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PSYCHOANALYSIS TRADITIONALLY HAS PLACED an almost total interdiction on physical touch between patient and analyst within the analytic arena. Yet touch, based on our largest sensory organ, the skin, provides a fundamental and elaborate form of communication. So important is tactile stimulation for development and maintenance of physiological and physiological and psychological regulations of persons of all ages are “righted” through physical holding and touch.
Physical touch within psychoanalysis has been hotly debated beginning with Freud and Ferenczi. Ferenczi (1953) felt that nurturing touch could facilitate the analysis by helping a patient to tolerate pain that was characterologically defended against. Freud flet that physical contact would almost certainly lead to sexual enactments. In the heat of this controversy, Ferenczi's patient (Clara Thompson) boasted to one of Freud's patients that she was allowed to kiss “Papa Ferenczi” anytime she wished. Freud strongly objected, admonishing Ferenczi that this sort of behavior would inevitably lead to a downward spiral to full sexual engagement. Unfortunately Freud's