How to Promote a Nurturing Touch Between a Child and Therapist

"Nurturing Touch" is a massage treatment that has proved to be very valuable in pediatric therapy. According to studies conducted by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine, massage can relieve a child's depression, stress, anxiety and even pain. Preparing your child for touch therapy and promoting Nurturing Touch between your child and the therapist is an important part of this approach.

Instructions

• 1

  Prepare your child for touch therapy by giving him/her a gentle massage once a day. Ask for permission to touch before starting the massage, and stop as soon as you see your child becoming uncomfortable. Nurturing Touch is a way of bonding with your child, so you don't want your child to view massage as an unpleasant experience.

• 2

  Arrange an informal meeting that includes your child, the massage therapist and yourself. See how your child responds to the therapist. Don't force your child to be treated by a therapist with whom he/she feels uncomfortable.

• 3

  Explain to your child that the therapist is not going to hurt him/her and that the therapist is only going to touch gently. Model this concept by having the therapist give you a brief massage.

• 4

  Go for massage therapy yourself. It will accustom your child to the idea and also help you relax. A lot of massage therapists do family treatments.

• 5

  Insist on attending the therapy sessions with your child. Be supportive and make it fun for your child, so that he/she will associate the therapy with a fun family activity.

• 6

  Ask the therapist to get your child's permission to touch before a session begins. This will promote healthy boundaries.

• 7

  Stop the session immediately if you see your child responding negatively. Children are very sensitive and can be overstimulated very easily. You don't want your child to associate touch with a negative experience.