This is the title of the book my therapist gave me to read a while back about therapeutic touch:

Compassionate Touch: The Body's Role in Emotional Healing and Recovery. by Clyde W. Ford.

It seems to work under the premise that when we were in the womb and our brain was forming and even when we were first out of the womb and growing...the first sense to develop is the sense of touch. The book goes on to say when we are growing up and experiencing life: touch is the first language we have. So when we experience traumas and pain in life our "body" remembers the traumas just as much as our "mind". So exploring our pains in therapy is not just a "mind" issue by also a "body" and "touch" issue.

It seems to make sense, especially the part about when we are very young our first language for exploring is touch: look how a baby puts everything in her/his mouth and explores it fingers and toes and such and how being held is soothing for a baby.

But the book doesn't assume that everyone should work touch into therapy. It also suggests that sometimes that when we have bodily pain, it is a psychosomatic response.

Given my isolated life...I wouldn't even get a handshake, much less a hug, if I didn't get them from my therapist. And when I think of my "inner child" or that "5-year-old" in me that never really got the physical comfort growing up...it pains me to deny that part of me (the 5-year-old is the only part of me that i don't hate.)

but, ya know, sometimes "5-year-old's" don't know what is good for them and denying myself hugs from my therapist is not bad. it feels bad and aches, but i don't usually trust my emotions.