Hi again Jerry. Hope you are well and enjoying lots of time to smell the summer flowers over there. Re your observation "I don't think that most people realize how labels can harm them until they run for office or apply for a sensitive position in our government."... YES ... I sometimes wonder if the depths of prejudice against "mental illness" (however defined) has not merely been whitewashed by all the hard won anti-discrimination legislation without any real fundamental change for centuries ... someone please tell me I am mistaken!
I like your recommendation that we ensure our clients have a copy of clearly stated guidelines for the use of safe, skillful, and appropriate touch where this has been carefully negotiated individually. Way to go! There is some interesting body-mind research publicised via the "Traumatic Stress" email list (great if you dont mind 20 TS emails per day to plough through) which was how I found the Touch Research Institutes' home page. You probably know it but for any others reading 'eretis:
http://www.ir.miami.edu/touch-research/home.html
Best of flower-smelling (retirement?) to you,
Elysha