Therapeutic Touch: Research, Practice and Ethics (Health and Society) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0776625470 ISBN 13: 9780776625478

Publisher: University of Ottawa Press, 2017

Synopsis

In the helping professions, touch seems to be one of the least understood or talked about subjects. Yet we know that touch is incredibly powerful in counselling, psychotherapy, marriage and family therapy, spiritual care, palliative care, teaching, nursing, and medicine. 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.

About this title

About the Authors

Martin Rovers is a professor and AAMFT-approved supervisor in the Faculty of Human Sciences at Saint Paul University (Ottawa).

Judith Malette is a certified clinical psychologist and full professor in the Faculty of Human Sciences at Saint Paul University (Ottawa).

Manal Guirguis-Younger is dean of the Faculty of Human Sciences at Saint Paul University (Ottawa).

Edition details

• Publisher: University of Ottawa Press
• Publication date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0776625470
• ISBN 13: 9780776625478
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 260
• Editor: Rovers Martin, Malette Judith, Guirguis-Younger Manal