Touching - as well as not touching - conveys messages- It also constitutes aprimary experience with emotional and trophic effect Both functions arc important for psychotherapy.

Attachment theory logically implies (and experience confirms) that patients who lacked adequate mothering in early life require - like children - actual physical cam-giving. It may he necessary to communicate with some patients by touch before treatment can start, whereas others are at first afraid to be touched. However, an essential pan of psychotherapy is enabling patients to lose their fear of accepting what they need.

Objections m therapeutic touching are subjective and due largely to sexual fears. Problems in this area emphasise the imperative need for all psychotherapists to have regular access to therapeutic supervision.