Touch in psychotherapy: Experiences, desires and attitudes in a large population survey

Social touch has known therapeutic effects on physical and mental health. However, research on the role of touch in psychotherapy is limited. The frequency of touch in psychotherapy, and the individual differences that influence clients' perceived quality and desirability of touch, remain unknown.

We utilized the largest-to-date UK survey on touch, identifying 6878 individuals who reported receiving psychological therapy in the last 10 years, to explore: (1) the perceived quantity and affective quality (positive/negative) of therapeutic touch experiences, (2) the desirability of touch, and (3) key traits such as attachment style that may influence the perceived meaning and desirability of touch.

Touch was reported by 30% of responders, with 70% of them stating it communicated support. Importantly, 4% reported it as inappropriate, and 5% rated their experiences as negative. Additionally, 40% of responders expressed some desire to be touched by their therapist. Higher scores on avoidant attachment were negatively associated with positive ratings of touch. The desire to be touched was associated with attachment style, with individuals scoring higher on anxious attachment reporting a greater desire for touch.

This exploratory survey highlights the need for further investigation into the potential benefits and risks of touch interventions.