Abstract
- Background. Holding therapy, an alternative form of child psychotherapy, involves physical restraint and manipulation, and has been associated with adverse events.
- Objective. To examine the evidence of effectiveness for holding therapy.
- Methods. ...
- Results. ...
- Conclusion. ...
What is holding-containing therapy?
The process of holding-containing goes beyond technique to become a being-with. Casement offers a concept of ‘ analytic holding ‘ where he links the process with empathy: This is the capacity to tolerate complete attunement with the client’s feelings while still remaining grounded and a functioning therapist:
What is a holding environment in therapy?
Since his early work, the idea of having a ‘holding environment’ has been seen as a crucial part of therapy. The concept of containing is based on Jung’s (1946) idea that the therapy process can be likened to an alchemical container in which the ‘chemicals’ are the thoughts and feelings of both patient and analyst which have to be held safely.
What is the theory of holding?
The theory of holding includes both bodily and emotional features and promotes the infant’s ego-incorporation, his aptitude for object relating, and ultimately his ability for object usage.
Should Therapists ‘hold’ or ‘contain’?
Therapists who ‘hold’ or ‘contain’ by fostering dependence run the risk of being manipulative. Exactly how and when to engage the processes of ‘holding-containing-boundarying’ is one of the key ethical/clinical judgments the relational therapist makes in pursuit of artful practice.
What does holding mean in therapy?
“Holding space” means being physically, mentally, and emotionally present for someone. It means putting your focus on someone to support them as they feel their feelings. An important aspect of holding space is managing judgment while you are present.
What is holding in mind?
Mental holding is more like “holding you in mind”. The therapist is attentive and present to thoughts about you. He remembers you and thinks about you between sessions and does not forget all about you between sessions.
What does it mean to hold a client?
Once you are placed on hold, you are not officially hired until they confirm that they want to hire you. Once they confirm, you are now “booked.” They are obligated to pay you for the days that they hired you, unless they have articulated an alternative arrangement.
Is holding therapy effective?
The aim is to release forbidden, repressed feelings, but the violence of this technique makes it absolutely impossible to benefit from such a release. Force, the therapy implies, is used for the child's own good, and the child will be rewarded and loved for his tolerance in letting it happen.
What does emotional containment mean?
Emotional containment describes the process of emotionally helping people to bring about support and change. This support can benefit all children and is particularly helpful for children who experience social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs.
What is the difference between holding and containment?
They also see holding as a more sensuous activity that is generally positive and growth enhancing, whereas containment is seen as non-sensuous and “may be either integrating or destructive” (Symington & Symington, 1996: 58).
How do therapists create a holding environment?
To create a therapeutic "holding environment," the therapist must be compassionate and empathic to the client. The "holding environment" starts with the therapist maintaining the therapeutic "frame" in the treatment which, in the most basic sense, means that the therapist is a reliable and consistent individual.
How do you put a client on hold?
Allow us to present you with five important steps to properly placing customers on hold:Ask permission. ... Provide a time frame. ... Return to the call in the time frame given. ... Thank the customer. ... Apologize for the wait.
What do you say when a client is on hold?
Sample Ways to Put a Caller on Hold"Mr. Smith, can you please hold while I retrieve your file?" [pause for a response] "Thank you. I will be back in a minute." [return to the call] "Thank you for waiting, Mr. Smith. ... "Ms. Jones, I will check to see if Mr. Johnson is available to take your call.
Is holding therapy evidence based?
Results Eight studies were identified. All included studies claimed that holding therapy was efficacious, but none of the study designs were suitable for making such conclusions. Conclusion The evidence of effectiveness for holding therapy is insufficient, especially in the context of related adverse events.
What is rebirthing and why is it illegal?
“Rebirthing therapy,” which aims to reproduce the physical experience of labor in order to help children feel reborn, was outlawed in Colorado and North Carolina in 2001 and 2003 respectively in response to the asphyxiation death of a 10-year-old girl during a rebirthing session.
How long does attachment therapy take?
We aim to do this in typically 12 weeks. If you or your partner or family member, has trauma (or active substance abuse) that interferes with your ability to emotionally regulate and navigate couples or family therapy, rapid therapy can not be done.
