The Ethical Use of Touch in Psychotherapy [Paperback]

Mic Hunter (Author), Jim Struve (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 8, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0761903615 | ISBN-13: 978-0761903611

Is the bias against touch in psychotherapy justified? Is ethical touch an oxymoron? Can the recovery process be complete without healing touch? Mental health professionals are entrusted with the awesome responsibility of providing appropriate treatment for clients in a safe environment that nurtures trust, a necessary ingredient for optimum movement through the therapeutic process. Though treatment approaches vary, most modalities are verbally based and, in theory, exclude physical contact. Fearing that any form of touch would likely lead to sexual feelings or interaction, clinicians tend to shy away from the topic. In this book, however, Mic Hunter and Jim Struve skilfully demonstrate that touch - a most basic human need - is intrinsic to

Product Details

• Paperback: 319 pages
• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc (October 8, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761903615
• ISBN-13: 978-0761903611
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #865,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Mic Hunter holds Minnesota licenses as a Psychologist, and Marriage and Family Therapist. He has been sought out by the print and broadcast media for interviews over 150 times including Oprah, CNN, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. He has spoken throughout North America to professional audiences and the general public over 300 times. He has presented at the meetings of the American Association Of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists, the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex, the American Psychological Association, and Male Survivor. He has been invited to give eight keynote addresses. He has served as a reviewer for The Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, The Journal of Men's Studies, The Journal of Interpersonal Violence, and Violence Against Women. He is a recipient of the Fay Honey Knopp Memorial Award, given by the National Organization on Male Sexual Victimization, "For recognition of his contributions to the field of male sexual victimization treatment and knowledge." In 2007 the Board of Directors of Male Survivor announced the creation of The Mic Hunter Award For Research Advances. Dr. Hunter, for whom the award was named, became the first recipient. It was given to him for his "ceaseless pursuit of knowledge about male sexual abuse in all its occurrences, of the eloquent dissemination of new knowledge in this area, and of the stimulation for further study and concern about revealing, treating and preventing male sexual abuse." In addition to articles, Mic is the author, co-author, or editor of eight books including Abused Boys: The Neglected Victims of Sexual Abuse, The Sexually Abused Male Volumes I & II, Child Victims & Perpetrators Of Sexual Abuse, Adult Survivors Of Sexual Abuse: Treatment Innovations, Honor Betrayed: Sexual Abuse In America's Military, The Ethical Use of Touch in Psychotherapy, and The American Barbershop: A Closer Look At A Disappearing Place.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Conversation that Must Continue!, June 3, 2010

By 

Zachary Taylor "MA" (Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Ethical Use of Touch in Psychotherapy (Paperback)

I read this book a year ago as part of research I have been doing on the use of touch in psychotherapy. I read over 75 books and articles on the topic and it's this one that I found myself coming back to again and again. While the authors pull no punches as to their conclusions about the use of touch in psychotherapy, they remain fair, equitable, and rely on the scientific and research conclusions rather than the "myths" that have surrounded touch.

I highly recommend this book to every clinician who does psychotherapy. There are a lot of people out there who continually remind us of the risks of touch between client and clinician. In politics we call these "fear tactics." And they use them because, well, they work. But as professionals, we are called to be above that. Yes, touch has risks, as does about everything else we do, but if we practice from a stance of "I only do things that are 100% risk free, regardless of the research" then we will be very poor therapists.

Hunter and Struve call us to a thoughtful conversation. That touch does not have to be sexualized all the time, that most of our problems with it come from a lack of willingness to talk about and be open to it. This book will begin that conversation for you, I think, because it did for me.

I didn't walk away with a kind of "one size fits all" idea about touch, but a more scientifically based, research based, thoughtful and practical view of the benefits and limitations of touch in therapy.