Remote Touch in Somatic Therapy

Somatic psychotherapy can involve touch, but it is not necessary for effective healing to occur. If it seems like the client/patient would benefit from touch, remote touch (client and therapist imagining the supportive therapeutic touch together) and/or self touch (the client using their own hands to offer themselves support) can be amazingly effective and healing when working virtually. Touch in psychotherapy is never sexual and is only done with the client’s consent. Touch in somatic therapy can be helpful for boundary work, grounding, offering support, constriction, activation, and many other situations. If it ever seems like a client/patient being seen online would benefit from more traditional therapeutic touch, a referral can be made to an adjunct service with either a body worker or another somatic psychotherapist working in person.