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hello jerry,
very thoughtful stuff. I have been a therapist since the 70's also. I am not quite sure what you are in conflict with? Labels and touch? Well labels can be useful but also can be helpful when it comes to a good diagnosis or understanding of what is happening to someone. As to the mental health communities focus on only the mind! Which community? Public Mental Health? Social work models vs. Psychology vs. Medical Models? I worked mostly in public health clinics so I know about the limits that can make you so frustrated you want to spit! I am a MSW so I tend to try to see the whole person, but I am not qualified to do any touch type therapeutic interventions. I have held a hand or two and it was appropriate I believe. But.. when working with trauma clients it is an issue that is very sensitive. I have worked with a massage therapist, movement and music therapist and in those contexts the whole person is in agreement with wanting to work on those levels. Not all trauma clients want to or can. I guess how I see things is that there is no one size or way to treat, but there are some universal safeguards that need to be there to ensure some safety for clients. Nothing is ever guaranteed safe. I know people who were treated by "the best" and experienced the abuse of an arrogance in some therapist that says they know all. You do not sound like that at all Jerry but do sound like you have been burned by something? In my own treatment I never could have tolerated any touch by my primary therapist. I could tolerate it( and did love it! and heal a lot) from an art therapist who was warm and comforting.You do not say if you are a survior of trauma but I know what I could do as a therapist was not always what I could do as a client.. and vice versa ..i think?? That was clear as mud! anyway you have opened a interesting thread! hope to dialog more.. cetta