Human Touch: The Psychoanalytic Effects On Human Beings

Human Touch:
The Psychoanalytic Effects it has on Human Beings

Jennifer L. Medeiros

American Military University

Human Touch:
The Psychoanalytic Effects it has on Human Beings

INTRODUCTION
The topic of review is one that engages in both the why not and what if human touch should be used as another form of communication during psychoanalysis. The study used involving the existence of this form of communication will be the basis for which this paper is written. We will be exploring the question, is it or is it not okay to use physical touch as a form of analytic technique during therapy sessions. What is the potential outcome for the patient and therapists when physical touch is introduced
The woman Ellen calls Cynthia was described by Ellen as very overwhelming with demands and spoke a mile a minute. Toronto describes how she believes Cynthia had lived a life of constant self-exploitation through sexual encounters with previous men. This was a symptom of Cynthia’s specific social-cognitive learning experienced early in life. Cynthia also had a condition that Toronto explained as being a multiple, chemical sensitivity, which was a manifestation of an inability to cope with feeling overwhelmed and taxed by the world. Cynthia used this to control others, requiring them to respond to her illnesses as well as to shield her from being exploited. After a few reinstatements of what was and was not acceptable behavior during therapy sessions, Ellen was faced with a situation that required yet another drawing of the line. Cynthia approached Ellen at the closing of a therapy session with a hug, but Ellen moved out of the way offering a hand shake instead. Later on Cynthia conveyed her understanding that Ellen could not allow that, given the history of her last relationship with her past therapist. Toronto goes on to explain how later realizing that anything more than a one to two handshakes would have resulted in confusion and overwhelming burden on Cynthia’s part. Ellen also explained that is was time for Cynthia to experience a relationship where she was able to be safe and have a chance to explore her own feelings without worrying about another’s. Cynthia eventually went on to achieve some sovereignty and after two years of therapy eventually broke off her affair. Toronto expresses in her article the personal frustration and dealings with the knowledge of Cynthia’s affair with a therapists and his continual exploitation of her throughout the