What is the definition of a caregiver holding a child?
Description: An intervention in which the caregiver will hold the child very closely and very tightly while speaking in a comforting manner. The caregiver may not release her/his hold until the child “surrenders” and spontaneously looks into the caregiver’s eyes.
Is there a scientific study on holding therapy for autism?
Research Summary: There have been no scientific studies of holding therapy for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
What is holding therapy?
Holding therapy is a practice described and recommended in the book Holding Time, by Martha Welch. It consists of forced holding by a therapist or parent until the child stops resisting or until a fixed time period has elapsed; sometimes the child is not released until there is eye contact. Although this technique was initially intended ...
What is the meaning of "forced holding"?
A more perfect deception and distortion of someone's perceptions is barely imaginable. 2. It is human nature to resent and resist the use of force. The use of forced holding by a parent will inevitably engender strong feelings of fear, confusion, helplessness, anger, and betrayal as the child's natural attempts to break free are disregarded by ...
What is the aim of force therapy?
The aim is to release forbidden, repressed feelings, but the violence of this technique makes it absolutely impossible to benefit from such a release. 1 Force, the therapy implies, is used for the child's own good, and the child will be rewarded and loved for his tolerance in letting it happen. He will come to believe that force contributes ...
Is empathic holding more effective than forced holding?
Gentle, empathic approaches are far less stressful for all concerned than forced holding, more effective for the long term, and more respectful of the child, who deserves above all our love and compassion. How sad that something as lovely as having a child in our arms - when the desire is mutual - has been perverted into such a heartless practice.
Is attachment parenting based on mutual trust?
I consider this practice to be completely at odds with attachment parenting, which is above all a relationship based on mutual trust. It can be immensely difficult for a child to regain full, genuine trust after being forcibly held - regardless of the parent's "good intentions" or the resulting surface behavior. As Alice Miller wrote:
What is holding environment in therapy?
The concept of containing is based on Jung’s (1946) idea that the therapy process can be likened to an alchemical container in which the ‘chemicals’ are the thoughts and feelings of both patient and analyst which have to be held safely.
What is holding and containing?
The concepts of holding and containing evoke the image of a mother caring for a child. In therapy, it is through the relationship with our clients that they feel held and safe. The holding may or may not involve actual physical holding; otherwise, with emotional holding the client’s anxiety, alarm, confusion, distress, ...
How do boundaries help therapists?
Boundaries prevent unhealthy levels of acting out and, in what is often a charged, intimate encounter, they keep both client and therapist safe. They also acknowledge the power imbalance that is unavoidably part of the therapeutic relationship and set limits for the therapist’s expression of power.
What is holding containing boundarying?
The therapeutic processes of ‘holding’, ‘containing’ and ‘boundarying’ are both literal and metaphorical. They involve the therapist in trying to provide an emotionally caring/protective, facilitating space which respects and holds the client, and also contains emergent emotions and dynamics. The aim is to allow a client to express and explore feelings that may feel too shameful or painful to be shared with others; through this process the client learns to cope with those damaging, overwhelming, or potentially explosive emotions.
What is a boundary in therapy?
A boundary is something that sets a limit or demarcates a line we do not cross. The boundaries we hold in psychotherapy are designed to contain mutual emergent emotional-relational processes and offer a structure for our professional and therapeutic relationships. Ideally they provide a reliable and predictable frame for processes which might otherwise remain mysterious or problematic. They guard the relationship, respecting the rights and responsibilities of both therapist and client (and the separateness between them). Boundaries prevent unhealthy levels of acting out and, in what is often a charged, intimate encounter, they keep both client and therapist safe. They also acknowledge the power imbalance that is unavoidably part of the therapeutic relationship and set limits for the therapist’s expression of power.
Why is it important to have a holding-containing environment?
Our vulnerability is important to both own and to manage. For this reason we need our own holding-containing environments. Probably the best, most effective holding-containing comes from having an attuned, affirming, supportive supervisor and/or therapist. Supervision/therapy allows us to be reflexive about our processes as well as to get essential support. There is a danger of our using therapy with a client to act out (or get the client to act out for us), if we lack adequate support for the difficult work we do at the contact boundary (particularly when that work connects with unresolved issues of our own).
