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Since it's founding in 1997, the CYC-Net discussion group has been asked thousands of questions. These questions often generate many replies from people in all spheres of the Child and Youth Care profession and contain personal experiences, viewpoints, as well as recommended resources.
Below are some of the threads of discussions on varying Child and Youth Care related topics.
Questions and Responses have been reproduced verbatim.
Listen to thisHi
I am a final year student studying social work at Strathclyde University
in Glasgow, Scotland currently undertaking the research stage of my
dissertation.
The purpose of my study is to explore the views of residential child
care staff in relation to the use of touch.
I would like to invite you to share your thoughts and experiences of
using, or not using touch in residential care settings in order to
generate a discussion.
How will I use the findings?
The information collated from the discussion will be collated and
analysed to identify common themes. This information will be
written up and included in my undergraduate dissertation. All
identifying information from the participants will remain confidential
and will not be included in the research
Thank you, and I look forward to reading your contributions
Kathy Grant
...
Dr Bruce Perry has some interesting things to say
about touch in his book The Boy Who Was raised As A Dog
Peter Hoag
...
Hi Kathy,
In regards your question about the use of touch in a Residential care
setting, I recently read a book I would highly recommend: The Boy
Who Was Raised As A Dog. Dr. Bruce Perry is a child
psychiatrist and neuroscientist. This book examines the lasting
psychological effects of severe trauma in children. One thing that
really struck me is his belief in the need to hold a child, at whatever
age, to allow the child to proceed developmentally. It is a great
read.
Regards,
Laura.
...
See also these threads from a while back:
https://www.cyc-net.org/threads/touch.html
https://www.cyc-net.org/threads/love.html
https://www.cyc-net.org/threads/love2.html
Eds.
...
While these re not specific to CYCC these will get you started:
Zur, O., & Nordmarken, N. (2010). To touch or not to touch:
Exploring the myth of prohibition of touch in psychotherapy and
counseling
Stenzel, C. L., & Rupert, P. A. (2004). Psychologists’ use of touch in
individual psychotherapy. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research,
Practice, Training
Phelan, J. E. (2009). Exploring the use of touch in the
psychotherapeutic setting: A phenomenological review. Psychotherapy:
theory, Research, Practice, Training
Connor, A., & Howett, M. (2009). A conceptual model of intentional
comfort touch. Journal of Holistic Nursing
Bonitz, V. (2008). Use of physical touch in the “talking cures”: A
journey to the outskirts of psychotherapy. Psychotherapy Theory,
Research, Training
Patricia Kostouros
...
Hi
Regarding the use of touch and physical stimulation and how you can work
with it: see this free education program:
www.fairstart.net/training
. When opening the page, click "sessions" and go through sessions 4 (for
the effects of lack of early touch and balance stimulation) and 8 (for
practices that increase brain activity and dopamine production (dopamine
is released by the brain also by touch, and it's an important element in
mutual attachment and social behavior). The principles described are
applicable also to older children and youth.
I used another book years ago which has a wonderful compilation of
various research results regarding touch:
http://www.amazon.com/Touching-Human-Significance-Ashley-Montagu/dp/00609602
80
Or, you can read this book concerning also how touch can be part of work
with severely deprived and disturbed children:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-k
eywords=rygaard&x=13&y=16
med venlig hilsen/ Yours sincerely
Niels Peter Rygaard
Denmark
...
I have not read the book by Bruce Perry but would love to do so. I
am a student at Monash South Africa and I agree with Laura that it is
important to show physical affection to any child. There is no telling
how a child needs that show of affection. If adults need all the love
and care and to be held to be comforted, then how much more so for a
child?
Talent Mathe
