The Importance of Touch Literacy in Somatic Psychotherapy

This article provides a short description of the history of the use of touch in psychotherapy as well as descriptions of several interventions utilized in the Bioenergetic Analysis training program, one of the major somatic psychotherapy approaches. The history section grounds the discussion of the use of touch in somatic psychotherapeutic approaches. The interventions described illustrate a few of the lessons somatic psychotherapists need to use touch effectively with clients. Ethical guidelines for the use of touch are also discussed.