Why do we work with boundaries in therapy?
It is also not uncommon in therapy to find clients who struggle with boundaries and we might work explicitly with boundaries in terms of helping clients discover and maintain their own healthy boundaries. Perhaps they have been abused in the past and haven’t learned to keep themselves safe. A client with loose boundaries, for example, may have learned this way of being in childhood as a way of coping. Not having boundaries in childhood may have served to keep them safe if they learned that resisting abuse could mean more hurt.
What does holding space do?
When you hold space for someone, you create a forum where they can feel safe (r). Think of a time when you were vulnerable. What did you need at that moment? Did you need someone to give you advice and solve your problem? Did you need someone to tell you what to do or judge you? You probably just needed someone to be there for you. Sometimes the best thing we can do for someone is to simply be with them. Sitting with someone in loving support can help them feel seen, understood, and cared for. Advice and problem-solving can come later. Holding space can also help someone feel less alone. When you know that you can turn to the person for unconditional support, it can be very profound.
What does it mean to hold space?
“Holding space” means being physically, mentally, and emotionally present for someone. It means putting your focus on someone to support them as they feel their feelings.
What to do when you hear someone share something difficult?
When we hear someone share something difficult, our first instinct might be to try to reframe the situation or find a way to solve the problem. Neither of these is the point of holding space; the point is to be there for that person, without judgment. If you feel tempted to minimize, reframe, or solve the issue, remember that the urge doesn’t serve your purpose and transition back to active listening.
How to understand something when you can relate it back to yourself?
We know It’s often easier to understand something when we can relate it back to ourselves. Try to resist the urge to insert yourself in the situation. There is a time and a place to talk about your experiences, but holding space isn’t it. Keep your own issues and experiences separate from this interaction so you can focus on being there for the other person.
How to hold space for yourself?
One great way to practice holding space for yourself would be to start a mindfulness practice. You can learn to tune into the rhythm of your thoughts and practice letting go of any judgment a little at a time. Holding space is something that isn’t necessarily taught to us.
Why is it important to hold space?
An important aspect of holding space is managing judgment while you are present. The person who is holding space helps set the tone for a kind, curious, and judgment-free interaction where the other person can be vulnerable, and like the term says “have space.”.
How to help someone who is vulnerable?
Emotions are complicated and can be confusing or even conflicting, so instead of fighting the feelings that want to come up, encourage and allow space for the other person to let it out. Reassure them that you are there for them, no matter what comes up.
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Defining The Nature of ‘Holding’ and ‘containing’
Boundarying to Hold and Contain
- A boundary is something that sets a limit or demarcates a line we do not cross. The boundaries we hold in psychotherapy are designed to contain mutual emergent emotional-relational processes and offer a structure for our professional and therapeutic relationships. Ideally they provide a reliable and predictable frame for processes which might otherwise remain mysteriou…
The Therapist as A ‘Contained-Container’
- Beyond working with holding and containing a client’s subjectivity, as therapists, we also hold and contain our ownsubjectivity. Here we bracket/boundary (in a healthy rather than defensive way) leakages of our own subjectivity so they don’t drown our client. It would be pretty alarming for the client if the therapist couldn’t hold or cope with their feelings, wouldn’t it? Therapy shouldn’t be a…
Concluding Reflections
- Holding, containing and boundarying are not things that we do to clients. The process needs to be actively shared, negotiated and dialogical. We can’t just decide to ‘hold’ the client. The client has to accept the holding; they need at some level to take in our witnessing and containing presence and to feelheld. Ideally, we work withclients on how they might regulate themselves. We don’t just im…
Resources
- For a useful review of key ideas see: Gravell, L. (2010). The counselling psychologist as therapeutic ‘container’, Counselling Psychology Review, 25(2), 28-33. Casement’s relational psychoanalytic chapters on ‘key dynamics of containing’ and ‘analytic holding under pressure’ illustrate clinical and supervisory implications – see: Casement, P. (1985). On Learning from the …