomy first here, though, and a bit of terminology for those of you who aren't familiar with some of the terms we'll be using in this article. You'll note the word, "tactile" used later on, which simply refers to something tangible or physical. Touch begins at the "dermis," the skin, which is the largest "sensory" (this word means, pertaining to sense organs; sensation) organ we have. Throughout the skin are distributed tiny "receptors" (a receptor is a specialized structure that is sensitive to certain types of "stimuli" or change in physical energy) all throughout the body. It is through the skin, through touch, that the newborn first learns about its world and draws conclusions about that world, whether it is a safe place, or a hostile one (Leboyer, 1975; Wilson, 1982). Obviously, touch serves an essential purpose! Hunter & Struve (2001) tell us "these patterns will create a template by which subsequent interpersonal relationships will be formed." How, then, are we to see the awful effects that abuse has left on the wounded reversed unless we can ourselves see what an essential part reassuring, caring touch plays in our lives?
Touch has become another great taboo. The research, if we can find it, will show us that we are a people literally starving for safe, healthy, healing physical touch. For those who can afford it, a minimum of a dollar per minute to oh-so-much-more will be spent for the comfort of a soothing touch. We pay the massage therapist at the chiropractor's, the spa, the salon, or even the mechanical chair on display at the mall if that's what it takes. Even our children are starving from a lack of touch. Because in our society so much in our attitudes about touch has become sexualized, we place more and more restrictions on the use of physical touch (Hunter & Struve, 1998). We are, of course, referring to touch from parents here. Because touch has become (unfortunately, all too often necessarily so) something we have had to teach our children not to allow anyone else to "do" without becoming highly suspicious, anyone who would "touch" too much is immediately suspect. Further, once our children reach adolescence touch for them also becomes taboo. Hunter & Struve make this statement:
By the time American children reach adolescence, few, if any, socially sanctioned opportunities for physical contact remain that do not carry the burden of double meaning, whereby any touch becomes subject to interpretation or misinterpretation as a sexual overture. Most channels for physical contact become plagued with sexual connotations once children enter puberty.
This is a sad state of affairs, because touch at any age is vital on several levels. First, it is just one of many non-verbal forms of communication. It can express comfort, sympathy, concern, support, understanding, and give one a sense of being heard, often in ways that words cannot. It can convey empathy, respect, connection, and when applied carefully and appropriately with those who struggle (we are including those whose struggle is in the area of dissociation here, in particular) provide a source of grounding, as well as an aid and outlet for emotional release. Done with respect, care, and consideration, this can be one of the greatest means to healing.
In an article by Carolynne Stevens on the NARA website (referenced below), the restorative impact of healing touch is discussed. "Touch has the first, most direct and powerful effect on the brain's programming and re-programming activity. When we think of all the ways tactile stimulation relates to verbal/cognitive and physical involvement... it is no accident that so much of restorative therapy is built around using familiar tactile work and leisure activities to develop or repair brain functions." How true! We have an essential human need for "tactile connection" according to Stevens, for human touch, in order for emotional and mental development and well-being to be achieved. "Sometimes even for the will to live," say Stevens.
References:
Bear, M., Connors, B. & Paradiso, M. (2001). Neuroscience; exploring the brain. Second Edition
Baltimore, MD; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Hunter, M. & Struve, J. (1998). The ethical use of touch in psychotherapy. Thousand Oaks, CA; Sage Publications.
Montagu, A. (1971). Touching; The human significance of the skin. New York; Columbia University Press.
Perez, P. (2004). A short introduction to memory processes, part 1. http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/DID/... A short introduction to memory processes, part II. http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/DID/... Somatic memory/Body memories. http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/DID/...
Stevens, C. (1996). The caring touch. http://www.nara-licensing.org/index.html
1 Zur, O. & Nordmarken, N. (2004). To touch or not to touch: Rethinking the prohibition on touch in psychotherapy and counseling. http://www.drozur.com/touchintherapy.html
Articles in this Topic
