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Abstract
The author considers the theme of physical touch and contact in transactional analysis practice. The Indian concept of runanubandh is introduced, which is defined as physical memory held in the body. This concept is used to explore physical touch and contact with the outside environment in therapy, thereby broadening the frame of reference beyond existing ideas of protocol and bodywork. The author offers a detailed case study from her psychotherapy practice that demonstrates secret garden work and informed physical touch as described by Novak. Finally, a matrix for practitioners to use in discerning the use of touch and contact in their work with clients is presented.
Disclosure statement
The author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
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Anisha Pandya
Anisha Pandya, MA (psychology), Provisional Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (psychotherapy), is a psychotherapy practitioner and trainer working in Mumbai, India. She also has international certifications in neurolinguistic programming from the National Federation of Neurolinguistic Psychology, emotional intelligence from Six Seconds, and life coaching from the International Coaching Federation. She is a certified T-lab facilitator and certified as a trainer of Marshal Rosenberg’s model of nonviolent communication from the Centre for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC). Anisha can be reached at 3B/F-Block, Viceroy Court, Thakur Village, Kandivali East, Mumbai: 101, India; email: [email protected].