Page No 35-43
Priyanka D. Joshi, Maureen Almeida and Prabha D. Shete
University of Southern St. Xavier’s College, University of Pune,
California, USA Mumbai Pune
Counselor initiated touch in therapy is a much debated topic. Yet there is a growing
consensus about the positive effects of therapeutic touch while acknowledging
that when used inconsiderately touch can harm clients. 61 counselors and therapists
completed a questionnaire about attitudes toward touch in therapy and the frequency
of touch use. Most counselors believed that non-erotic and ethical touch had positive
effects on clients. There was a significant main effect of therapist gender on attitudes
towards touch, F(1, 57) = 9.05, p<.003, and frequency of touch use, F(1, 57) = 6.4,
p < .05. Female therapists had more positive attitudes toward touch and were
more likely to use touch in therapy as compared to male counselors. The paper
calls for an open discussion among therapeutic community about the benefits and
possible negative effects of touch in a therapeutic relationship
.