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alexandra_k said:
so who do you tend to touch?

male clients?

female clients?

a mix?

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Both, plus anything in between (working with a transgender patient).

After group one day, I said good-bye to a male patient. He completely caught me off guard by hugging me. Normally if a patient is coming towards me with a random hug, I put my hand up and tell him "remember personal space-- a handshake is okay" Keep in mind that I work with patients who are acutely psychotic and sometimes have no idea of what boundaries are. However with this particular patient I had my hands full (CD player in one hand, art supplies in another) and he just went in for the hug, lol. It seemed very innoncent and I felt comfortable, so I let it happen. When I discussed it with my supervisor and his pdoc later on, both of them were totally shocked and said that when he first came to the hospital he was so paranoid he didn't want to talk to anyone and that reaching our for a hug was a huge step for him. I was really glad that I allowed it to happen because he obviously needed that.

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have any of them expressed erotic feelings / desires?

would that make a difference to your touch policy with them?

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Yes, I have had some of the male patients make comments about my body, or reach out to touch me. When this happens I remind that what is and is not appropriate. Simiarly, I had a female patient try to throw her arms around me in the first two minutes that we met. I do not get freaked out and say, "no touching!!!" rather I may just remind them that appropriate touch would be a handshake, and then I will offer my hand. Many of these patients are out of touch with reality or sexually preoccupied and need firm boundary reminders. These are not patients that I would necessarily hug, but I am not afraid to show them what is more appropriate. It is very different from the erotic undertones of the therapy that you or I attend.