Research Symposium

BIO

Hi! My name is Brooke and I am a first-year student in the Honors Program at FSU! I am from northern New Jersey and am majoring in Exercise Physiology on the pre-med track. In the future, I hope to combine my love for sports and medicine into a career!

The Use of Touch in Satir's Human Validation Process Model

Abstract

Using touch in therapy is a nuanced and important topic that is especially relevant for experiential therapists. The present study aimed to explore the role and use of touch in Virginia Satir's Human Validation Process Model (HVPM). Nine experts of this model were interviewed and asked about their perspective and use of touch in the HVPM. Using qualitative data from expert interviews, the researchers offer best-practice considerations and examples of if and how touch can be incorporated into experiential therapy. The themes found in this study included safe touch, unsafe touch, and advice for therapists. These results can inform therapeutic practice and ways to utilize safe, consensual touch for healing in therapy.

Keywords: Theory, Qualitative, Systemic Therapy