Holding Therapy
Holding Therapy
What is Holding Therapy?
Holding therapy was developed by Dr. Martha Welch in the late 1970s. Dr. Welch was a psychiatrist in New York who began using it with children with autism. Later, she outlined her form of therapy in a book titled, Holding Time (Welch, 1988). Originally, Dr. Welch discovered holding therapy with autistic children. Later, however, she began using this therapy with typical children as well and, in her opinion, discovered equally satisfying results. Welch currently refers to her therapy as Regulatory Bonding Therapy. Holding therapy is a technique that requires the mother of a child with autism to hold her child for a period of time, even if the child is resisting. The mother holds on to the child until the child accepts contact. Once acceptance is reached, the mother may start to place demands on the child before he or she is released. For example, eye contact may be demanded. Welch suggests that a soft couch or mat is the best place to carry out therapy as there will “usually be a violent physical resistance by the child” (Tinbergen & Tinbergen, 1983, p 325). Below, she outlines some of the practical details of therapy:
The mother is asked to hold the child on her lap, face to face. The father is asked to sit beside and put his arm around the mother. The child sits astraddle the mother with knees bent, one on each side of the mother. The mother places the child’s arms around her and secures them under her arms. She then is free to hold the child’s head with her hands in order to make eye contact. This position is not necessarily comfortable for either person (Tinbergen & Tinbergen, 1983, p 325).
During holding therapy, the therapist acts as an observer and a facilitator. The therapist plays no physical role in the therapy session. Instead, he or she facilitates the “bonding” between mother and child. The therapist confronts the parents about their feelings and encourages the
What is Holding Therapy?
Holding therapy was developed by Dr. Martha Welch in the late 1970s. Dr. Welch was a psychiatrist in New York who began using it with children with autism. Later, she outlined her form of therapy in a book titled, Holding Time (Welch, 1988). Originally, Dr. Welch discovered holding therapy with autistic children. Later, however, she began using this therapy with typical children as well and, in her opinion, discovered equally satisfying results. Welch currently refers to her therapy as Regulatory Bonding Therapy. Holding therapy is a technique that requires the mother of a child with autism to hold her child for a period of time, even if the child is resisting. The mother holds on to the child until the child accepts contact. Once acceptance is reached, the mother may start to place demands on the child before he or she is released. For example, eye contact may be demanded. Welch suggests that a soft couch or mat is the best place to carry out therapy as there will “usually be a violent physical resistance by the child” (Tinbergen & Tinbergen, 1983, p 325). Below, she outlines some of the practical details of therapy:
The mother is asked to hold the child on her lap, face to face. The father is asked to sit beside and put his arm around the mother. The child sits astraddle the mother with knees bent, one on each side of the mother. The mother places the child’s arms around her and secures them under her arms. She then is free to hold the child’s head with her hands in order to make eye contact. This position is not necessarily comfortable for either person (Tinbergen & Tinbergen, 1983, p 325).
During holding therapy, the therapist acts as an observer and a facilitator. The therapist plays no physical role in the therapy session. Instead, he or she facilitates the “bonding” between mother and child. The therapist confronts the parents about their feelings and encourages the