Physical Touch in Psychotherapy

Taboo - Necessity - Risk?

Abstract

The article examines physical touch as an intervention in the psychotherapeutic process. There is little empirical data on this, most of which dates back to the 1990s. This article is based on Bernhard Siller’s master’s thesis (MT) on the subject of touch from 2021. The MT data was collected using guided interviews with five experts. The data was evaluated as part of the MT using qualitative content analysis and independently subjected to a critical-hermeneutic analysis for this article by another author. The result is that the experts describe a variety of possible uses for touch, which is evaluated as an effective, unique intervention with corresponding indications and contraindications. The possible trigger and re-traumatization potential and the resulting need to pay particular attention to the principle of »informed consent« are pointed out. The aspect of power in the therapeutic relationship, which is not discussed in the MT, is taken up in the critical-hermeneutic analysis. In order to get a more accurate picture of the actual benefits and risks of physical contact, current surveys with patients would be necessary.